Things to Consider when Conducting Dissertation Research

All researchers start their study by identifying a meaningful opportunity or problem to gain better knowledge or to find a solution for the problem. All good problems usually include six characteristics, which should be accounted for before you move on.

1. The topic or problem should be interesting to you the researcher and the audience.
2. Address the likely damage if this problem is not addressed or remains unsolved.
3. The scope of the problem should not be so huge that conducting the study becomes unmanageable.
4. There is enough resources such as access to information, time, and ability to complete the study
5. Access to data or a sample are available for collection or analysis.
6. There is a theoretical or conceptual foundation, which would provide practical significance and understanding for solving this problem.
7. There is no ethical issues that may arise when researching the problems

Hook/Interest

The worst thing in the world for a researcher is to study something that had no significant meaning or is boring as to the researcher and anyone else who reads it. Do not spend time and resources working on a topic just to be working on something, because this often leads to failure. Remember, you will be engaged in this topic for 1-2 years, and for some much more. Make sure the topic is of significant interest to you, your discipline, and your school’s focus. So don’t study something with a spiritual base if your school is about social change.

The Breadth or the Problem

The breadth of your research should be manageable. Some people make their problems so large that they are never able to complete the study before they run out of time, money, interest, or all. Its ok to study a part of a problem because a researcher cannot study everything in one study. For example: A student can study the effects of single parenting homes and poverty who dropped out of high school, are of Hispanic decent, and come from families with a low socioeconomic background. While all of this information is good, its to much for one study. Just “Single parenting and poverty alone compared to counterparts”, will make a meaningful study. In other words, studies must be narrow enough to make the study meaningful, meet the standards or rigor, and yet the researcher has the ability to complete the study.

Resources

A researcher lacking in these factors is a recipe for failure at best. Tuition is nonrefundable whether you complete the study or not, so you must set yourself up to complete the study. Many students underestimate the costs associated with doing a study. While student loans may cover tuition, there are other expenses involved throughout the program such as books, access to professional groups, collecting data, software, hardware,  research coaches and mentors, and anything else required to complete your program. Remember, you do not get recognition for trying, you get esteem for completing your program.

Accessing Data/Analysis

This is an obvious requirement. Researchers must ensure that what ever data or population they are studying, access to the data or population is a must. Do not choose populations like prisoners, infant children, or congress, where you will have little hope of collecting samples. Many students make their research so difficult that they are never able to complete their study.

Theoretical Significance

When researchers decide to study a problem, there is a fundamental concern they must address, and that is “who cares”. For instance, if you study why dogs bark around midnight, who cares? That might interest you, but not the research world. Rather, if you study the effects of animals on people who are visually impaired, who cares? Well a lot of people care, those who are visually impaired for one. If you include a theory such as efficacy theory, even more people would care such as family members, friends, employers, and so on. I hope you get the point. Research must have practical significance and theoretical or conceptual foundations.

Ethics

Researchers have a responsibility to do no harm when conducting research. For one, your school’s IRB will frown for any hint of harm to humans or animals. Human and animal subjects are closely scrutinized before approval. In addition, if you are being sponsored for your research, you must declare any conflict of interest, otherwise, your results could be viewed as skewed towards you sponsors. If you are not sure of the ethics of your study, be sure and ask.

Conclusion

Conducting research to obtain your doctorate degree is no easy feat. It can be downright confusing and depressing if you are not making progress. In my 12 years of dissertation coaching experience, I realize that many students don’t fail because they are stupid, but because of a lack of preparation for the enormity of the dissertation. Schools don’t teach you this and it becomes a case of throwing you in the water, and either you swim or your sink.

Many students swim for a while, but in a circle and eventually run out of energy, and sink. A dissertation coach like me can help you swim in the right direction, motivate you to stay afloat, and provide you with the types of insights that will increase your stamina. So, do yourself a favor, call this dissertation coach today, get a free consultation, I can help.

Kindly,