Chapter 10: A Procedural Guide to Navigating the Dissertation Process

We have divided work on the dissertation into two broad categories. In this chapter we will discuss the process of doing a dissertation along with many of the decisions you must make about how that process will proceed from initial idea to a dissertation that has been successfully defended and submitted. In the following chapter we will focus on one of the core components of the dissertation—data collection and analysis.

In Chapter 2 we discussed the different formats for a dissertation—from the traditional five-chapter model to the “three-article dissertation.” The format for your dissertation is one of the foundational decisions that will influence other decisions you must make. For example, if you are doing a series of studies about a particular professional practice in your field, an “article” dissertation might be more appropriate if your work consists of several related but separate studies. On the other hand, if your dissertation is an evaluation of a particular project or program, then a five-chapter dissertation format might be more appropriate because the dissertation “hangs together” as a single project. Thus, our advice is to begin thinking about how you will organize your dissertation work by tentatively selecting a format for your dissertation as well as a general topic and question.