search for books and compare prices
Tables of Contents for Theses and Dissertations
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Preface
xi
The Nature of Theses and Dissertations
1
6
Functions of Theses and Dissertations
1
2
Academic Disciplines
3
1
The Book's Structure
4
3
Stage I: Preparing the Way
7
40
Sources of Guidance
9
20
Academic Advisors
9
12
Your Supervising Committee
21
2
Your Fellow Graduate Students
23
1
Experts Outside Your Department
23
1
You Yourself
24
1
The Professional Literature
25
1
Planning Checklist
25
4
Searching the Literature
29
18
Functions of Literature Reviews
29
4
Efficient Ways of Searching the Literature
33
10
Errors of Judgment
43
2
Planning Checklist
45
2
Stage II: Choosing and Defining Research Topics
47
42
Sources and Types of Research Problems
49
14
Sources and Kinds of Problems
50
9
How to Distinguish a Good Topic from a Bad One
59
3
Planning Checklist
62
1
Building and Adapting Theories
63
14
The Need for a New Theory
64
1
Building a Classificatory Theory
65
4
Building an Explanatory Theory
69
5
Adapting and Revising Theories
74
1
Planning Checklist
75
2
Stating the Problem and Its Rationale
77
12
Stating Your Research Problem
77
2
Defining Key Terms
79
4
Providing a Rationale
83
3
Planning Checklist
86
3
Stage III-A: Collecting Information
89
82
Types of Research Methods and Sources of Information
91
46
Specifying the Desired Data
91
1
General Research Methods
92
41
Matching Methods to Research Questions
133
1
Planning Checklist
134
3
Data Collection Techniques and Instruments
137
26
Observations
137
3
Content Analyses
140
9
Interviews
149
5
Questionnaires
154
4
Tests
158
2
Planning Checklist
160
3
Things That Go Wrong
163
8
Shattered Expectations
163
1
Uncooperative Participants
164
1
Negative Results
165
1
The Meaning of ``Enough Subjects''
166
2
Nothing Short of Perfect
168
3
Stage III-B: Organizing Information
171
50
Classification Patterns
173
18
Some Examples of Classification Schemes
174
6
Key Features of Classification Schemes: Implications and Applications
180
10
Planning Checklist
190
1
Summarizing Information Verbally, Numerically, and Graphically
191
30
Narrative Summaries
191
2
Statistical Summaries
193
15
Tabular and Graphic Summaries
208
10
Planning Checklist
218
3
Stage IV: Interpreting the Results
221
18
Modes of Interpretation
223
16
Meanings Denoted by Types of Guide Questions
224
12
Conclusion
236
1
Planning Checklist
236
3
Stage V: Presenting the Finished Product
239
40
Writing the Final Version
241
16
Fulfilling Requirements and Preferences
241
2
Creating a Readable Document
243
11
Planning Checklist
254
3
Mounting a Persuasive Defense
257
8
The Question of Validity
258
2
The Question of Significance
260
1
Who's in Charge?
261
1
The Intrusive Advisor
261
1
Insisting on a Different Approach
262
1
Professorial Debates
263
1
Proper Proofreading
263
2
Reaching a Wider Audience
265
14
A Variety of Publishing Opportunities
265
11
Further Guides to Publishing
276
1
Planning Checklist
276
3
Appendix: Outline of a Dissertation Proposal
279
4
References
283
6
Index
289