The Action Research Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty

"The Action Research Dissertation should be required reading for any student contemplating using an action research approach in a thesis or dissertation project. Kathryn Herr and Gary Anderson serve as able and amiable navigators through the challenging but equally rewarding process of planning, carrying out, and completing an action research dissertation. Clear explanations, compelling exemplars, and an honest discussion of the challenges of conducting an action research project combined with a sense of the passion and commitment of those who choose this path, make the volume a balanced and engaging guide to all would-be action researchers." (Mary Brydon-Miller )

"This book fills an important gap in the action research literature by specifically addressing the growing practice of action research master’s studies and doctoral dissertations in colleges and universities throughout the world. Like the authors’ previous work, this book provides a broad and clear overview of the varieties of action research. The discussion of the underlying choices that action researchers operating in a university degree program need to make and how such choices affect the quality of an action research project from different perspectives is an extremely valuable resource for students and faculty. I plan to use this book with my own graduate students on a regular basis." (Ken Zeichner )

Complete Your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less

With the average length of time to complete a doctorate approaching 7.6 years, there is no better time for this comprehensive guide. A dissertation or thesis need not be a lengthy, tedious process; but a relatively short, tolerable, and most importantly, rewarding experience.

This guide describes how to effectively and efficiently complete a dissertation or thesis in two semesters or less. Written for doctoral and master's degree students, this book demystifies the seemingly daunting process. From choosing a topic and advisor, to efficient researching, writing, and defense, Complete Your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less provides students with the information they need to conquer this academic experience.

Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis

Dissertation writers need strong, practical advice, as well as someone to assure them that their struggles aren't unique. Joan Bolker, midwife to more than one hundred dissertations and co-founder of the Harvard Writing Center, offers invaluable suggestions for the graduate-student writer.

Using positive reinforcement, she begins by reminding thesis writers that being able to devote themselves to a project that truly interests them can be a pleasurable adventure. She encourages them to pay close attention to their writing method in order to discover their individual work strategies that promote productivity; to stop feeling fearful that they may disappoint their advisors or family members; and to tailor their theses to their own writing style and personality needs. Using field-tested strategies she assists the student through the entire thesis-writing process, offering advice on choosing a topic and an advisor, on disciplining one's self to work at least fifteen minutes each day; setting short-term deadlines, on revising and defing the thesis, and on life and publication after the dissertation. Bolker makes writing the dissertation an enjoyable challenge.

Authoring a PhD Thesis: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Dissertation

Review : By Shannon McCabe (Albuquerque, NM United States)

This book is an excellent guide for anyone in the process of writing a dissertation. Although he is writing from a British point of view, he takes care to make his advice applicable to the dissertation writer in the US university system as well. He discusses structure, drafting, editing, as well as how to prepare the diss for eventual publication.

The main achievement of this book is the idea that the dissertation writer is taking on another role, moving from *student writer* to *writer*. The dissertation propels the student into the position of colleague in training, and the writing is the vehicle for doing that. For the first time, thanks to this book, I have begun to look at myself as a writer contributing to the body of knowledge on the subject, not just a student producing yet another required paper to please a professor.

Editorial Reviews
Review
"Dunleavy illuminates the management of text. Following his recommended disciplines, he has produced an elegant, witty and spare guide for the perplexed student."--Herman Schwartz, University of Virginia"Authoring a PhD Thesis is superb. It is so in three ways: tone; nature of the advice offered; the fact that the book itself is an exemplary illustration of the principles it recommends. After reading it, it is hard to see how many PhD students ever managed to write an acceptable thesis without reading it."--John Peck, Cardiff University"Pleasantly written, containing a lot of helpful suggestions, sound advice, and illuminating insights into the process of writing a thesis."--Giseline Kuipers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands"...elegantly written and contains crisp and incisive insights. I will recommend this book widely to students because it will help them significantly with the successful completion of their PhD thesis...I have gained some good ideas from reading the text."--Wyn Grant, Warwick University


Review
"Dunleavy illuminates the management of text. Following his recommended disciplines, he has produced an elegant, witty and spare guide for the perplexed student."--Herman Schwartz, University of Virginia

"Authoring a PhD Thesis is superb. It is so in three ways: tone; nature of the advice offered; the fact that the book itself is an exemplary illustration of the principles it recommends. After reading it, it is hard to see how many PhD students ever managed to write an acceptable thesis without reading it."--John Peck, Cardiff University

"Pleasantly written, containing a lot of helpful suggestions, sound advice, and illuminating insights into the process of writing a thesis."--Giseline Kuipers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

"...elegantly written and contains crisp and incisive insights. I will recommend this book widely to students because it will help them significantly with the successful completion of their PhD thesis...I have gained some good ideas from reading the text."--Wyn Grant, Warwick University

- A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Seventh Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers

Each major research paper must have a good introduction, hypothesis,
discussion. conclusion and provable claims. Simple questions
must be answered. i.e.
- What are the relevant questions to ask?
- What do we do?
- What direction will we select?

A good research work has practical answers, a workable hypothesis,
reasoning and evidence which supports the overall presentation.
i.e. numbers, facts, quotes and authorities

A thorough bibliography of reasonably recent sources should be
presented. This book succeeds in providing the reader with