Part of our webinar series for PhD or doctoral dissertation help. This presentation from 27 Oct, 2013 was an overview of what is needed before you "dive in" to each stage of the dissertation or thesis process. As the webinar progressed the participants added ideas from their own experience and this final set of slides emerged. Part of our services for members at http://www.doctoralnet.com .

1. Are you ready?
Each Stage of Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis
Work as seen through Backward mapping…
1.
To defend a final body of
research…
2.
To analyse data…
3.
To start to collect data…
4.
To defend a proposal…
5.
To write your…. Chapters?
6.
To design your research?
7.
To begin your dissertation or
thesis work?
James, E. A., & Slater, T. (2014). Write
Your Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis
Faster: A Proven Map to Success.
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: Sage
Publications.

2. To begin your dissertation
or thesis work?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
You have great time
management skills – and have
resources to help with family and
other obligations.
You know and understand both
the overarching aspects/goals
etc of a dissertation or thesis
AND are aware of the subtleties
such as the need for internal
consistency.
You have read and analysed the
structure of 4-5 in your field.
You have a set of headings in
mind so as you read you can
begin to plan the placement of
ideas in the final doc.
You work well on your own and
are good at asking for help when
you need it.
Regularly check the guidelines
and prepare to meet changing
guidelines as you go forward
You expect changes from your
university as you go and are
flexible enough to handle them.

3. To design your
research?
1. You have an interesting
topic
2. That topic is apparent in
the world to which you
have access
3. You have collected some
data and can show that
there is a problem
situation to study.
4. Who to ask for help in
narrowing: your university
help or mentor – and
stakeholders
5. Need to know diff
between idea and problem
= having data available
that backs up your
subjective knowledge

4. To write your….
Chapters?
1. You have finalised your
headings
You have model
dissertations /theses to
work from.
2. Your topic/problem
statement/questions and
methodology have been
approved by your
supervisor.
3. You understand what goes
where , know where
redundancy may lie and
have a plan to avoid it.
4. Your document has a built in
Navigation Pane or
Document Map and you are
using headings that will
translate into your Table of
Contents.
5. Know your procrastination
triggers – and have plan to
get over them.
6. You have set a timetable up
with outside accountability
to get it done.

5. To defend a proposal…
1. Your work has been
approved by your supervisor.
2. You have had it edited.
3. Your references follow your
universities style manual.
4. Your abstract is under 1
page.
5. You have page numbers, and
your pagination is correct.
6. Be prepared for the next
stage of interactive process.
7. Have slides ready
8. Practice your defense.
9. Be aware of your
supervisor’s role and loyalty
to their university as
employer.

6. To start to collect
data…
1. You have passed and have
certification for ethical
review training.
2. You have passed ethical
review.
3. You have obtained
permissions from necessary
institutions/parties.
4. You have the support of
stakeholders who can push
to help you achieve the
data collection you need.
5. Your instrument(s) are in
order.
6. You have run a few trials to
work out all the kinks.
7. You understand how you will
approach your data analysis
and have trained on the
tools you will be using.

7. To analyse data…
1. You have people to call on
who will look over your
shoulder and ask questions.
2. You have a plan and
headings for your results and
discussion chapters so you
don’t lose sight of where
you are going.
3. You have systems in place to
ensure your analysis answers
your questions.
4. You repeatedly ask yourself
if you are getting distracted
or “going down a rabbit
hole.”
5. As soon as you have some
idea of what you have found
you beginning conversation
with your mentor or
supervisor.

8. To defend a final body of
research…
1. Your final chapters have
been approved by your
supervisor.
2. You have read up on the
questions you are likely to
be asked (see new book).
3. You have talked with others
at your university and know
what to expect.
4. You have visualised the
event.
5. You have participated in a
Mock Defense.
6. You understand the possible
outcomes.
7. You understand the road at
your university to final
publication.

9. James, E. A., & Slater, T. (2014).
Write Your Doctoral Dissertation
or Thesis Faster: A Proven Map
to Success. Thousand Oaks, CA,
USA: Sage Publications.
http://www.sagepub.com/vip/james/

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