Full Description
"The authors coach students through processes of conceptualizing the dissertation and treating it as an integral dimension of the journey of living. They enable students to develop the dissertation into a line of inquiry that evolves and enriches a career in academe or practical leadership."
—William H. Schubert, Professor of Education, Director of Graduate Studies
University of Illinois at Chicago
Make reflection an integral part of your dissertation journey!
Most dissertation guides offer a basic recipe for the research and writing process. Like those books, this resource provides all the necessary steps for crafting and conducting a qualitative dissertation, but it also adds one key ingredient: reflection.
This book guides students through the issues and questions that may arise as they conduct qualitative research, taking a reflective, experiential approach to turn student-researchers into instruments of inquiry. The authors show readers how to integrate themselves into the research and writing process by using their own beliefs, experiences, interests, and strengths. Updated with new examples and cases, this comprehensive resource guides readers through the process of:
Preparing for the dissertation journey
Rethinking the concepts of method and data
Working through the proposal process
Defending the dissertation
Living life after the dissertation
This essential guide helps student-researchers learn both the practical aspects of writing a qualitative dissertation as well as the mental and emotional preparation required for success.
Contents
Foreword by Frances Schoonmaker
Preface to the Second Edition
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Part I. Facing the Dissertation Journey
1. Coming to Study
2. On the Deliberative Nature of the Dissertation
3. Meanings of the Dissertation
4. Facing the Dissertation
Part II. Preparing for the Dissertation Journey
5. Orienting Oneself to Interpretive Inquiry
6. Situating Oneself in the Inquiry
7. Rethinking the Concept of Method
8. Rethinking the Concept of Data
9. Moving From the Experiential to the Theoretic
Part III. Entering Into and Living Through the Dissertation Journey
10. Developing Ideas for the Dissertation Proposal
11. Crafting an Interpretive Dissertation Proposal
12. Proposing the Dissertation Study
13. Living With the Study
14. Entering Into Public Discourse: The Dissertation Meeting
15. Life After the Dissertation
Afterword
Part IV. Case Examples of Interpretive Dissertations
Case Example 1. Problematizing Educational Inclusion: A Practice-Based Heuristic Inquiry
Case Example 2. Pictures in Our Minds: A Narrative Study of the Incorporation of Creative Dramatics as Pedagogy in Elementary Classroom Content Areas
Case Example 3. A Narrative Study of Three Levels of Reflection in a College Composition Class: Teacher Journal, Student Portfolios, Teacher-Student Discourse
Case Example 4. Promises Made, Promises Broken: A Literary Criticism of the Pennsylvania Lead Teacher Experience
Case Example 5. Our Changing Town, Our Changing School: Is Common Ground Possible?
Case Example 6. A Special Program for Gifted Female Adolescents: A Conceptual Case Study for Planning Curriculum
References
Index
