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Are you sick of
people asking Graduate students are generally highly trained students, so other factors must contribute to the fact that only about 50% of them finish their theses. Research has shown that those who can complete their thesis quickly
At the other extreme, graduate students who did not finish their thesis or dissertation have been found to have fewer relationships with others or did not seek help when it was needed because doing so made them feel vulnerable. Few would disagree that writing a thesis can be a lonely, exhaustive and sometimes miserable experience. In addition to Idleman & Associates, here are some links to help the process. This discussion and support group is for you if: You are sick to death of people asking you "How is your dissertation [or thesis] coming?" (but you really would like to talk about your troubles in finishing -- with anybody except those who keep asking, no matter how genuinely concerned they may be, or may seem to be). You are not getting the kind of support you need -- from your university, your employer, your family members or friends. Maybe you don't even know what kind of support you need, just that you don't have it! Objective is "to assist students to complete their theses and obtain their degrees, produce the highest quality of theses, and improve their lives during the thesis process."
Usually a guide of this nature focuses on the actual implementation of the research. This is not the focus of this guide. Instead of examining such aspects as identifying appropriate sample size, field testing the instrument and selecting appropriate statistical tests, this guide looks at many of the quasi-political aspects of the process. Such topics as how to select a supportive committee, making a compelling presentation of your research outcomes and strategies for actually getting the paper written are discussed.
This is an excellent on-line statistics resource. It is a complete statistics textbook on-line in a very easy, searchable format. Graduate school pundits often cite 50% or more as the attrition rate for ABD students. Why? This handout will not only answer this question, but will also give you good, practical advice on starting, drafting, and completing your dissertation.
How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation Author: David Sternberg (1981). This book covers the skills needed to spell the difference between "A.B.D." and "Ph.D." including:
How to Get Ph.D.: A Handbook for Students and Their Supervisors Authors: Estelle M. Phillips & D. S. Pugh (1994) This is a handbook and survival manual for Ph.D. students that provides a practical, realistic understanding of the processes of doing research for a doctorate. It discusses many important issues often neglected, such as time management, and how to overcome the difficulties of communicating with supervisors; and considers the particular problems of groups such as women, part-time, and international students. The book also provides practical insights for supervisors, and assists senior academic administrators by examining the responsibilities that universities have for providing an adequate overall service for research students. How To Set Up a Good Research Project Presented by: Dr. John Bolland, Research Social Scientist, Institute for Social Science Research
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