Theses and Dissertations

A Guide to Planning, Research, and Writing
Second Edition
R. Murray Thomas - University of California, Santa Barbara (Emeritus)
Dale L. Brubaker - University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina
Theses and Dissertations
August 2007 | 352 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9781452294735
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781412951166
Available from January 0001

Description

"This text moves beyond simplistic 'procedures to follow' to in-depth discussions of stages in the research process, providing strong reference points and examples for students embarking on the disciplined inquiry of thesis and dissertation research. A valuable text for proposal writing classes, faculty members who direct dissertations and theses, and students throughout the research process."
—Betty J. Alford, Chair of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership
Stephen F. Austin State University

"Graduate students will be in debt to professors Thomas and Brubaker for providing a long-overdue guide to the rite of passage known as theses and dissertations. This book is realistic, clear, and refreshingly sensitive to what students need to know."
—Seymour B. Sarason, Professor of Psychology Emeritus
Yale University

Take the anxiety out of preparing your thesis or dissertation!

This revised classic helps graduate students approach the thesis or dissertation writing process with confidence, offering updated references and new information on Internet searches, narrative summaries, plagiarism, and Internet publishing options. The authors help readers stay on track by providing checklists and multiple examples as they progress through five critical stages:

  • Preparation
  • Selecting research topics
  • Collecting and organizing information
  • Interpreting the results
  • The final presentation

With thorough guidelines for evaluating research options, this indispensable resource helps make the writing process a satisfying and rewarding one!

Contents

Preface

Preface

About the Authors

About the Authors

1. The Nature of Theses and Dissertations

1. The Nature of Theses and Dissertations

Stage I. Preparing the Way

  • 2. Sources of Guidance
  • 3. Searching the Literature

Stage II. Choosing and Defining Research Topics

  • 4. Sources and Types of Research Problems
  • 5. Building and Adapting Theories
  • 6. Stating the Problem and Its Rationale

Stage III-A. Collecting Information

  • 7. Types of Research Methods and Sources of Information
  • 8. Data Collection Techniques and Instruments
  • 9. Things That Go Wrong

Stage III-B. Organizing Information

  • 10. Classification Patterns
  • 11. Summarizing Information Verbally, Numerically, Graphically

Stage IV. Interpreting the Results

  • 12. Modes of Interpretation

Stage V. Presenting the Finished Product

  • 13. Writing the Final Version
  • 14. Mounting a Persuasive Defense
  • 15. Reaching a Wider Audience
  • Appendix: Outline of a Dissertation Proposal
  • References
  • Index

Description

"This text moves beyond simplistic 'procedures to follow' to in-depth discussions of stages in the research process, providing strong reference points and examples for students embarking on the disciplined inquiry of thesis and dissertation research. A valuable text for proposal writing classes, faculty members who direct dissertations and theses, and students throughout the research process."
—Betty J. Alford, Chair of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership
Stephen F. Austin State University

"Graduate students will be in debt to professors Thomas and Brubaker for providing a long-overdue guide to the rite of passage known as theses and dissertations. This book is realistic, clear, and refreshingly sensitive to what students need to know."
—Seymour B. Sarason, Professor of Psychology Emeritus
Yale University

Take the anxiety out of preparing your thesis or dissertation!

This revised classic helps graduate students approach the thesis or dissertation writing process with confidence, offering updated references and new information on Internet searches, narrative summaries, plagiarism, and Internet publishing options. The authors help readers stay on track by providing checklists and multiple examples as they progress through five critical stages:

  • Preparation
  • Selecting research topics
  • Collecting and organizing information
  • Interpreting the results
  • The final presentation

With thorough guidelines for evaluating research options, this indispensable resource helps make the writing process a satisfying and rewarding one!

Contents

Preface

Preface

About the Authors

About the Authors

1. The Nature of Theses and Dissertations

1. The Nature of Theses and Dissertations

Stage I. Preparing the Way

  • 2. Sources of Guidance
  • 3. Searching the Literature

Stage II. Choosing and Defining Research Topics

  • 4. Sources and Types of Research Problems
  • 5. Building and Adapting Theories
  • 6. Stating the Problem and Its Rationale

Stage III-A. Collecting Information

  • 7. Types of Research Methods and Sources of Information
  • 8. Data Collection Techniques and Instruments
  • 9. Things That Go Wrong

Stage III-B. Organizing Information

  • 10. Classification Patterns
  • 11. Summarizing Information Verbally, Numerically, Graphically

Stage IV. Interpreting the Results

  • 12. Modes of Interpretation

Stage V. Presenting the Finished Product

  • 13. Writing the Final Version
  • 14. Mounting a Persuasive Defense
  • 15. Reaching a Wider Audience
  • Appendix: Outline of a Dissertation Proposal
  • References
  • Index
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Theses and Dissertations

A Guide to Planning, Research, and Writing

R. Murray Thomas , Dale L. Brubaker
Cancel Print

August 2007 | 352 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 27/02/2023 9781412951166 $47.95
Hardcover 27/02/2023 9781412951159 $99.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781452294735 $44.00

"This text moves beyond simplistic 'procedures to follow' to in-depth discussions of stages in the research process, providing strong reference points and examples for students embarking on the disciplined inquiry of thesis and dissertation research. A valuable text for proposal writing classes, faculty members who direct dissertations and theses, and students throughout the research process."
—Betty J. Alford, Chair of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership
Stephen F. Austin State University

"Graduate students will be in debt to professors Thomas and Brubaker for providing a long-overdue guide to the rite of passage known as theses and dissertations. This book is realistic, clear, and refreshingly sensitive to what students need to know."
—Seymour B. Sarason, Professor of Psychology Emeritus
Yale University

Take the anxiety out of preparing your thesis or dissertation!

This revised classic helps graduate students approach the thesis or dissertation writing process with confidence, offering updated references and new information on Internet searches, narrative summaries, plagiarism, and Internet publishing options. The authors help readers stay on track by providing checklists and multiple examples as they progress through five critical stages:

  • Preparation
  • Selecting research topics
  • Collecting and organizing information
  • Interpreting the results
  • The final presentation

With thorough guidelines for evaluating research options, this indispensable resource helps make the writing process a satisfying and rewarding one!


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • About the Authors
  • 1. The Nature of Theses and Dissertations
  • Stage I. Preparing the Way
  • 2. Sources of Guidance
  • 3. Searching the Literature
  • Stage II. Choosing and Defining Research Topics
  • 4. Sources and Types of Research Problems
  • 5. Building and Adapting Theories
  • 6. Stating the Problem and Its Rationale
  • Stage III-A. Collecting Information
  • 7. Types of Research Methods and Sources of Information
  • 8. Data Collection Techniques and Instruments
  • 9. Things That Go Wrong
  • Stage III-B. Organizing Information
  • 10. Classification Patterns
  • 11. Summarizing Information Verbally, Numerically, Graphically
  • Stage IV. Interpreting the Results
  • 12. Modes of Interpretation
  • Stage V. Presenting the Finished Product
  • 13. Writing the Final Version
  • 14. Mounting a Persuasive Defense
  • 15. Reaching a Wider Audience
  • Appendix: Outline of a Dissertation Proposal
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

A very helpful guide to planning, researching and writing. This book will be a most helpful aid in structuring and planning research at thesis and dissertation level. Accessible and well organised, with guidance on avoiding pitfalls.
Miss Rebecca Tall, Faculty of Edu & Children's Services, Chester University
A clear and considered guide to thesis and dissertation writing. I introduced this recently within a reading session, students found it to be informative and useful.
Ms Danielle White, Education , University of Manchester
I really liked the layout of this book. The structure takes the reader through the complete process of completing a dissertation. The checklists are very helpful for the reader. The section on research methods was very good.
Mr David Biggins, The Business School, Bournemouth Univ.
This book would be an useful addition to any student writing a dissertation as part of the PGCE primary course. Very informative and gives a good guide to those who are not confident when structuring research based dissertation.
Mrs Delyth Roberts, School of Education, Bangor University
Great guide for educational research. Covers all the stages and gives advice on how to avoid pitfalls.
Lynette Morris, Internal Quality Assurance, Chiltern Training Group

Recommendations