No doubt your program will have you in one or more researching methods class in which you will learn about the different types of studies.  I used the book, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design:  Choosing Among Five Approaches by John W. Creswell.  I found this book helpful and informative.  Once you have selected a study type, determine how it works with your proposed research topic.  Find similar examples of this study time from your university to gain insight into your university’s requirements and  preferences.  Following these steps will enable you to determine how your university wants each section presented as well as citing research in your literature review.  Be prepared they will change the rules on you in the middle of your work.  The best examples or the most recently published dissertations.

I have been away from writing for a few months – recovering from my dissertation and graduation.  I was pleased to find that my blog stats are great.  This must be helpful.  Recently I met someone who was stuck trying to work on their dissertation.  He just could not move forward.  The block was the literature review.  I will not go into detail, but the lit review is in sections.  You can (if your school approves) have sections within the lit review.  This bit of knowledge gave the individual the hope he needed to move – and have hope.  So, my advice is if you run into a barrier do the following:  Ask for help, Google the problem,talk to others, read books, talk to your faculty adviser, contact a reference librarian, put your question out there on Facebook…I promise you the answers are out there and only a few minutes away.

I now have a renewed commitment to help others.  I graduated with a Doctor of Education degree this month.  I cannot express the sense of relief I feel.  I also have a renewed resolve to help others learn what I should have known in the beginning.  Since I started with my 10 Things I wish I had known, I now have a “new and improved” list and it may have more than 10 things. I want to begin with the end in mind – this is doable and it is not as bad as you would think.  Looking back on  it I should have had an easier time, but here I am with all of this great advice.

I want to restart this blog with building background.  I did a qualitative study.  Our research class used Creswell’s  Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design (http://studysites.sagepub.com/creswellqi3e/main.htm).  I would encourage you to study this book before choosing a design and topic.  The upside to qualitative research is you tell a story.  The downside is your study depends on people agreeing to be interviewed by you.  One of my classmates chose a case study on one individual.  The genius in this choice is the option of turning this research into a biography.

I know – I stopped.  I had a good reason.  But to begin at the end, I am about ready to graduate.  I know so much more now and can be more helpful.  I plan to revise or enrich my 10 things I wish I had known.  I will try to post more.  Stay tuned.  Great things are coming.

Thing 3: Talk to people and listen; subscribe to newsletters

This is the single best time-saving strategy you will have. Doing things yourself is admirable, but learning from others saves valuable time. Those persons even one step ahead of you hold the answers to many of your questions. Through personal communication, social networking and subscriptions you can acquire the equivalent of a lifetime of research experience.

Strategize to network with your peers through many levels of association. If you are in a cohort, you have an automatic network. If not, start creating one with your doctoral classmates and those of varying stages of their program. Also, as soon as you are admitted to your program, join the student doctoral association.

Create opportunities to talk to your advisor and professors they have been through the whole process many times and can give you excellent advice. Also the librarians are experts at maneuvering through the research. They can also tell you with which library systems your university has share agreements. This will expand your research resources.

Attend proposal and dissertation defenses. Select defenses to attend for both qualitative and quantitative research. Focus on those which are through your department. Follow a proposal defense through to a dissertation defense in order to understand the entire process. Ask for copies of the presentations, proposals and dissertations for your records. At the end of each session, make notes of key ideas. If you can, try to network with doctoral candidate to get additional advice.

It has been almost a year since I posted.  I plan to complete what I start and therefore will finish my 10 Things I Wish I had Known…   I met with unspeakable tragedy this past year.  I did not know I could keep going.  It happened shortly after I completed my research.   I am in the process of healing and resuming my life.  The motivation is to dedicate my dissertation to the loved one I have lost. 

It is my plan to publish at least weekly to share what I have accomplished and how the work is going.  Thank you for reading my blog.

Thing 2: Keep a Detailed Dissertation Diary/Notebook

Don’t wait. No piece of information is too small or unimportant to record. Whether paper, digital, electronic or video, make a record of ideas and compile them in one location. Your phone is a convenient way to make notes and take pictures of ideas. Also, a dedicated tangible notebook or diary entitled dissertation will be a necessity. Everything will not be digitized in the beginning, so do not take a chance on losing anything important – save information from all forms of media including handwritten notes.

I don’t want to overwhelm you with notebooks, but saving a notebook for each graduate course is highly recommended. This notebook should contain handouts, class notes and returned tests and assignments. Like the dissertation notebook, these will contain information pieces which are priceless when you start your dissertation.
The whole dissertation process is a puzzle. You are collecting pieces and will not know how they fit until the end – so do not pass up a chance to catch a piece of your puzzle.