| Preface |
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xi | |
| Acknowledgments |
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xii | |
| About the Authors |
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xv | |
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Part I: Establishing the Foundations |
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1 | (82) |
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Laying the Groundwork for the Thesis and Dissertation |
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3 | (14) |
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Understanding the Special Nature of the Dissertation |
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4 | (4) |
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Making Ethical Choices With Respect to the Dissertation |
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8 | (5) |
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Securing the Needed Resources |
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13 | (2) |
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Understanding the Key Differences Between the Thesis and the Dissertation |
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15 | (1) |
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16 | (1) |
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Finding a Research Problem |
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17 | (14) |
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Make a Personal Assessment of Topics |
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18 | (5) |
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Conduct a Broad Scan of the Literature |
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23 | (6) |
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29 | (1) |
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Fix on the Research Topic and Research Problem |
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29 | (2) |
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Conducting a Focused Review of the Literature |
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31 | (8) |
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31 | (1) |
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Retrieve All Related Abstracts |
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32 | (1) |
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33 | (2) |
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Retrieve the Full Texts of the Most Useful Sources |
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35 | (1) |
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36 | (1) |
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Develop an Annotated Bibliography |
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37 | (1) |
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38 | (1) |
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Making a Preliminary Choice of Methodology |
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39 | (8) |
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Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives |
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39 | (2) |
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41 | (3) |
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44 | (1) |
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45 | (2) |
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Organizing and Scheduling Your Work |
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47 | (6) |
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48 | (2) |
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Make the Tentative Entries |
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50 | (3) |
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Developing the Prospectus and Organizing the Committee |
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53 | (10) |
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A Rationale for the Prospectus |
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53 | (1) |
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Developing the Prospectus |
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54 | (3) |
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Choosing and Organizing the Committee |
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57 | (6) |
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63 | (6) |
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Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages |
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63 | (1) |
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Structuring the Collaborative |
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64 | (1) |
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Prepare for Comprehensive Examinations |
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64 | (2) |
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Formalize the Structure and Request Adviser Approval |
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66 | (1) |
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Help the Group Remain Productive |
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66 | (3) |
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69 | (8) |
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The History of Technology and the Dissertation |
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69 | (2) |
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71 | (1) |
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71 | (1) |
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72 | (1) |
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72 | (1) |
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73 | (1) |
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73 | (1) |
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Cautions in Using the Technology |
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74 | (3) |
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Learning From the Pre-Proposal Conference |
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77 | (6) |
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77 | (1) |
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Examine the Research Problem |
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78 | (1) |
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78 | (1) |
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79 | (1) |
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Determine the Nature of the Proposal |
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79 | (2) |
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Follow Up on the Conference |
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81 | (2) |
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Part II: Developing and Defending the Proposal |
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83 | (44) |
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Conducting a Comprehensive Critique of the Literature |
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85 | (12) |
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Maintain Good Research Practices Throughout the Search |
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86 | (1) |
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Develop an Outline for the Search |
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86 | (3) |
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Establish Parameters for the Search |
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89 | (1) |
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Conduct a Comprehensive Search |
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90 | (2) |
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Critique All Sources Retrieved |
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92 | (3) |
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95 | (2) |
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Detailing the Methodology |
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97 | (10) |
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The Research Design: Its General Nature |
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97 | (1) |
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The Research Design: Type-Specific Issues |
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98 | (7) |
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Develop Your Research Design |
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105 | (2) |
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Developing and Defending the Proposal |
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107 | (20) |
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Developing the Proposal: The Big Picture |
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108 | (1) |
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Developing the Proposal: Writing Chapter 1 |
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109 | (6) |
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Developing the Proposal: Writing Chapter 2 |
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115 | (6) |
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Developing the Proposal: Writing Chapter 3 |
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121 | (1) |
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Developing the Proposal: The Appendix Section |
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122 | (1) |
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Holding the Proposal Defense |
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122 | (5) |
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Part III: Researching and Writing the Thesis or Dissertation |
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127 | (92) |
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Carrying Out the Research Design |
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129 | (6) |
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Communicate Periodically With the Chair |
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129 | (1) |
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Ensure Access to the Research Site |
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130 | (1) |
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Avoid Premature Data Collection |
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131 | (1) |
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Develop a Detailed Planning Calendar |
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131 | (1) |
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Change the Schedule as Needed |
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131 | (1) |
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Prevent Problems With the Intervention |
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132 | (1) |
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133 | (1) |
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Ensure a High Rate of Return on Surveys |
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133 | (1) |
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Maintain Careful and Duplicate Records |
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134 | (1) |
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Mastering the Academic Style |
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135 | (20) |
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Follow the Recommended Style Guide |
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135 | (1) |
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136 | (6) |
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Mastering the Academic Style |
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142 | (13) |
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Organizing the Dissertation |
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155 | (8) |
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How Are Dissertations Organized? |
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155 | (2) |
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What Principles Govern the Organization of Individual Chapters? |
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157 | (1) |
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How Can the Organization Be Made Clear to the Reader? |
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157 | (4) |
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How Is the Dissertation Finally Packaged? |
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161 | (2) |
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Writing the Introductory Chapter |
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163 | (8) |
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Introduction to the Chapter |
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164 | (1) |
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The Background of the Study |
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165 | (1) |
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166 | (1) |
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The Professional Significance of the Study |
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167 | (1) |
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168 | (1) |
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Delimitations and Definitions |
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168 | (3) |
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Writing the Review of the Literature |
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171 | (14) |
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Update the Comprehensive Critique of the Literature |
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172 | (1) |
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172 | (1) |
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Develop the Final Outline |
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173 | (2) |
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Use Levels of Headings That Reflect the Outline |
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175 | (2) |
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Write the Introductory Paragraph |
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177 | (1) |
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Write the First Section of the Review |
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178 | (4) |
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Write the Remaining Sections, Including a Summary |
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182 | (1) |
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183 | (1) |
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183 | (2) |
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Explaining the Methodology |
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185 | (12) |
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Prepare to Write the Chapter |
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185 | (1) |
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Use an Objective Style in Writing the Chapter |
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185 | (1) |
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Determine the Content of the Chapter |
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186 | (1) |
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Outline the Chapter and Use Headings Appropriately |
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187 | (3) |
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Describe the Context for the Study |
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190 | (2) |
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Identify the Subjects or Participants |
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192 | (1) |
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Identify the Instruments Used to Collect Data |
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193 | (1) |
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Explain the Procedures Used in Carrying Out the Design |
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194 | (1) |
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Explain How the Data Were Analyzed |
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195 | (1) |
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196 | (1) |
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197 | (6) |
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Prepare to Present the Results |
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197 | (1) |
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Decide on the Contents and Format of the Chapter |
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197 | (1) |
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Determine the Organization of the Chapter |
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198 | (1) |
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Develop the Tables and Figures |
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199 | (1) |
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Write the Introductory Paragraph |
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200 | (1) |
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201 | (1) |
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Write the Remaining Sections, Using Appropriate Headings |
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202 | (1) |
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Revise the Chapter and Submit It for Review |
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202 | (1) |
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Summarizing and Discussing the Results |
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203 | (8) |
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Review the Results Reported |
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203 | (1) |
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Develop an Outline of the Final Chapter |
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204 | (1) |
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Write the Introductory Paragraph |
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204 | (1) |
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Restate the Problem and Review the Methodology |
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205 | (1) |
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205 | (2) |
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Discuss the Meaning of the Study |
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207 | (4) |
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Preparing the Dissertation for Defense |
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211 | (8) |
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Secure the Needed Resources |
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211 | (1) |
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212 | (1) |
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Check on Content and Order |
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213 | (1) |
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214 | (1) |
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Write the Title and Approval Pages |
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214 | (1) |
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Write the Acknowledgments Page |
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215 | (1) |
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Write the Table of Contents and Lists of Tables and Figures |
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215 | (1) |
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215 | (1) |
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216 | (1) |
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216 | (1) |
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217 | (2) |
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Part IV: Defending and Profiting From the Dissertation |
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219 | (18) |
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Holding a Successful Defense |
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221 | (6) |
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221 | (1) |
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222 | (4) |
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226 | (1) |
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Publishing From the Thesis or Dissertation |
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227 | (10) |
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Add to the Research Knowledge Base |
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227 | (1) |
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Present a Scholarly Paper |
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228 | (1) |
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Publish a Journal Article |
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229 | (5) |
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Develop a Plan to Publish a Book |
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234 | (3) |
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Part V: Solving Problems Throughout the Dissertation Process |
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237 | (22) |
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Solving Problems With the Committee |
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239 | (10) |
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Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee |
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239 | (1) |
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The Dynamics of the Committee |
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240 | (1) |
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Preventing Problems With the Committee |
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241 | (3) |
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Dealing With Committee Problems |
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244 | (5) |
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Solving Personal Problems With the Dissertation |
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249 | (10) |
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Problems Near the End of Course Work |
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250 | (3) |
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Problems at the End of Course Work |
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253 | (2) |
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Problems After the Proposal |
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255 | (2) |
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Problems After the Defense |
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257 | (2) |
| References |
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259 | (2) |
| Index |
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261 | |