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The Education Dissertation

A Guide for Practitioner Scholars

Written for practicing educators, this resource provides a step-by-step process, organizational templates, and tips throughout for completing an academically rigorous dissertation.

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Product Details
  • Grade Level: K-12
  • ISBN: 9781412960441
  • Published By: Corwin
  • Year: 2009
  • Page Count: 184
  • Publication date: December 10, 2009
Price: $43.95
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Description

"With each turn of the page I found myself nodding 'exactly!' Whether as a class text assigned by faculty or as a self-study resource used by students, this book will resonate with readers."
—Doug Leigh, Associate Professor of Education
Pepperdine University

Use these focused guidelines to help you through every stage of the dissertation process!

Writing a dissertation requires focus and commitment. The Education Dissertation provides a step-by-step process for developing and completing an academically rigorous dissertation in a time-efficient manner.

Written for doctoral students in education who are also currently working in the field, this book provides specific and accessible guidance for the entire process, from finding a topic to conducting the literature review to writing and defending the dissertation. Grounded in adult learning theory, this volume:

  • Offers a clear, easy-to-follow approach that highlights key milestones with concrete goals and workable methods at each step
  • Discusses how practitioner scholars can apply their work experience to the dissertation
  • Includes organizational templates complete with detailed charts, checklists, a timeline, student examples, and rubrics
  • Provides tips throughout to help students think through situations
  • Covers both quantitative and qualitative research

Perfect for practicing educators at any stage of the dissertation process, this resource provides the "big picture" framework as well as the nitty-gritty details.


Key features

  • Guides the student through the entire process of writing a rigorous dissertation from selecting the research topic to defending the dissertation
  • Offers the student a road map complete with detailed charts, checklists, a timeline, many student examples and rubrics
  • Provides numerous "hints" throughout the book to help students think through situationsbefore proceeding
  • Explores the various types of research and the implications of each for the particular research topic selected by the student
  • Incorporates "Try This!" activities at each stage of the processto help students understand important concepts, e.g., how to start a literature review correctly, how to focus research questions, andhow to operationalize their ideas

Author(s)

Dan W. Butin photo

Dan W. Butin
Dan W. Butin is the founding dean of the school of education at Merrimack College. He is the editor and author of over fifty books, articles, and book chapters, including the books Teaching Social Foundations of Education and Service-Learning and Social Justice Education. Dr. Butin’s research focuses on issues of educator preparation and policy and community engagement. Dr. Butin has been the assistant dean of the school of education at Cambridge College and a faculty member at Gettysburg College. Prior to working in higher education, Dr. Butin taught middle school, in an adult GED program, and was the chief financial officer of Teacher For America. More about Dr. Butin’s teaching and scholarship can be found at http://danbutin.org/.

Table of Contents

List of Figures

Preface

Who Should Read This Book and Why

Key Features and How to Use Them

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Dedication

1. A Guide for Practitioner Scholars

Questioning the Doctorate

Seeing the Doctoral Process Through Doctoral Students’ Eyes

This Book as Guidelines and Guardrails

Strategies for Success

2. A Road Map From Start to Finish

The Big Picture: An Outline of the Process

The Dissertation Timeline

Your Own Timeline and Benchmarks

Embracing Technology: The Table of Contents and Reference List

Structuring Your Life as a Doctoral Student

3. Focusing Your Research

Articulating a Topic in “Academic Speak”

Narrowing the Topic

Your First Success at Focusing: Creating a Title and Research Question

A Final Thought: Focusing Your Research at a Cocktail Party

4. Structuring Your Research

Choosing a Theoretical Framework

Doing a Literature Review

Understanding Research Methodology

Choosing a Research Method

Empirical Methodologies

Linking Research Purpose to Research Method

5. Conducting Your Research

Linking Research Methods to Research Tools

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Some Final Thoughts Before "ABD-Land"

6. Putting It All Together: Completing Your Dissertation

The Dissertation as a “Machine”

Reverse Engineering Your Dissertation

What Are the Remaining Key Issues?

7. Defending and Moving On

The Dissertation Defense

Publish Your Findings

Apply Your Research: Impacting K-12 Education

Teach the Next Generation: Teaching in Higher Education

The Beginning of Your Journey as a Practitioner Scholar

Key Resources by Topic

References

Index

Reviews

Quote by Daniel L. Duke, Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Virginia: "The book is rich with ideas and strategies for thinking about every phase of the dissertation and for undertaking each phase once it has been carefully thought out."
"The book is rich with ideas and strategies for thinking about every phase of the dissertation and for undertaking each phase once it has been carefully thought out."
Daniel L. Duke, Professor of Educational Leadership
University of Virginia
Quote by Tammy J. Graham, Assistant Professor of Education, The Citadel: "The author does an excellent job of taking a serious, technical, overwhelming topic and making it fun and interesting to read."
"The author does an excellent job of taking a serious, technical, overwhelming topic and making it fun and interesting to read."
Tammy J. Graham, Assistant Professor of Education
The Citadel
Quote by Doug Leigh, Associate Professor of Education, Pepperdine University: "With each turn of the page I found myself nodding 'exactly!' Whether as a class text assigned by faculty or as a self-study resource used by students, this book will resonate with readers."
"With each turn of the page I found myself nodding 'exactly!' Whether as a class text assigned by faculty or as a self-study resource used by students, this book will resonate with readers."
Doug Leigh, Associate Professor of Education
Pepperdine University

Other Titles in: Staff Development & Professional Learning | Administration & Leadership | Data-Driven Decision Making

Price: $43.95
Volume Discounts applied in Shopping Cart

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.