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(levine@msu.edu)IntroductionThisguidehasbeencreatedtoassistmygraduatestudentsinthinkingthroughthemanyaspectsofcrafting,implementinganddefendingathesisordissertationinareasrelatedtothedisciplineofadultlearning.Ithasbeenmypurposetosharewithmystudentssomeofthemanyideasthathavesurfacedoverthepastfewyearsthatdefinitelymakethetaskoffinishingagraduatedegreesomucheasier.(Note:ThisDissertation/ThesisGuideisacompaniontotheGuideforWritingaFundingProposalwhichcanalsobefoundontheworldwidewebat:)Usuallyaguideofthisnaturefocusesontheactualimplementationoftheresearch.Thisisnottheintentionofthisguide.Insteadofexaminingsuchaspectsasidentifyingappropriatesamplesize,fieldtestingtheinstrumentandselectingappropriatestatisticaltests,thisguidelooksatmanyofthequasi-politicalaspectsoftheprocess.Suchtopicsashowtoselectasupportivecommittee,makingacompellingpresentationofyourresearchoutcomesandstrategiesforactuallygettingthepaperwrittenarediscussed.Ofcourse,manyoftheideasthatarepresentedcanbeusedsuccessfullybyothergraduatestudentsstudyingundertheguidanceofotheradvisersandfrommanydifferentdisciplines.However,theuseofthisguidecarriesnoguarantee-impliedorotherwise.Whenindoubtcheckwithyouradviser.Probablythebestadvicetostartwithistheideaofnottryingtodoyour!The“ThinkingAboutIt”StageThethinkingaboutitstageiswhenyouarefinallyfacedwiththerealityofcompletingyourdegree.Usuallytheearlyphasesofagraduateprogramproceedinclearandverystructuredways.Thebeginningphasesofagraduateprogramproceedinmuchthesamemannerasanundergraduatedegreeprogram.Thereareclearrequirementsandexpectations,andthegraduatestudentmovesalong,stepbystep,gettingeverclosertothecompletionoftheprogram.Oneday,however,theclearstructurebeginstodiminishandnowyou'reapproachingthethesis/dissertationstage.Thisisanewanddifferenttime.Thesenextstepsaremoreandmoredefinedbyyouandnotyouradviser,theprogram,orthedepartment.UU1.Beinclusivewithyourthinking.Don'ttrytoeliminateideastooquickly.Buildonyourideasandseehowmanydifferentresearchprojectsyoucanidentify.Giveyourselftheluxuryofbeingexpansiveinyourthinkingatthisstage--youwon'tbeabletodothislateron.Tryandbecreative.UU2.Writedownyourideas.Thiswillallowyoutorevisitanidealateron.Or,youcanmodifyandchangeanidea.Ifyoudon'twriteyourideastheytendtobeinacontinualstateofchangeandyouwillprobablyhavethefeelingthatyou'renotgoinganywhere.Whatagreatfeelingitistobeabletositdownandscanthemanyideasyouhavebeenthinkingabout,ifthey'rewrittendown.UU3.Trynottobeoverlyinfluencedatthistimebywhatyoufeelothersexpectfromyou(yourcolleagues,yourprofession,youracademicdepartment,etc.).Youhaveamuchbetterchanceofselectingatopicthatwillbereallyofinteresttoyouifitisyourtopic.Thiswillbeoneofthefewopportunitiesyoumayhaveinyourprofessionallifetofocusinonaresearchtopicthatisreallyofyourownchoosing.UU4.Don'tbeginyourthinkingbyassumingthatyourresearchwilldrawinternationalattentiontoyou!!Instead,berealisticinsettingyourgoal.Makesureyourexpectationsaretemperedby:...therealizationthatyouarefulfillinganacademicrequirement,...thefactthattheprocessofconductingtheresearchmaybejustasimportant(ormoreimportant)thantheoutcomesoftheresearch,and(seethenextitem)andputastartandafinishtimeforeach.Postyourtimelineinaconspicuousplace(aboveyourcomputermonitor?)sothatitcontinuallyremindsyouhowyou'redoing.Periodicallyupdateyourtimelinewithnewdatesasneeded.(ThankstoawebsitevisitorfromPhiladelphiaforsharingthisidea.)UU6.Ifyou'regoingtoas