Doctoral Dissertation help is often asked for in the final days of writing the dissertation - when some of these pitfalls are very hard to correct. Do you or a doctoral student you know worry about whether your work will pass the final defense? This presentation goes over some of the challenges that cause failure so that you might avoid it.

1. Thank You for coming
We will start in just a moment
Meanwhile sign in and say “hi”
Please type any data questions you may have into the chat window at the
bottom of the screen
Also if you add your email, I will send you these slides

2. Pitfalls in data collection and
analysis
What goes wrong?

3. The overview – three ways to say the same thing…
• Lack of internal
consistency – purpose
isn’t met by design,
instruments or methods
won’t result in answers
to the question
OR – a+ b can’t add up to c
• Not enough data or those
that you have are not
convincing/credible/
well organized - etc
= No “golden thread” each
section has its own focus
but does not tie back to
the focus of your study

4. So what goes wrong with data?
•Not enough of it
•Not displayed so others
can follow it
•“Misses the plot”

5. Not
enough
of it
A qualitative problem –
Not enough words to code =
weak codes,
Leads to unconvincing themes
Part of this is a
population/sample problem
– not enough makes us
wonder….
“What would all the others say?”

6. Displaying Findings so Others
Can Follow You- Do’s
Develop and describe the findings of the thesis
thoroughly so that you are completely credible to the
reader.
Take care to consistently and thoroughly address your aim
and objectives of your study
Keep revising until everything can be explained in simple
terms.
Apply your findings to broader social implications
and make them operational and actionable
(especially in social sciences).

7. Displaying Findings so Others
Can Follow You– Don’t
• Use statistics without being confident that your
analysis answers the questions you are asking
• Treat a write-up like a diary, with EVERYTHING in it
rather than just what worked or was properly
designed.
No “Data Dumps”

8. “Misses
the
plot”
Qualitative
• Doesn’t answer the question
• No clear path from data to results
• Leaves us asking questions
Quantitative
• Misuse of statistical measures (descriptive,
inferential, comparative, relational what are
you using and why?)
• Your reader should not have to understand
statistics to understand your findings or
results
• Measures used for no apparent reason

9. Questions?
Don’t be shy – someone else is probably
wondering the same thing

10. Bias Confirmation Bias:
In group Bias:
Gambler’s Fallacy:
Buyer’s Stockholm Syndrome
Probability Neglect
Observational Selection Bias:
Status-Quo Bias:
Negativity Bias
Bandwagon Effect:
Projection Bias:
The Current Moment Bias:
Anchoring Effect:
Bias Blind Spot:
http://www.doctoralnet.com/professors-blog/item/413-developing-a-game-about-bias-
for-doctoral-orientation.html

11. Design
Issues
Research
Question
Methodology
& Data
Source
The actual
questions you
ask
Population Data Analysis

12. The Right
Population is
Vitally
Important
Sub populations
you can get your
hands on
Those who will
answer your
questions
Are there enough people of the
right type to answer your
questions so that when you
have analyzed their message
they build a credible story?
Greater Population
All who could
answer your
questions
Sub populations
you can get your
hands on
Those who will
answer your
questions

13. Questions?
Make the most of your time here – ask
about anything that relates to doctoral
research /writing

14. Upcoming News/Events
New Monthly Content in Control Panel for Paying
Members mid this coming week:
• Video on normal vs outstanding dissertations
• Pdf on argumentation
Upcoming Conferences:
July 28th - What makes for outstanding dissertations and thesis?
August 11th - Writing an outstanding introduction to your thesis
August 25th The golden thread - building internal consistency throughout your
dissertation or thesis
September 8th- Committees, defense and publishing: The end games
1. We started a forum but so far no-one has used it much:
http://www.doctoralnet.com/free-dissertation-thesis-help/doctoral-student-
forum2.html
2. Like our Facebook page for contests this month – DNA membership/review of paper +
hourly consultation https://www.facebook.com/DoctoralNet