How To Write a Dissertation

Bow to prior knowledge + Boote & Beile (2005)

Description of and Justification for

Statistical/Factual interpretation

Opinion as expert but "objective"

Basic card

A card is the basic unit. It can represent anything -- a person, place, object, or any idea at all

List card

A card with some items in a list

Region

Use regions to identify sections of the canvas

Relationship

Drag the endpoints of the relationship tool to attach it to two cards and relate them

Perspectives

Filter and describe cards from unique points-of-view

Attributes

Categorize and filter cards in this map by metadata

Waypoints

Present your ideas in a walk-through of your map

Explain

Add a note about from the perspective of

Results and Findings

Results and Findings

Statistical/Factual interpretation

Findings

Methods

Tell 'em what you did, how and why

Your Sample

Description of and Justification for

Construct Validity

Literature Review

Tell 'em what others have said before you

Bow to prior knowledge + Boote & Beile (2005)

This is often the place that gets doctoral (dissertation) and masters students (thesis) held up. They don't know how to put boundaries on the literature. Use these two ideas as an overarching perspective.

Opinion as expert but "objective"

Use this as an overarching perspective

Introduction

Tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em

Start with an anecdotal or personal story

Conclusion

Tell 'em what you just told 'em

Succinctly state your Study/Hypothesis

Provide some "Next Steps" for future research

The research is never done...but you are!