Achieve your Goals by Breaking the Start-Stop Cycle
The start of a new year always feels inspiring to me. I know January 1st is technically just another day, but you have to admit, New Years brings with it a sense of fresh starts and opportunities that feels different from other days in the year. Whatever things you’ve been dreaming of accomplishing, let this new year […]
Data saturation and qualitative research
In qualitative research, the term “data saturation” is used to describe the point at which the integration of new participants doesn’t produce new findings. When saturation is achieved, enough information has been gathered to replicate the study and additional coding isn’t needed. Saturation helps indicate the robustness of a study, demonstrating the researcher has exhaustively […]
Dissertation editing: How long does it take?
Dissertation editing can be an intense project, even for manuscripts already in great shape. The time required to edit a dissertation depends on the quality of the writing and the type of editing needed. In this post, I’m going to break down the three main types of dissertation editing I provide to my clients, the […]
How to write the Problem Statement
There’s a distinct formula and style to dissertation writing. Understanding the parts of a dissertation and how they all fit together will help greatly in your dissertation writing journey. In this series of posts, I break down each part of Chapter 1 to guide your writing. At the end, I share an example from the […]
What’s a good dissertation topic?
The topic of your dissertation is a big deal. Generally, your dissertation topic is a subject you’ll eat, breathe, and sleep for at least a year. I often speak with candidates at the beginning of their dissertation writing journeys who feel completely overwhelmed by the task of deciding what they’re going to write about. For […]
Should I hire a dissertation coach? How to decide
If your dissertation journey isn’t progressing as you’d hoped, you may be wondering if it’s time to hire a dissertation coach. There are coaches for everything, right? Want to get in shape? Hire a coach. Grow your business? Hire a coach. Learn to play the guitar? Get a coach! A coach can help you learn […]
Can you write a dissertation in 2 weeks? The truth.
If you landed on this page, it’s likely you’ve found yourself in an uncomfortable dissertation writing crunch. A little searching on Google or reddit will reveal you’re not alone – some of the top related questions I came across included: Can you write a dissertation in 2 weeks? Can you write a dissertation in 3 […]
The five chapters of a dissertation – What’s included?
Hey scholars! In this post, I give a brief run-down on what to include in the 5 chapters of a dissertation. I describe the order of the dissertation chapters and the contents of each. Bear two things in mind: 1) not all programs follow a 5-chapter format, so check with your school’s template or handbook; […]
Dissertation stress: How to overcome it and reach out for help
Writer’s block (noun): a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece. “Writer’s block” is a common phrase we use to describe that jammed up feeling that every writer experiences at some point; it’s that frustrating space where no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get any words on paper. Often, […]
A helpful list of 10 APA7 updates to know
The APA released its updated 7th edition manual in 2019, replacing the 6th edition manual that was released in 2009. Over the last year, schools across the country have gradually transitioned to APA7, which means a lot of folks who started their projects following the 6th edition must now revise in alignment with APA7. This […]
Boost productivity with 6 proven strategies to end procrastination!
Procrastination is a leading cause of poor academic outcomes at all levels, from elementary all the way up to graduate school. All of us are guilty of it at some level — research indicates that as many as 20% of people are chronic procrastinators (Harriot & Ferrari, 1996). The fact is, procrastination feels good in […]
APA errors: How to avoid 10 common dissertation mistakes
After nearly a decade of academic editing, I’ve come to recognize a number of common APA errors in my clients’ work. These are actually errors commonly made by chairs and committee members, as well. As if the English language weren’t complicated enough, we’ve also got to account for stylistic preferences, changes to the 7th edition […]
How to choose the right research method for your study
One of the first things to consider when developing your study is which research method you’ll choose: qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Consider the following questions to help determine which research method is best for you. What type of data are available to me? The first thing you should consider is the type of data […]
How to define your research scope
A common struggle for graduate and post-graduate researchers is defining the scope of their investigations. Armed with tons of new knowledge and research on a topic of interest, choosing a research focus can make you feel like a kid in a candy shop. Especially if you have a deep, personal interest in your topic (which […]
Advice for dealing with dissertation criticism
Dealing with criticism is a part of life. Whether you’re a child who’s parents are criticizing your clothing choices or an adult who’s being grilled by your boss in an annual employee review, criticism is an unavoidable experience for most people — especially those who strive for growth and achievement. The way people perceive and […]
Finding the right dissertation consultant, coach, or editor to help
Searching for a Dissertation Consultant? During a recent conversation, a good friend and fellow business owner was venting his frustrations over a series of marketing professionals he had hired to set up effective lead management and drip marketing campaigns. At the time of our conversation, he had spent thousands of dollars on marketing “professionals” who […]
Tips for creating a strong theoretical framework (and why it matters)
A Theoretical…what? If the words “theoretical framework” leave you dreaming of better times – times before you leapt into what can sometimes feel like an abysmal dissertation journey, you’re not alone. Theoretical frameworks trip many people up, largely because they’re misunderstood. For many students, theoretical frameworks are like gadgets on late night infomercials you somehow […]
Writing your literature review? Try these 4 helpful tips
So it’s time to begin your lit review… Of the five dissertation chapters, I’ve found my clients often dread the literature review the most. The entire dissertation is a test of your fortitude, but the lit review is particularly difficult for many students. While the official purpose of the literature review is to demonstrate your […]
How to fix common issues with problem statements
Many students have a difficult time crafting problem statements for their dissertations. This is often because they use logic — but so much of the dissertation process is illogical that it’s a good idea to get accustomed to that from the start. Although part of the problem is certainly a lack of existing research, your […]
What you need to know about the 85/15 rule
One thing that trips up a lot of students up is the 85/15 rule. Basically, this means that 85% of the studies you cite in your paper must have been published within five years of the year you anticipate to graduate. For example, if you intend to graduate in 2016, at least 85% of your […]
How to handle dissertation feedback with grace
The number of revisions that committee and board members can demand never ceases to amaze me. You’d think that by now, I’d come to fully expect the completely unnecessary, incoherent requests for changes (like being told to change something, then told to reverse the changes, and then being asked why you changed them back). And […]
Research 101: Developing strong questions
One of the first steps in the dissertation writing process should be drafting research questions. Your research questions are the core of your dissertation, out of which everything else will develop. Too often, students draft up questions without considering some of the biggest factors. This can end up costing them a significant amount of time […]