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The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:
The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.
Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).
Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:
However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.
At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.
A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.
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Caulfield, J. (2022, May 05). What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started. Scribbr. Retrieved 18 September 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/what-is-a-dissertation/
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Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.
When preparing the dissertation for submission, students must meet the following minimum formatting requirements. The Registrar’s Office will review the dissertation for compliance and these formatting elements and will contact the student to confirm acceptance or to request revision. The Harvard Griffin GSAS resource on dissertation formatting best practices expands on many of the elements below.
Please carefully review your dissertation before submitting it to ProQuestETD. The Registrar’s Office will email you through ProQuest if they have identified major formatting errors that need correction. Students will be provided with a brief extended deadline to make only the requested formatting updates.
Students can refer to the resource on Dissertation Formatting Best Practice Resource for information on best practices for front and back matter
Individual academic programs may require additional formatting elements to meet the standards of a specific field or discipline. Students are responsible to ensure that their Dissertation Advisory Committee is in support of the final formatting as signified by the sign off on the Thesis Acceptance Certificate. Any deviation from these requirements may lead to rejection of the dissertation and delay in the conferral of the degree.
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Wondering how to tackle the biggest doctoral challenge of all? Use our guide to the Ed.D. dissertation to get started! Learn about the purpose of a Doctor of Education dissertation and typical topics for education students. Read through step-by-step descriptions of the dissertation process and the 5-chapter format. Get answers to Ed.D. dissertation FAQs . Or skip to the chase and find real-world examples of Doctor of Education dissertations and websites & resources for Ed.D. dissertation research.
Definition of an ed.d. dissertation.
An Ed.D. dissertation is a 5-chapter scholarly document that brings together years of original research to address a problem of practice in education. To complete a dissertation, you will need to go through a number of scholarly steps , including a final defense to justify your findings.
In a Doctor of Education dissertation, you will be challenged to apply high-level research & creative problem-solving to real-world educational challenges. You may be asked to:
An Ed.D. dissertation is “customizable.” You’re allowed to chose a topic that relates to your choice of specialty (e.g. elementary education), field of interest (e.g. curriculum development), and environment (e.g. urban schools).
Think about current problems of practice that need to be addressed in your field. You’ll notice that Ed.D. dissertation topics often address one of the following:
Wondering how others have done it? Browse through Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations and read the titles & abstracts. You’ll see how current educators are addressing their own problems of practice.
1. propose a dissertation topic.
Near the beginning of a Doctor of Education program, you’ll be expected to identify a dissertation topic that will require substantial research. This topic should revolve around a unique issue in education.
Universities will often ask you to provide an idea for your topic when you’re applying to the doctoral program. You don’t necessarily need to stick to this idea, but you should be prepared to explain why it interests you. If you need inspiration, see our section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations .
You’ll be expected to solidify your dissertation topic in the first few semesters. Talking to faculty and fellow Ed.D. students can help in this process. Better yet, your educational peers will often be able to provide unique perspectives on the topic (e.g. cultural differences in teaching methods).
You won’t be going through the Ed.D. dissertation process alone! Universities will help you to select a number of experienced mentors. These include:
Doctor of Education coursework is designed to help you: a) learn how to conduct original research; and b) give you a broader perspective on your field of interest. If you take a look at the curriculum in any Ed.D. program, you’ll see that students have to complete credits in:
When you’re evaluating possible Ed.D. programs, pay attention to the coursework in real-world educational issues. You’ll want to pick an education doctorate with courses that complement your dissertation topic.
A literature review is an evaluation of existing materials & research work that relate to your dissertation topic. It’s a written synthesis that:
Have a look at Literature Review Guides if you’d like to know more about the process. Our section on Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research also has useful links to journals & databases.
During the first two years of your Doctor of Education, you’ll use the knowledge you’ve learned from your coursework & discussions to write the opening chapters of your dissertation, including an:
When you’re putting together these elements, think about the practicals. Is the topic too big to address in one dissertation? How much time will your research take and how will you conduct it? Will your dissertation be relevant to your current job? If in doubt, ask your faculty advisor.
About midway through the Ed.D. program, you will need to present your proposal to your Dissertation Committee. They will review your work and offer feedback. For example, the Committee will want to see that:
After the Committee approves your proposal, you can get stuck into conducting original research and writing up your findings. These two important tasks will take up the final years of your doctorate.
As a Doctor of Education student, you will be expected to conduct your own research. Ed.D. students often use a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods (quantitative/qualitative) approach in this process.
Your Ed.D. coursework will ground you in research methods & tools, so you’ll be prepared to design your own project and seek IRB approval for any work involving human subjects.
Note: Occasionally, universities can get creative. For example, the Ed.D. program at San Jose State University asks students to produce a documentary film instead of conducting traditional research.
Once you have written up the first few chapters of your dissertation (Intro, Literature Review & Proposed Methodology) and completed your research work, you’ll be able to complete the final chapters of your dissertation.
This is where you and your faculty advisor will often have a lot of interaction! For example, you may need to rework the first few chapters of your dissertation after you’ve drafted the final chapters. Faculty advisors are extremely busy people, so be sure to budget in ample time for revisions and final edits.
The final defense/candidacy exam is a formal presentation of your work to the Dissertation Committee. In many cases, the defense is an oral presentation with visual aides. You’ll be able to explain your research findings, go through your conclusions, and highlight new ideas & solutions.
At any time, the Committee can challenge you with questions, so you should be prepared to defend your conclusions. But this process is not as frightening as it sounds!
Be aware that the Committee has the option to ask for changes before they approve your dissertation. After you have incorporated any notes from the Committee and addressed their concerns, you will finalize the draft, submit your dissertation for a formal review, and graduate.
Chapter 1: introduction.
Your Doctor of Education dissertation will begin with an introduction. In it, you’ll be expected to:
The literature review is a summary of existing research in the field. However, it is not an annotated bibliography. Instead, it’s a critical analysis of current research (e.g. trends, themes, debates & current practices). While you’re evaluating the literature, you’re also looking for the gaps where you can conduct original research.
Sources for a literature review can include books, articles, reports, websites, dissertations, and more. Our section on Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research has plenty of places to start.
In the research methodology, you’ll be expected to explain:
Chapter 4 is the place where you can share the results of your original research and present key findings from the data. In your analysis, you may also be highlighting new patterns, relationships, and themes that other scholars have failed to discover. Have a look at real-life Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations to see how this section is structured.
The final chapter of your Ed.D. dissertation brings all of your work together in a detailed summary. You’ll be expected to:
What’s the difference between a dissertation and a thesis.
It depends. Most Ed.D. dissertations end up being between 80-200 pages. The length will depend on a number of factors, including the depth of your literature review, the way you collect & present your research data, and any appendices you might need to include.
It depends. If you’re in an accelerated program , you may be able to finish your dissertation in 2-3 years. If you’re in a part-time program and need to conduct a lot of complex research work, your timeline will be much longer.
Experts always say that Doctor of Education students should be passionate about their dissertation topic and eager to explore uncharted territory. When you’re crafting your Ed.D. dissertation topic , find one that will be:
See the section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations for inspiration.
No. If you’re struggling with the idea of a traditional dissertation, check out this guide to Online Ed.D. Programs with No Dissertation . Some Schools of Education give Ed.D. students the opportunity to complete a Capstone Project or Dissertation in Practice (DiP) instead of a 5-chapter written work.
These alternatives aren’t easy! You’ll still be challenged at the same level as you would be for a dissertation. However, Capstone Projects & DiPs often involve more group work and an emphasis on applied theory & research.
Have a look at our Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. Guide to get a sense of the differences between the two degrees. In a nutshell:
Start with the section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations . You can browse through titles, abstracts, and even complete dissertations from a large number of universities.
If you have a few Doctor of Education programs on your shortlist, we also recommend that you skim through the program’s Dissertation Handbook . It can usually be found on the School of Education’s website. You’ll be able to see how the School likes to structure the dissertation process from start to finish.
University & campus resources, dissertation chair & committee.
The first port of call for any questions about the Ed.D. dissertation is your Dissertation Chair. If you get stuck with a terrible faculty advisor, talk to members of the Dissertation Committee. They are there to support your journey.
An Ed.D. dissertation is a massive research project. So before you choose a Doctor of Education program, ask the School of Education about its libraries & library resources (e.g. free online access to subscription-based journals).
Many universities have a Writing Center. If you’re struggling with any elements of your dissertation (e.g. editing), you can ask the staff about:
It’s well-known that doctoral students often face a lot of stress & isolation during their studies. Ask your faculty advisor about mental health services at the university. Staff in the School of Education and the Graduate School will also have information about on-campus counselors, free or discounted therapy sessions, and more.
Dissertation editing services: potentially helpful.
There are scores of independent providers who offer dissertation editing services. But they can be expensive. And many of these editors have zero expertise in educational fields.
If you need help with editing & proofreading, proceed with caution:
Dissertation coaches are defined as people who offer academic & mental support, guidance, and editorial input.
But hiring an independent Ed.D. dissertation coach is going to be an absolute waste of money.
Universities take the dissertation process very seriously . An Ed.D. dissertation is supposed to be the culmination of years of original thought and research. You’re going to be responsible for the final product. You’re going to be defending your written work in front of a phalanx of experienced faculty members. You’re going to be putting this credential on your résumé for everyone to see.
If you cheat the process by having someone else write up your work, you will get caught.
Examples of ed.d. dissertations, dissertation databases.
General ed.d. guides.
Style manuals are designed to ensure that every Ed.D. student follows the same set of writing guidelines for their dissertation (e.g. grammatical rules, footnote & quotation formats, abbreviation conventions, etc.). Check with the School of Education to learn which style manual they use.
Each School of Education has a standard dissertation template. We’ve highlighted a couple of examples so you can see how they’re formatted, but you will need to acquire the template from your own university.
Journal articles.
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Published on September 14, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on April 16, 2024.
A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master’s program or a capstone to a bachelor’s degree.
Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation , it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete. It relies on your ability to conduct research from start to finish: choosing a relevant topic , crafting a proposal , designing your research , collecting data , developing a robust analysis, drawing strong conclusions , and writing concisely .
You can also download our full thesis template in the format of your choice below. Our template includes a ready-made table of contents , as well as guidance for what each chapter should include. It’s easy to make it your own, and can help you get started.
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Thesis vs. thesis statement, how to structure a thesis, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your thesis, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about theses.
You may have heard the word thesis as a standalone term or as a component of academic writing called a thesis statement . Keep in mind that these are two very different things.
Discover proofreading & editing
The final structure of your thesis depends on a variety of components, such as:
Humanities theses are often structured more like a longer-form essay . Just like in an essay, you build an argument to support a central thesis.
In both hard and social sciences, theses typically include an introduction , literature review , methodology section , results section , discussion section , and conclusion section . These are each presented in their own dedicated section or chapter. In some cases, you might want to add an appendix .
We’ve compiled a short list of thesis examples to help you get started.
The very first page of your thesis contains all necessary identifying information, including:
Sometimes the title page also includes your student ID, the name of your supervisor, or the university’s logo. Check out your university’s guidelines if you’re not sure.
Read more about title pages
The acknowledgements section is usually optional. Its main point is to allow you to thank everyone who helped you in your thesis journey, such as supervisors, friends, or family. You can also choose to write a preface , but it’s typically one or the other, not both.
Read more about acknowledgements Read more about prefaces
Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:
See an example
An abstract is a short summary of your thesis. Usually a maximum of 300 words long, it’s should include brief descriptions of your research objectives , methods, results, and conclusions. Though it may seem short, it introduces your work to your audience, serving as a first impression of your thesis.
Read more about abstracts
A table of contents lists all of your sections, plus their corresponding page numbers and subheadings if you have them. This helps your reader seamlessly navigate your document.
Your table of contents should include all the major parts of your thesis. In particular, don’t forget the the appendices. If you used heading styles, it’s easy to generate an automatic table Microsoft Word.
Read more about tables of contents
While not mandatory, if you used a lot of tables and/or figures, it’s nice to include a list of them to help guide your reader. It’s also easy to generate one of these in Word: just use the “Insert Caption” feature.
Read more about lists of figures and tables
If you have used a lot of industry- or field-specific abbreviations in your thesis, you should include them in an alphabetized list of abbreviations . This way, your readers can easily look up any meanings they aren’t familiar with.
Read more about lists of abbreviations
Relatedly, if you find yourself using a lot of very specialized or field-specific terms that may not be familiar to your reader, consider including a glossary . Alphabetize the terms you want to include with a brief definition.
Read more about glossaries
An introduction sets up the topic, purpose, and relevance of your thesis, as well as expectations for your reader. This should:
In other words, your introduction should clearly and concisely show your reader the “what, why, and how” of your research.
Read more about introductions
A literature review helps you gain a robust understanding of any extant academic work on your topic, encompassing:
A literature review is not merely a summary of existing work. Rather, your literature review should ultimately lead to a clear justification for your own research, perhaps via:
Read more about literature reviews
Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework, but these are not the same thing. A theoretical framework defines and analyzes the concepts and theories that your research hinges on.
Read more about theoretical frameworks
Your methodology chapter shows your reader how you conducted your research. It should be written clearly and methodically, easily allowing your reader to critically assess the credibility of your argument. Furthermore, your methods section should convince your reader that your method was the best way to answer your research question.
A methodology section should generally include:
Read more about methodology sections
Your results section should highlight what your methodology discovered. These two sections work in tandem, but shouldn’t repeat each other. While your results section can include hypotheses or themes, don’t include any speculation or new arguments here.
Your results section should:
Additional data (like raw numbers or interview transcripts ) can be included as an appendix . You can include tables and figures, but only if they help the reader better understand your results.
Read more about results sections
Your discussion section is where you can interpret your results in detail. Did they meet your expectations? How well do they fit within the framework that you built? You can refer back to any relevant source material to situate your results within your field, but leave most of that analysis in your literature review.
For any unexpected results, offer explanations or alternative interpretations of your data.
Read more about discussion sections
Your thesis conclusion should concisely answer your main research question. It should leave your reader with an ultra-clear understanding of your central argument, and emphasize what your research specifically has contributed to your field.
Why does your research matter? What recommendations for future research do you have? Lastly, wrap up your work with any concluding remarks.
Read more about conclusions
In order to avoid plagiarism , don’t forget to include a full reference list at the end of your thesis, citing the sources that you used. Choose one citation style and follow it consistently throughout your thesis, taking note of the formatting requirements of each style.
Which style you choose is often set by your department or your field, but common styles include MLA , Chicago , and APA.
Create APA citations Create MLA citations
In order to stay clear and concise, your thesis should include the most essential information needed to answer your research question. However, chances are you have many contributing documents, like interview transcripts or survey questions . These can be added as appendices , to save space in the main body.
Read more about appendices
Once you’re done writing, the next part of your editing process begins. Leave plenty of time for proofreading and editing prior to submission. Nothing looks worse than grammar mistakes or sloppy spelling errors!
Consider using a professional thesis editing service or grammar checker to make sure your final project is perfect.
Once you’ve submitted your final product, it’s common practice to have a thesis defense, an oral component of your finished work. This is scheduled by your advisor or committee, and usually entails a presentation and Q&A session.
After your defense , your committee will meet to determine if you deserve any departmental honors or accolades. However, keep in mind that defenses are usually just a formality. If there are any serious issues with your work, these should be resolved with your advisor way before a defense.
If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
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The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.
If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .
If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.
When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .
A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.
Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:
A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.
Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
George, T. (2024, April 16). What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/thesis/
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Faculty of --> faculty of graduate research, thesis length.
Research theses have a word limit that you must comply with.
A PhD thesis should not exceed a total of 100,000 words in length (or 70,000 for most professional doctorates), including scholarly apparatus such as footnotes or endnotes, essential appendices and bibliography. A doctoral thesis should however, be concise. Examiners often criticise excessive length, which frequently indicates poor judgement.
When you submit, you will be asked to certify that your thesis falls within the relevant word limit.
In exceptional circumstances, the Dean—Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research may grant permission for you to submit a longer thesis. You will need to apply for permission to exceed the word limit well in advance of submission.
Word limits
Home > ETD > Doctoral > 6041
High workload effects on patient satisfaction and profitability of nursing homes.
Richard RA Alrayes , Liberty University Follow
Graduate School of Business
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Angela Cline
High Workload Effects, Patient Satisfaction, Profitability of Nursing Homes
Life Sciences
Alrayes, Richard RA, "High Workload Effects on Patient Satisfaction and Profitability of Nursing Homes" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects . 6041. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6041
The main issue focused on in the research is that increased workload experienced by employees in nursing homes in Houston, TX creates an increase in medical errors and results in the loss of customer satisfaction and profitability to the business. To address the problem, convergent parallel mixed methods were used to understand the effect of high workload on patient satisfaction and the profitability of nursing homes in Houston, Texas. The mixed methods study was guided by four research questions: (1) How does increased workload experienced by employees in nursing homes impact the quality of provided healthcare services? (2) How does the increase in medical errors (complaints) in nursing homes, as an indicator of the quality of provided healthcare services, impact the level of customer satisfaction and reflect profitability to the business? (3) What are the relational and professional practices that can help to overcome the obstacles of increased workload experienced by employees in nursing homes? (4) What is the relationship between the staff-patient ratio and the number of patient complaints, and between the staff-patient ratio and the bed occupancy rate in nursing homes in Houston, Texas? The qualitative data were gathered using information acquired from the face-to-face interviews. The qualitative data were organized in an Excel sheet and the codes and themes were developed accordingly. The coding process highlighted symmetric words. Codes and sub-codes were identified, conveying the work experience or information relevant to the in-person interview questions. The quantitative data collection consisted of pulling out data from a primary source of information (Medicare.gov). The data were registered into an Excel sheet. The information was then exported from Microsoft® Excel into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software for final analysis. The convergent parallel design is appropriate for the study as both qualitative and quantitative data are needed to have a comprehensive understanding of the effects of work overload. The significance of the study was to understand the phenomena of high workload and its effects on the residents and the nursing home facilities in Houston, Texas. The intention was to provide more in-depth information regarding how much high workload will reflect on the quality of medical services and finances of the nursing homes. The results of my study will assist nursing homes’ decision-makers when reviewing their staffing policy, open the door to expanding the vision of the staffing process, and shed light on the long-term effects of high workload.
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SRCD congratulates the 2024 Student and Early Career Council Dissertation Funding Awardees.
Established in 2008 by the SRCD Student and Early Career Council (SECC) , the Dissertation Research Funding Awards (DFAs) are given to dissertation research proposals that are exceptionally noteworthy and display a strong potential to contribute to the field of child development. Each recipient is awarded $2,000 USD to use for research costs related to the proposed dissertation project.
SRCD is pleased to recognize the following ten scholars as the 2024 awardees: Samantha Basch , Inés Botto , Sofia Sebben Colognese , Linyun Fu , Emma Hart , Yan Jiang , Virnaliz Jimenez , Taehee Kim , Elizabeth Perkovich , Lucinda Sisk
Given the strength and quality of their applications, SRCD would also like to recognize the following five 2024 Honorable Mentions: Johana Bernard, Kaitlyn Pritzl, Gayane Baziyants, Minci Zhang, Qinyang Liu
"Supporting Learning in the Second Year of life: Language, Culture, and Context"
Samantha Basch is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working under the mentorship of Dr. Su-hua Wang. Her research integrates cognitive and sociocultural frameworks to highlight the strengths young children and their families bring to learning. Specifically, she examines caregiver-child language in diverse contexts to understand how cultural practices foster cognitive development. Overall, her goal is to advance ecologically valid and culturally inclusive understandings of cognitive development in infancy and early childhood. Samantha’s dissertation investigates how mothers use different types of language to support learning in various home activities, focusing on how parental ethnotheories are expressed through language practices. This mixed-methods study involves naturalistic home observations of mothers with their 12- to 24-month-old infants collected as part of the PLAY project. Observations are followed by video-cued interviews, where participants watch and comment on videos of mother-child interactions to prompt reflections on cultural practices. The project aims to offer a nuanced view of how culture influences parenting, emphasizing the role of context and within-culture variation in approaches to early childhood learning.
“White Children’s Racial Learning in Contexts of Resistance: A Grounded Theory Study”
Inés Botto is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, under the mentorship of Dr. Margaret Kerr. Her research focuses on white children’s understanding of themselves as racialized actors, and their participation in their own racial socialization. Inés’ dissertation will explore young white children’s racial learning within white families who adopt intentional efforts to raise children committed to racial justice. Specifically, her study asks, 1) What understandings about race, personal racial identity, and racism do white children construct when raised in these contexts? 2) How are their understandings informed by the racial socialization practices enacted by their parents? and 3) How do these understandings reinforce or resist hegemonic narratives of race and whiteness? Inés hopes to use the findings that emerge from this study as a basis for future research exploring what moves white individuals from a state of ignorance or ambivalence about racial inequality, and towards a sense of responsibility for racial justice from the earliest stages of development.
“Parental Reflective Functioning and Child Emotional Regulation in the Context of Screen Use in Childhood”
Sofia is a doctoral candidate in Psychology at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. She works under the guidance of Dr. Giana Frizzo in Brazil with co-supervision from Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick of the Université de Sherbrooke, Canada. Committed to the importance of fostering healthy and happy childhoods, Sofia is dedicated to exploring topics related to child development and family dynamics across various contexts. Her personal and academic experiences intersect with the rise of digital technology, leading her to investigate its implications for early childhood. Adopting an ecological approach to understand development, Sofia’s dissertation employs quantitative and qualitative methodologies to investigate young children's screen usage and its interaction with parental and child factors. Her aim is to leverage these findings to drive the development of evidence-based early childhood programs and policies that protect children's emotional well-being and assist parents in managing the complexities of parenting in the digital age. Sofia also intends to integrate academic insights into her future practice with children and families, thereby bridging research and practical applications to foster child development.
“Exploring the Dynamics of a Culturally Sensitive School-Based Social-Emotional Learning Program for Rural Chinese Children: Evaluating Effectiveness, Mediators, and Moderators”
Linyun Fu is a doctoral candidate in social work at the University of Chicago, where she is mentored by Dr. Curtis McMillen and works with Dr. Leyla Ismayilova. As a first-generation college student who grew up in a rural village in China, Linyun is passionate about developing and examining culturally sensitive prevention and intervention strategies for marginalized children in specific cultural contexts. She holds a particular interest in the impact of culturally grounded or adapted Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs for minoritized children. She has been a community-engaged researcher for over six years, working closely with the RICI Foundation, an NGO in China through supporting their SEL program development and program evaluation to promote rural children’s well-being. In partnership with the education bureau, her dissertation adopts a matched-pair, cluster-randomization design in a southwest county of China and seeks to: 1) assess the effectiveness of an 18-session culturally sensitive SEL program, co-developed with local experts, in enhancing rural children’s social-emotional competencies, reducing internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and improving educational outcomes; 2) investigate the mechanisms underlying the program's impact; and 3) identify subgroups of children who benefit most from the intervention. The findings from her dissertation have the potential to inform a large-scale initiative led by local governments to improve educational and emotional outcomes for marginalized children.
“Understanding Child Skill Development by Examining Longitudinal Educational Intervention Impacts”
Emma Hart is a doctoral candidate in Developmental Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University mentored by Drs. Tyler Watts and Kimberly Noble. Her research examines the role that early skills and contexts play in shaping later development. To this end, she studies the short-term and long-term effects of interventions that experimentally aim to modify these early influences. Her work has primarily focused on programs designed to support children experiencing poverty. Her dissertation investigates two unexpected patterns that have emerged from longitudinal intervention evaluations: 1) While interventions often improve child skills in the short term, these effects commonly fade over time, and 2) Despite this fadeout, some interventions have long-term effects on important adult outcomes. Using three unique datasets and meta-analytic methods, Emma’s dissertation seeks to identify the extent to which fadeout and emergence are broadly observed and whether we can forecast when programs are likely to have long-run effects. In doing so, she hopes to test the plausibility of skill-building processes that have been theorized to explain the fadeout-emergence paradox and child skill development more generally. The findings from her work have the potential to refine developmental theory and shape policymakers’ investments in programs most likely to benefit children and families.
“Reimagining Conceptions of Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care in Diverse Societies: A Comparative Analysis Leveraging Computational Methods”
Yan Jiang is a doctoral candidate in Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego, under the mentorship of Dr. Alison Wishard Guerra and Dr. Amanda Datnow. Her research centers on promoting equitable access to high-quality early childhood education and redefining “high-quality” within a global context. As a methodology enthusiast, Yan applies computational social science techniques to social science research, devising innovative approaches to address pressing issues. Her dissertation, conducted in two phases, reimagines conceptions of quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) across diverse societies. The first phase critically and computationally analyzes global ECEC quality research, identifying potential gaps where non-Western, non-middle-class perspectives may be marginalized. The second phase uses a comparative case study to explore educators’ perceptions of quality in preschools serving lower-income families in the U.S. and China, aiming to uncover how sociocultural contexts shape these perceptions. Yan’s findings will contribute to the theoretical, methodological, and practical dimensions of ECEC quality research, promoting a more equitable and inclusive understanding of ECEC quality and offering actionable insights for policymakers and educators.
“Cultural Values and Parental Socialization of Coping in Latine Families: Implications for Adolescent Mental Health”
Virnaliz is a doctoral candidate in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. She works with Dr. Kelly Tu in the Adolescent Development and Parenting during Transitions (ADAPT) lab. Virnaliz’s research focuses on how culture and parenting practices influence the ways that adolescents cope with stress. Her dissertation uses grounded theory methods to explain parent socialization of coping and youth coping processes among Latine families. She examines these processes within interpersonal and academic domains. Findings from her study will contribute to a better understanding of the cultural values that may influence parents’ socialization of coping and Latine youth coping with implications for their mental health. Moreover, knowledge gleaned can inform community interventions aimed at improving coping and mental health among Latine youth.
Virnaliz is also passionate about conducting community engaged research. She has partnered with a Latine parent organization in Illinois to disseminate findings to their network of parents. Her long-term career goal is to become a respected researcher focusing on promoting health equity and improving outcomes for underserved communities. She aims to contribute to evidence-based interventions and programs that support youth and families from diverse backgrounds.
“Role of School and Family Contexts in Shaping Parents’ and Teachers’ Perspectives on Social Skills”
Taehee Kim is a doctoral candidate in the Applied Cognition and Development program at the University of Georgia, under the mentorship of Dr. Kristen L. Bub. Her research centers on improving the measurement and development of social-emotional skills in middle childhood by examining the unique perspectives of parents and teachers. In her mixed-method dissertation, Taehee aims to (1) identify patterns of agreement and disagreement between parents and teachers regarding children’s social skills, (2) explore the contextual factors within families and schools that contribute to their differing views on children's social skills, and (3) delve into the experiences of parents and teachers when communicating their perspectives on social skills. Findings from her dissertation will help expand our understanding of the variations in parents' and teachers' views on social skills and the potential sources of these differing perspectives, thereby improving the quality of discussions about social skills and fostering school-family collaboration in social skill development. Ultimately, Taehee hopes to understand how cultural and linguistic backgrounds influence parent and teacher perspectives and communication about social skills, with the goal of promoting more equitable social-emotional development.
“How Parents Scaffold Joint Attention For Infants at High and Low Familial Likelihood for Autism”
Elizabeth Perkovich is a doctoral student in the Developmental, Cognitive, and Behavioral Neuroscience program at the University of Houston, Texas, under the mentorship of Dr. Hanako Yoshida in the Cognitive Development Lab. Broadly, her research uses head-mounted eye-tracking during parent-child social interaction to explore the influence of parental social scaffolding behaviors on children's dynamic visual experiences, particularly among families from diverse backgrounds. Her dissertation will use head-mounted eye-tracking among infants with and without a family history of autism to explore: (1) differences in joint attention, (2) differences in parental social scaffolding behaviors, and (3) how parental social scaffolding relates to joint attention as a function of infant familial group. The findings of this project will offer novel insights into the early perceptual and social environments that shape early joint attention behaviors. These insights will serve as a crucial foundation for designing evidence-based interventions tailored to increasing joint attention within play contexts. Furthermore, the results of this unique methodology can provide a new framework for how parents influence early social attention and enhance the ecological validity of using head-mounted eye-tracking among neurodivergent populations.
“The Role of Adversity Exposure Timing in Shaping Youth Neurodevelopment and Mental Health”
Lucinda Sisk is a Ph.D. candidate in Neuroscience at Yale University, where she is mentored by Dr. Dylan Gee in the Clinical Affective Neuroscience and Development Lab. Lucinda’s program of research is centered on characterizing how the childhood environment, particularly adversity, influences neurodevelopment and risk for future psychopathology. While adversity can increase risk for psychopathology, there is tremendous heterogeneity in outcomes, potentially related to differential effects of adversity depending on the state of the developing brain. Lucinda’s dissertation research seeks to parse this heterogeneity by leveraging multivariate statistical approaches to examine how the timing of early life adversity exposure may inform individual variation in adversity-related changes in neurodevelopment and risk for, and resilience against, future psychopathology. Lucinda’s long-term aim is to enhance mechanistic understanding of individual variation in the effects of adversity on the developing brain, which may one day be applied to improve treatment and intervention options for youth exposed to adversity.
Johanna Bernard, University of Pennsylvania “Understanding the Conditions and Contexts that Shape Skill Development in Childhood”
Kaitlyn Pritzl, University of Wisconsin - Madison “Parent-Child Contact During Parental Incarceration: Implications for Individual and Family Well-Being”
Gayane Baziyants, Duke University “The Impact of an Annual Unconditional Cash Transfer on Child Maltreatment Rates Among American Indian and Alaska Native Children”
Minci Zhang, University of Southern California “Peer Relationships Across Cultures”
Qingyang Liu, Syracuse University “Identifying Heterogeneity in the Material Hardship Domains and Children’s Development of Behavioral Self-Regulation: A Multidimensional Person-Centered Approach”
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Unfortunately, there's no one size fits all answer to this question. However, from the analysis of over 100 PhD theses, the average thesis length is between 80,000 and 100,000 words. A further analysis of 1000 PhD thesis shows the average number of pages to be 204. In reality, the actual word count for each PhD thesis will depend on the ...
A PhD can be anywhere from 50 pages to over 450 pages long. This equates to between about 20,000 words to 100,000 words. Most PhD theses are between 60,000 and 80,000 words long excluding contents, citations and references. A PhD thesis contains different sections including an introduction, methods, results and discussion, conclusions, further ...
How long is a dissertation? Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education: An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000-15,000 words. A master's dissertation is typically 12,000-50,000 words. A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000-100,000 words.
Most dissertations are 100 to 300 pages in length. All dissertations should be divided into appropriate sections, and long dissertations may need chapters, main divisions, and even subdivisions. Students should keep in mind that GSAS and many departments deplore overlong and wordy dissertations.
How long should a PhD thesis be? A PhD thesis (or dissertation) is typically 60,000 to 120,000 words (100 to 300 pages in length) organised into chapters, divisions and subdivisions (with roughly 10,000 words per chapter) - from introduction (with clear aims and objectives) to conclusion.
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
The PhD thesis is the most important part of a doctoral degree. This page will introduce you to what you need to know about the PhD dissertation. ... How long is a PhD thesis? The length of a PhD thesis varies from subject to subject, but all are far longer than those for undergraduate or Masters degrees. Your university will usually set an ...
Typically ranges from 50 to 100 pages. Typically completed at the end of a PhD program. Mainly consists of the author's unique research. Average length is 100 to 250 pages. If you want to develop your own concepts or theories, a dissertation can help you accomplish this goal.
Definition of Dissertation and Thesis. The dissertation or thesis is a scholarly treatise that substantiates a specific point of view as a result of original research that is conducted by students during their graduate study. At Cornell, the thesis is a requirement for the receipt of the M.A. and M.S. degrees and some professional master's ...
Most dissertations run a minimum of 100-200 pages, with some hitting 300 pages or more. When editing your dissertation, break it down chapter by chapter. Go beyond grammar and spelling to make sure you communicate clearly and efficiently. Identify repetitive areas and shore up weaknesses in your argument.
The term dissertation itself is often used interchangeably with thesis paper. It gets confusing because different countries use these terms in different ways. For example, in the United States, dissertation is used when completing a doctorate, while thesis is used for bachelor's or master's degrees.
How long does a dissertation need to be? Your dissertation length will vary, but you can generally count on it to be around 2-3 times the length of your thesis. A standard thesis is roughly 80 to 100 pages. So, on the short end you're looking at a 200 pages dissertation, while the longer end can reach as high as 400 pages.
An undergraduate thesis is likely to be about 20 to 50 pages long. A Master's thesis is likely to be between 30 and 100 pages in length and a PhD dissertation is likely to be between 50 and 450 pages long. In the table below I highlight the typical length of an undergraduate, master's, and PhD. Level of study.
Balancing Depth and Brevity: Crafting a Dissertation Masterpiece. A. Emphasizing the Importance of Balance. B. Strategies for Maintaining Focus and Relevance. C. Encouraging Quality over Quantity. Tips for Managing PhD Dissertation Length: Navigating the Dissertation Writing Process. A. Effective Time Management.
The truth is, there is no one answer to how long a dissertation is. I can't say 146 pages is what's needed, as you may write to page 146 and stop without fully exploring your topic. 90 pages could adequately address your research question, or you could write 200 pages and still not fully answer what you set out to.
A thesis is the main output of a PhD as it explains your workflow in reaching the conclusions you have come to in undertaking the research project. As a result, much of the content of your thesis will be based around your chapters of original work. For your thesis to be successful, it needs to adequately defend your argument and provide a ...
A master's dissertation is typically 12,000-50,000 words; A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000-100,000 words; However, none of these are strict guidelines - your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation ...
The Registrar's Office will review the dissertation for compliance and these formatting elements and will contact the student to confirm acceptance or to request revision. The Harvard Griffin GSAS resource on dissertation formatting best practices expands on many of the elements below. Please carefully review your dissertation before ...
Dissertation: A dissertation is a 5-chapter written work that must be completed in order to earn a doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.). It's often focused on original research. Thesis: A thesis is a written work that must be completed in order to earn a master's degree.
A typical dissertation runs between 250 and 300 pages, divided into four or five chapters, often with a short conclusion following the final full-scale chapter.There is no set minimum or maximum length, but anything below about 225 pages will likely look insubstantial in comparison to others, while anything over 350 pages may suggest a lack of proportion and control of the topic, and would ...
Revised on April 16, 2024. A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master's program or a capstone to a bachelor's degree. Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation, it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete.
A PhD thesis should not exceed a total of 100,000 words in length (or 70,000 for most professional doctorates), including scholarly apparatus such as footnotes or endnotes, essential appendices and bibliography. A doctoral thesis should however, be concise. Examiners often criticise excessive length, which frequently indicates poor judgement.
This dissertation investigates the adaptation strategies of senior journalists in the ever-evolving media landscape. The extensive technological advancements in media informed the idea behind this dissertation. The study employs a phenomenological approach in exploring the experiences of seasoned journalists and their approaches toward transitioning from conventional journalism to the modern ...
Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program Telephone: (202) 453-5628 E-mail: [email protected]. Carla White International and Foreign Language Education U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program Telephone: (202) 453-7502 E-mail: [email protected]
The main issue focused on in the research is that increased workload experienced by employees in nursing homes in Houston, TX creates an increase in medical errors and results in the loss of customer satisfaction and profitability to the business. To address the problem, convergent parallel mixed methods were used to understand the effect of high workload on patient satisfaction and the ...
Established in 2008 by the SRCD Student and Early Career Council (SECC), the Dissertation Research Funding Awards (DFAs) are given to dissertation research proposals that are exceptionally noteworthy and display a strong potential to contribute to the field of child development. Each recipient is awarded $2,000 USD to use for research costs related to the proposed dissertation project.