Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation

Addressing one of the key challenges facing doctoral students, Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation by Linda Dale Bloomberg and Marie Volpe fills a gap in qualitative literature by offering comprehensive guidance and practical tools for navigating each step in the qualitative dissertation journey, including the planning, research, and writing phases. Blending the conceptual, theoretical, and practical, the book becomes a dissertation in action—a logical and cohesive explanation and illustration of content and process. The Third Edition maintains key features that distinguish its unique approach and has been thoroughly updated and expanded throughout to reflect and address recent developments in the field.

Addressing one of the key challenges facing doctoral students, Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation by Linda Dale Bloomberg and Marie Volpe fills a gap in qualitative literature by offering comprehensive guidance and practical tools for navigating each step in the qualitative dissertation journey, including the planning, research, and writing phases. Blending the conceptual, theoretical, and practical, the book becomes a dissertation in action—a logical and cohesive explanation and illustration of content and process. The Third Edition maintains key features that distinguish its unique approach and has been thoroughly updated and expanded throughout to reflect and address recent developments in the field.

PART I: TAKING CHARGE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK1. A Complete Dissertation: The Big Picture Objectives Overview Front Matter Dissertation Chapters Back Matter Evaluating the Quality of Qualitative Research2. Gearing Up: There is Method in the Madness Objectives Overview Organizing and Managing Your Project Identifying and Developing a Researchable Topic Seeking Suitable Advisors Stakeholder Responsibility and Standards of Good Practice Establishing a Realistic Timeline3. Choosing a Qualitative Research Approach Objectives Overview The History of Qualitative Research Defining Features of Qualitative Research Knowledge Claims Qualitative Research Traditions or Genres The Current Landscape of Qualitative Research Choosing a Qualitative Approach Annotated Bibliography4. A First Step: Developing Your Proposal Objectives Overview Proposal Components Guidelines for Academic Writing Integrity Matters Institutional Review Board Approval Annotated Bibliography Part I: Summary and DiscussionPART II: CONTENT AND PROCESS: A CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER ROAD MAP5. Introduction to Your Study Objectives Overview Section I: Instruction Chapter Summary Discussion Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist Section II: Application Annotated Bibliography6. Developing and Presenting Your Literature Review Objectives Overview Section I: Instruction Chapter Summary Discussion Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist Section II: Application Annotated Bibliography7. Presenting Methodology and Research Approach Objectives Overview Section I: Instruction Chapter Summary Discussion Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist Section II: Application Annotated Bibliograhy8. Analyzing Data and Reporting Findings Objectives Overview Section I: Instruction Chapter Summary Discussions Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist Section II: Application Annotated Bibliography9. Analyzing and Interpreting Findings Objectives Overview Section I: Instruction Chapter Summary Discussion Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist Section II: Application Annotated Bibliography10. Drawing Trustworthy Conclusions and Presenting Actionable Recommendations Objectives Overview Section I: Instruction Chapter Summary Discussion Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist Section II: Application Part II: Summary and DiscussionPART III: NEARING COMPLETION11. Some Final Technical Considerations Objectives Overview Revisiting the Importance of Alignment Crafting a Title Writing the Abstract Assembling the Manuscript Proofreading and Editing Quality Assessment Checklist for Your Complete Dissertation: All Together Now!12. Defense Preparation Objectives Overview Pre-Defense Preparation Post-Defense Preparation Part III: Summary and DiscussionAfterwordAppendicesReferences