Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation
A Road Map From Beginning to End
Fourth Edition
- Linda Dale Bloomberg - Columbia University
- Marie Volpe - Teachers College, Columbia University, USA
November 2018 | 456 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation offers comprehensive step-by-step guidance and practical tools for navigating the personal and professional challenges that can arise during the qualitative dissertation journey. Authors Linda Dale Bloomberg and Maria Volpe skillfully blend the conceptual, theoretical, and practical, empowering readers to successfully master both the content and the process of their qualitative dissertations.
The Fourth Edition has been thoroughly updated to respond to developments in the field, allowing the book to have wider application for dissertation work within the evolving world of qualitative inquiry. Included in this edition is a new chapter titled “Achieving Alignment Throughout Your Dissertation,” a greater focus on how all qualitative traditions can encompass activist research and social justice inquiry, and enhanced coverage on the role of the researcher, emphasizing the importance of reflexivity and approaching research critically.
The Fourth Edition has been thoroughly updated to respond to developments in the field, allowing the book to have wider application for dissertation work within the evolving world of qualitative inquiry. Included in this edition is a new chapter titled “Achieving Alignment Throughout Your Dissertation,” a greater focus on how all qualitative traditions can encompass activist research and social justice inquiry, and enhanced coverage on the role of the researcher, emphasizing the importance of reflexivity and approaching research critically.
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Appendices
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
PART I. TAKING CHARGE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK
1. A Complete Dissertation: The Big Picture
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Front Matter |
| Dissertation Chapters |
| Back Matter |
| Evaluating the Quality of a Qualitative Dissertation |
2. Gearing Up: There Is Method in the Madness
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Identifying and Developing a Researchable Topic |
| Selecting and Forming Your Dissertation Committee |
| Stakeholder Responsibility and Standards of Good Practice |
| Organizing and Managing Your Project |
3. Choosing a Qualitative Research Approach
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| The History of Qualitative Research |
| Defining Features of Qualitative Research |
| Knowledge Claims |
| The Role of the Qualitative Researcher |
| The Current Landscape of Qualitative Inquiry |
| Qualitative Research Methodology (Genres or Traditions) |
| Moving Forward With Your Chosen Qualitative Methodology |
| Annotated Bibliography |
4. Developing Your Research Proposal
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Proposal Components |
| Guidelines for Academic Writing |
| Integrity Matters |
| Institutional Review Board Approval |
| Annotated Bibliography |
5. Achieving Alignment Throughout Your Dissertation
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Research Problem and Research Approach |
| Research Problem and Research Purpose |
| Research Problem, Research Purpose, and Research Questions |
| Research Problem, Research Purpose, and Research Methodology (Qualitative Genre or Tradition) |
| Research Methodology and Research Methods |
| Research Problem and Literature Review |
| Literature Review and Theoretical/Conceptual Framework |
| Theoretical/Conceptual Framework, Research Questions, and Research Findings |
| Research Methodology, Research Design, and Data Analysis |
| Research Methodology, Research Design, and Presentation of Findings |
| Research Findings, Interpretations, and Conclusions |
| Conclusions and Recommendations |
| Chapter Summary |
| Annotated Bibliography |
| Part I: Summary and Discussion |
PART II. CONTENT AND PROCESS: A CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER ROAD MAP
6. Introduction to Your Study
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Section I: Instruction |
| Reflexive Questions for Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study |
| Chapter Summary Discussion |
| Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist |
| Section II: Application |
| Annotated Bibliography |
7. Developing and Presenting Your Literature Review
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Section I: Instruction |
| Reflexive Questions for Chapter 2: Literature Review |
| Chapter Summary Discussion |
| Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist |
| Section II: Application |
| Annotated Bibliography |
8. Presenting Methodology and Research Approach
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Section I: Instruction |
| Reflexive Questions for Chapter 3: Methodology |
| Chapter Summary Discussion |
| Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist |
| Section II: Application |
| Annotated Bibliography |
9. Analyzing Data and Reporting Findings
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Section I: Instruction |
| Reflexive Questions for Chapter 4: Analyzing Data and Reporting Findings |
| Chapter Summary Discussion |
| Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist |
| Section II: Application |
| Annotated Bibliography |
10. Analyzing, Interpreting, and Synthesizing Findings
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Section I: Instruction |
| Reflexive Questions for Chapter 5: Analyzing and Interpreting Findings |
| Chapter Summary Discussion |
| Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist |
| Section II: Application |
| Annotated Bibliography |
11. Drawing Trustworthy Conclusions and Presenting Actionable Recommendations
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Section I: Instruction |
| Reflexive Questions for Chapter 6: Drawing Trustworthy Conclusions and Presenting Actionable Recommendations |
| Chapter Summary Discussion |
| Quality Assessment Chapter Checklist |
| Section II: Application |
| Part II: Summary and Discussion |
PART III. NEARING COMPLETION
12. 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! |
13. Defense Preparation and Beyond
| Objectives |
| Overview |
| Pre-Defense Preparation |
| Post-Defense Preparation |
| Annotated Bibliography |
| Part III: Summary and Discussion |
Afterword
Appendices
References
Author Index
Subject Index
Supplements
Student Study Site
· Downloadable templates and appendices from the book include charts, tables, and other dissertation tools.
· EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected for each chapter.
· 101 Questions and Answers provide further insight from Dr. Linda Bloomberg.
· Additional online dissertation resources assist in organizing and developing your manuscript.
“This book is a ‘must have’ for all doctoral students from their acceptance into a program until they upload their finished dissertation to their institutional library. Forget Agatha Christie; they should keep this on their bed side table until it is dog-eared and they have graduated.”
Western University
“I will continue to use Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation until I find a better text, and that just does not seem likely. The authors’ writing is straightforward; they write as academics, from an academic bent, yet write practically for doctoral candidates who need guidance, a "road map" of how to complete their dissertation.
Gonzaga University
“An excellent resource for doctoral students! The authors take the fear of writing a dissertation, and break down each component into manageable tasks that once completed will help students deliver a scholarly research project: a project that they will be proud to defend!”
California Baptist University
