The dissertation may be the single largest project you will undertake during your lifetime. Conservative estimates suggest that the average dissertation will take a year to research and write, but many students require much longer, often working several years to complete all of the requirements. Therefore, it’s not really possible to write a dissertation in a single burst of creativity (although many have tried this approach). In contrast to previous work, a successful dissertation consists of numerous steps which are undertaken deliberately and sequentially.

The dissertation is a rigorous task and many doctoral students will encounter a variety of difficulties during the course of the project. Many doctoral students report that the dissertation is unlike any project they have previously attempted, and that it requires skills, abilities and work habits which are unfamiliar to them. The majority of graduate students have been in school throughout most of their lives, responding to the ebb and flow of the academic calendar. The structure of coursework, syllabi, exams and term papers vanishes once they receive candidacy and begin work on the dissertation.

These changes can result in doctoral students feeling directionless and unsure about how to structure their time and work. Moreover, many students experience feelings of exhaustion once they complete three or four years of doctoral work, and they no longer feel motivated to begin a large project like the dissertation. Therefore, they frequently manage time poorly, procrastinate and avoid work on the dissertation.

This brochure will address some of the most frequently encountered difficulties doctoral students experience while writing the dissertation. It will also suggest strategies you can employ to minimize these potential problems.

Step 1: Establish Priorities

The dissertation will require a substantial investment of time which you have previously devoted to other activities. Thus, it is necessary for you to decide what sacrifices you are willing to make in order to finish the dissertation. The dissertation is rarely the first priority. Many of you will list family, friends, research, teaching, and/or searching for jobs as higher priorities. This is okay. If the dissertation is low on your priority list, however, you will allocate less time per week to work on it, and you will take a longer time to finish it. If you rank the dissertation high on your priority list, but it is actually a low priority, you will probably feel discouraged with the slow pace of progress. An honest assessment of the priorities can help you avoid months or years of frustration and guilt.

Step 2: Develop a Strategic Plan

The dissertation can seem like such a long, complex and unpredictable project that it seems to lack beginning, middle and end stages. A strategic plan imposes a structure on the project and prevents you from drifting aimlessly for long periods of time. A strategic plan should include a time-frame for finishing the dissertation and plans for accomplishing this goal. The foundation of your strategic plan will be a contract you develop with yourself that specifies the time commitment you are making to the dissertation. The contract will help motivate you to work during tedious or difficult phases and provides the incentive to make sacrifices (e.g., “I need to work 15-20 hours per week in order to finish the dissertation in a year”). After you have set a time-frame for completion, sub-divide the dissertation into smaller projects and develop goals for each step.

Step 3: Manage Time Efficiently

A time management plan will incorporate the priorities and strategic plans you have already made and provide you with a weekly schedule to meet you goals. The dissertation may require a substantial investment of time which you have previously devoted to family, friends, work, leisure, recreation, etc. But, these sacrifices don’t have to overwhelm your entire life. In fact, you shouldn’t plan to work on the dissertation all day, every day. Many people have observed the tendency of a project to take up the time allotted for it. Therefore, rather than allowing the dissertation to fit into whatever time you happen to have leftover in your schedule, it is more productive to decide when and how often you want to work on it. Allocate specific times during the week that will be dissertation time and remain faithful to these commitments. You should leave enough flexibility in your schedule that you can occasionally skip dissertation work times and make them up later in the week. The more your dissertation is like a job responsibility, the more likely you are to make consistent, steady progress.

Step 4: Organize the Work Space

A dissertation usually requires a year or more to complete, so it will be helpful to find a work space which is conducive to your work habits. You will want to consider what physical resources you need to write a dissertation, including a desk, computer, lamp, chair, books, shelves, file cabinets, papers and pencils. The more organized your space, the less time you will spend searching for materials, gathering books, sorting through newspapers and mail, etc. Ideally, the work space will be organized so that you immediately can begin work whenever you have scheduled dissertation time. There are two other considerations related to the work space. First, print out early drafts of the dissertation and arrange them by chapter in a notebook. This will make your progress more tangible and real. You will also feel a sense of accomplishment as you finish chapters and see them printed in a notebook. Second, back-up your computer hard drive and store the disks in a safe place so that you don’t risk losing valuable work.

Step 5: Negotiate with Advisors

The dissertation is often considered to be a solitary endeavor, but it offers numerous opportunities for collaboration. If you are able to develop a strong working relationship with your advisor, you will likely experience more satisfaction with the dissertation experience. If possible, schedule frequent appointments with your advisor and utilize these meetings to keep you focused and working consistently. These meetings will also keep your advisor apprised of your work and provide you with the opportunity to receive ongoing feedback about your progress. You may want to inform your advisor of the strategic plan you have developed and collaborate on time-frames and deadlines.

Step 6: Maintain a Healthy Balance

The search for balance between the dissertation requirements and other life responsibilities is a difficult one. The dissertation is such a time-consuming project that it can seem impossible to find enough time for other activities in your life. If you begin to feel angry, resentful, frustrated, overwhelmed, and/or depressed on a consistent basis, you may want to consider whether your life has become unbalanced while writing the dissertation. In order to maintain a healthy balance, it is often helpful to devote time every day and/or week to your physical, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual well-being. There are many ways to do this, including exercise, a nutritious diet, reduced intake of drugs/alcohol, adequate sleep, friendships, time alone, a variety of interests, expressing feelings, meditation or prayer, etc. If you have specific questions about any of these areas, you may want to consult a physician, counselor, pastor, nutritionist or other professional.

Step 7: Find Perspective

Don’t be concerned if you have written relatively little after several months of reading and researching for your dissertation. Many doctoral students write the majority of the dissertation in the months immediately preceding their final orals. A great deal of time is initially spent selecting a topic, reading, researching, conducting experiments, etc. It is more important to focus on the process of researching and writing the dissertation rather than on the outcome. In other words, if you develop a reasonable strategic plan, prioritize the dissertation and manage time effectively, you will eventually meet your goals.

Conclusion

There are, of course, many ways to write a dissertation. The strategies proposed in this brochure are only guidelines. In your attempts to define, develop and defend your dissertation, you also may want to discuss additional approaches with your advisor and committee members. Moreover, you may want to seek professional counseling. The best of luck as you work on your dissertation project!

Need Additional Help?

If you try the suggestions in this brochure, but are still encountering difficulties with your dissertation project, you may want to consider further help.

The Counseling Center has several other self-help brochures which may be particularly helpful, including Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism and Time Management.

In addition, the Counseling Center and Graduate College co-sponsor a Dissertation Workshop Series which is offered every semester and during the summer. You can obtain more information by contacting the Graduate College at 333-0035

The Counseling Center offers group and individual counseling for these and related issues, as well as information about, and referral to, other campus and community resources. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Counseling Center at 333-3704. All appointments are strictly confidential and pre-paid through your student health fee.

References

1. Cone, J.D. & Foster, S. L. (1993). Dissertations and theses from start to finish: Psychology and related fields.
2. Madsen, D. (1992). (2nd ed.). Successful dissertations and theses: A guide to graduate student research from proposal to completion. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.
3. Mitchell, L. (1996). The ultimate grad school survival guide. Princeton: Peterson’s.
4. Peters, R. L. (1992). Getting what you came for: The smart student’s guide to earning a Master’s or Ph.D. New York: The Noonday Press.
5. Rudestam, K. E. & Newton, R. R. (1992). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
6. Sternberg, D. (1981). How to complete and survive a doctoral dissertation. New York: St. Martin’s Press.