Successfully Completing the Dissertation

Abstract

Conducting a dissertation study is considered by many faculty advisers and their students as a crucial step in the completion of a doctoral program. The challenging nature of completing the dissertation is illustrated by the numbers of persons who leave their doctoral program with “all but dissertation” status. Despite the demands of conducting dissertation research, there is much to be learned, both intellectually and emotionally, from engaging in the dissertation process. Researchers, early in their careers, often use their doctoral research and/or experiences as a springboard for conducting future research and establishing research agendas. Thus, this article sheds light on the critical variables of a successful dissertation by presenting two advisees' and advisers' reflections on the experience. From these reflections, common attributes that may contribute to a successful dissertation are identified and discussed.