RM 742
Dissertation Seminar
Spring, 2008
Joan W. DiLeonardi, Ph.D.
847/824-0892
jwdil@ix.netcom.com
Fridays 2:00 to 4:00 pm
January 25; Feb 8, 22; March 7; April 4, 18; May
2, 16
Course Objective
This is the second semester of a two semester course
designed to prepare students to complete their dissertation proposal and,
ultimately their dissertation. In order to complete this task, in
the second semester the students will finalize a research design suitable
to the topic chosen last semester, write a justification for this choice
with supporting literature, articulate sample selection criteria, continue
serious work on a literature review which integrates appropriate developmental
theory, prior theory and research related to the topic and why their chosen
research method is appropriate. They will also learn methods of data analysis
suitable to the design they have chosen.
Students in this class are at different points
in the process of developing a dissertation proposal. The class attempts
to move each forward at a pace that will continue the process for them.
To this end, the assignments are short and specific and must be handed
in on time to enable the student to gain the most benefit from this seminar.
There is no assigned text, since the appropriate
design and data analysis method for each student will be found in one or
more of the references listed in the bibliography or other appropriate
methodology texts. Appropriate literature for the substantive content area
is derived from prior classes, independent studies and further independent
research. Students will be responsible for finding and reading the appropriate
materials after class discussions. Class members are often good resources
for each other in finding material as are bibliographies of dissertations
and scholarly articles in related areas.
The appropriate research design is determined by
the nature of the research question or hypothesis. The appropriate data
analysis method is determined by the design. The classes will follow the
same format as the first semester. The first two classes will be spent
discussing issues raised by the first semester’s papers.
The first assignment will be to read the section
showing the findings of the analysis of a dissertation from the Institute
library or a similar institution in Social Work and do a brief critical
analysis, discussing whether the findings are well supported by the methodology
and data. This will be due on February 22.
On April 4 a paper outlining the student's specific
current plans on data analysis based on the selected research question
or hypothesis, research design, and expected data sources will be due.
These papers will form the basis for class discussions the following week(s).
The final paper will be due on the last day of
class and will build on the first semester paper and the two earlier assignments
from this semester. For this paper the literature review, even if not complete,
should contain some part of each of the elements mentioned above: a clinical
theory, prior substantive theory or research on the specific topic and
citations for research design and data analysis. It must be formatted according
to the outline in the student handbook and include all sections. If no
work has been done on any section, it must still be in the outline with,
if possible, notations on which authors, theories, or ideas it will probably
contain. It is due on the final class day of the semester.
It is essential that the assignments be completed
on time in order for students to take full advantage of the opportunity
to have feedback from the class and the instructor. Grades are based on
class participation as well as written work. Obviously missed classes reduce
the opportunity for class participation and may be reflected in the final
grade. Students are graded based more their own progress than in comparison
to other's work.
Bibliography
Babbie, E. (1992). The practice of social
research. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth.
Bolker, Joan (1998). Writing your dissertation
in fifteen minutes a day. New York. Henry Holt and Company.
Charmaz, Kathy (2006). Constructing grounded
theory. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Cook, T. D & Campbell, D. T (1979) Quasi-experimentation:
design and analysis issues for field settings. Boston. Houghton-Mifflin.
Creswell, John W. (2003) Research design: qualitative,
quantitative and mixed methods approaches. Second Edition. Thousand Oaks,
CA. Sage Publications.
Denzin, N. K. (2001) Interpretive interactionism.
Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Denzin, N. K. & Lincoln, Y. S. (2005) Handbook
of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage.
DiLeonardi, J.W. & Curtis, P.A. (1988) What
to do when the numbers are in: A users guide to statistical data analysis
in the human services. Chicago. Nelson-Hall.
Glaser, B. G. & Strauss, A. (1967) The discovery
of grounded theory. Chicago. Aldine.
Glaser, B. G. (1978) Theoretical sensitivity:
Further advances in the methodology of grounded theory. San Francisco.
Sociology Press.
Greene, J. C., Caracelli, V. J., & Graham,
W. F. (1989) Toward a conceptual framework for mixed-method evaluation
designs. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 11, 255-274.
Guba, E. G., ed. (1990). The paradigm dialog.
Newbury Park, CA., Sage Publications.
Johnson, J. C. (1990) Selecting ethnographic
informants. Newbury Park, CA. Sage Publications.
Lee, R. M. (1993) Doing research on sensitive topics.
London. Sage Publications.
Lincoln, Y. S. & Guba, E. G. (1985).
Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA. Sage Publications
Locke, L. F., Spirduso, W. W., & Silverman,
S. J. (1987) Proposals that work: a guide for planning dissertation and
grant proposals. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Marshall, C. & Rossman, F. B. (1989) Designing
qualitative research. Newbury Park, CA. Sage Publications.
Maxwell, J. A. (2004). Qualitative research
design: An interactive approach. Newbury Park, CA. Sage Publications.
Miles, M. & Huberman, M. (1994) Qualitative
data analysis: An expanded source book (2nd edition) Thousand Oaks,
CA. Sage Publications.
Morse, J. M. ed. (1994) Critical issues in qualitative
research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Pan, M. Ling (2008). Preparing literature reviews.
Pyrczak Publishing. Glendale, CA.
Reissman, Catherine Kohler (1993) Narrative
analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Reissman, C. ed (1994) Qualitative studies in
social work research. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Rubin, H.J. & Rubin, I. S. (1995). Qualitative
interviewing: The art of hearing data. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage
Publications.
Silverman, D. (2001) Interpreting qualitative
data: Methods for analysing talk, text, and interaction. 2nd edition;
Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics
of qualitative research. Newbury Park, CA. Sage Publications.
Tashakkori, A. & Teddlie, C. (1998). Mixed
methodology: Combining qualtitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand
Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Taylor, S. J. & Bogdan, R. (1984) Introduction
to qualitative research methods: The search for meanings. (2nd edition).
New York. John Wiley & Sons.
Van Maanen, J., Dabbs, J. M., & Faulkner, R.R.
(1982) Varieties of qualitative research. Beverley Hills, CA. Sage
Publications.
Webb, E. J., Campbell, D. T., Schwartz, R.D., &
Sechrest, L. (1966) Unobtrusive measures: Nonreactive research in the
social sciences. Chicago: Rand McNally College Publishing.
Contents Copyright, Institute for
Clinical Social Work
