Well. Charles and I are officially in dissertation phase. He is working to get his concept paper approved, so he can proceed to the proposal stage. I am working on my proposal now. After the proposal is approved, we can get approval to conduct the study. Once the study is completed and the results analyzed, this massive collective document becomes the dissertation. Once the dissertation is successfully defended, edits made, and then given the final approval, we move from being PhD candidates to PhDs. As complex as the process sounds, it’s actually even more involved than this. If you’re familiar with the process, you know this. I’ll discuss it more–one day. Not today.
What I will share today is where I am in the process. After having successfully presented my concept paper to my dissertation committee, I am working to expand my proposed study from a concept into a bona fide proposal. Generally, a dissertation at this proposal stage has an introduction, literature review, and a proposed methodology. The literature review is often the chapter to first be developed, and so that is where I am currently stuck. More accurately, I am moving extremely slowly during this process. The literature review essentially provides validation for one’s study. I’m essentially showing how no one has researched exactly what I’m proposing to research, and why my proposed study will matter.
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