EDU 9860: Dissertation Proposal Seminar

Background and Statistics

Almanac of American education. (2006). Lanham, MD: Bernan Press.
Helps you understand and compare "the quality of U.S. education at the national, state, and county levels." Data compiled from the U.S. government and private sources, this volume provides current and historical perspectives on a wide range of topics: school enrollment, per-student expenditures, educational attainment, standardized test sores, and county data. An appendix contains links to useful websites. 
Reference & Brookhaven Reference LA 217.2 .A45 2006

Attaining excellence: A handbook on the standards for the conduct and evaluation of research carried out by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. (1999). Washington, DC: National Education Research Policy & Priorities Board.
All research funded by the National Education Research Policy & Priorities Board must pass a rigorous peer review process. This book explains the process and the expected minimum standards. It is useful for not only understanding NERPPB's procedures but can be used as a benchmark for evaluating other research projects. Also see the NERPPB's website.
Reference LB 1028.25 .U5 .A87 1999

Encyclopedia of educational research (vols. 1-6). (1992). New York: Macmillan Library Reference.
Arranged by topic, articles provide an overview of the issue followed by discussion of past research. References are also listed.
Reference & Brookhaven Ref. LB 15 .E48

Freed, M.N., Hess, R.K., & Ryan, J.M. (2002). The educator's desk reference (EDR): A sourcebook of educational information and research. Westport, CT: Praeger.
This volume is meant to aid researchers in the field of education in locating both print and electronic resources. Also includes a concise guide to educational software, educational publishers, and books and journals that are staples of the field.
Reference  LB1028.27.U6 F74 2002

Guthrie, J. W. (Ed.). (2003). Encyclopedia of education. New York: Macmillan Reference USA.
This eight-volume set seeks to provide a comprehensive look at the "institutions, people, processes, roles, and philosophies found in educational practice." Signed entries are arranged alphabetically and contain brief bibliographies. Indexed.
Reference & Brookhaven Ref. LB15 .E47 2003

Keeves, J. (1997). Educational research, methodology, and measurement: An international handbook. 2nd ed. New York: Pergamon.
Instead of dealing with the subjects being researched, this book discusses the methods and mechanics of performing and evaluating research. It includes issues related to both qualitative and quantitative research; scientific and humanistic methods; statistical procedures; and political and ethical issues in education research.
Reference  LB 1028 .E3184 1997

Moore, M.G., & Anderson, W.G. (Eds.). (2003). Handbook of distance education. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
This volume includes essays written by leading "thinkers and practitioners" of distance education and is meant to provide an overview of the latest research in this rapidly-evolving field.
Brookhaven Ref. LC 5800 .H36 2003

Pinar, W.F. (Ed.). (2003). International handbook of curriculum research. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
This volume includes 36 essays from 28 nations representing a variety of international perspectives on curriculum research. The introduction provides some historical perspective on the development of curriculum research both in the United Sates and abroad.
Reference & Brookhaven Reference LB 2806.15 .I595 2003

Research Assistance

Patten, M.L.  (2001). Questionnaire research: A practical guide. Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.
Patten provides "step-by-step guidance on how to write and use questionnaires in research." This slim, easy-to-follow handbook will have you conducting meaningful research in no time at all.
Reference & Brookhaven Reference  H 62 .P32 2001
Main Stacks H 62 .P32 2001

Patten, M.L. (2002). Understanding research methods: An overview of the essentials. Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.
Research methods defined! This book provides a brief overview of various research methods as well as explanations of sampling, measurement, and experimental design. Also includes a chapter on understanding statistics and writing a literature review. This short volume would be a good place to start as you begin the proposal process.
Reference & Brookhaven Reference  Q 180.55 .M4 P38 2002

Pyrczak, F. (2003). Making sense of statistics: A conceptual overview. Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.
If numbers give you a headache, this book is for you. The author explains statistics in straight-forward language and illustrates how descriptive and inferential statistics are derived and used.
Reference & Brookhaven Reference  QA 276.18 .P97 2003

Writing Assistance

Glatthorn, A.A., & Joyner, R.L. (2005). Writing the winning thesis or dissertation: A step-by-step guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
The authors "demystify the writing of theses and dissertations" by providing step-by-step guidance, from laying the groundwork to defending the final document.
Reference & Brookhaven Reference  LB2369 .G56 2005

Klausmeier, H.J. (2001). Research writing in education and psychology–from planning to publication: A practical handbook. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, Publisher.
These guidelines, intended for graduate students, cover the "entire writing and publication process." The focus is more mechanical than conceptual and will help you prepare your manuscript for journal publication. A good place to look if you have specific questions about how to incorporate numbers, figures, tables, and footnotes into your written work. Some guidance on punctuation and grammar is also provided.
Brookhaven Reference  LB 2369 .K54 2001

Mauch, J.E., & Park, N. (2003). Guide to the successful thesis and dissertation: A handbook for students and faculty, 5th ed. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.
Though useful for faculty, this book was primarily written for students. The authors provide an overview of the purpose of the thesis, the role of advisors and committees, and help with writing the manuscript itself. In addition, you'll find a chapter on what to expect during the defense...and some guidance for how to take your dissertation research further.
Brookhaven Reference LB 2369 .M377 2003

Nicol, A. M., & Pexman, P.M. (1999). Presenting your findings: A practical guide for creating tables.  Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Once you've gathered your data, you'll want to present it in a way that makes sense to your audience. This guide will help you organize your numbers into attractive tables. Includes an alphabetical list of various examples.
Reference  HA 31 .N53 1999

Pan, M.L. (2004). Preparing literature reviews: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.
The literature review provides essential background information and puts your research in context. This book will help you decide between qualitative or quantitative reviews as well as determine a topic and write your first draft. The "Checklist of Guidelines" in the back will help keep you on track and seven model literature reviews are also included.
Reference & Brookhaven Reference Q180.55 .E9 P36 2004

Patten, M.L.  (2005). Proposing empirical research: A guide to the fundamentals. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.
For students "who are writing their first proposals for empirical research." Begins with a definition of empirical research and includes chapters on proposing methods of instrumentation and analysis. Students may find the exercises helpful for getting started with the research process and can also look to the sample proposals for further guidance. Very user-friendly and can make a seemingly impossible task much more manageable and much less stressful.
Reference  & Brookhaven Reference H62 .P316 2005

Pyrczak, F. (2000). Completing your thesis or dissertation: Professors share their techniques and strategies. Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing.
Graduate students preparing to write a major paper might want to consult this "workbook"-style manual to get the their thoughts rolling in the right direction. Chapters focus on various aspects of the research and writing process, such as "Prospectus/Proposal," "Overcoming Self-Doubt/Anxiety," "Getting Help from Others," "Goals & Timelines," "Selecting a Topic," and "Reviewing Literature." Remember: you are not alone and others have been through the process before–and survived!
Reference & Brookhaven Reference LB 2369 .C63 2000

Pyrczak, F., & Bruce, R.R. (2003). Writing empirical research reports. 4th ed. Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing.
Recommended for graduate students working on serious papers (theses and dissertations) as well as those who need to write "research-based term papers that resemble journal articles." This is not a style manual (you'll need the APA for that), but a series of guidelines that will help you compose the major elements of a research paper, including formulating a hypothesis and writing a literature review.
Brookhaven Reference LB 2369 .P97 2003

Books You Can Borrow

Try searching the catalog for the following subjects:
Education--Research
Research Methodology
Dissertations--Academic
Research--Handbooks & Manuals

Most of the titles located in the Main Stacks can be delivered to the Brookhaven Campus. Simply click on the "Place Hold" button above each title, enter your name and barcode number (from the back of your ID card), and choose "Brookhaven Circulation Desk" as a pick-up location. 

Tips for Locating Scholarly Research (compiled by Laura Pope Robbins)

According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, empirical research is defined as:

  • Relying on or derived from observation or experiment
  • Verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment

There are several key characteristics that you can use to determine if an article is an empirical study. The article should include:

  • Statement about the methodology being used
  • Either a list of the research questions to be answered or a statement about what question is being answered
  • Definition of the group or phenomenon being studied
  • Process used to study this group, including any controls or instruments, such as tests or surveys
  • Finally, ask yourself: Could I recreate this study and test these results?

If you can answer yes to all of the above, then you are most probably looking at an empirical study.*

*Conquering empirical research. (2003, November 21). Mississippi State University Libraries. Retrieved January 9, 2004, from http://library.msstate.edu/li/tutorial/empirical/index.asp

There are two databases that allow you to narrow your research to empirical studies: ERIC and PsycINFO.

Depending upon which version of ERIC you use, there are different ways to narrow your results.

  • ERIC via FirstSearch:
    • Type 143 in the search box
    • Select "Record Type" from the drop-down box on the right-hand side.
  • ERIC via EBSCO:
    • Use the advanced search
    • Scroll down until you see "Publication Type"
    • Select "Reports - Research/Technical"
  • ERIC via U.S. Government:
    • Select advanced search
    • Go to "Publication Type"
    • Select "Reports-Research"

In PsychINFO:

  • Make sure you are in the advanced search
  • Scroll down to "Methodology"
  • Select "Empirical Study"
Last updated May 22, 2006 by Lisa Esposito