Literature Review

tired graduate student sits at desk in front of a laptop with her head on her hand, frustrated with her dissertation research

Navigating the Challenges of Dissertation Research: Results from a Survey of PhD and Master’s Graduates

“This grad. school thing is a walk in the park,” said no graduate student, ever — at least no one I’ve ever met. If you find graduate school hard, you’re not alone. It was designed that way. By definition, graduate school — especially doctoral programs — is intended to challenge you to hone your research, …

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The Art of Formulating Dissertation Research Questions

The process of how to formulate a research question is daunting for many graduate students — and for good reason. One of the cornerstones of any research endeavor is the formulation of a strong, clear, and concise thesis research question. It serves as a guiding star for your research project. It also provides direction, defining …

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Getting Started with the Academic Literature Search

As Ph.D. students, one of the first—and arguably most crucial steps in your research journey is performing an effective academic literature search. While it might seem daunting given the vast ocean of scholarly publications and databases available, a well-executed literature search can provide you with the insights and resources needed to frame your research question, …

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Tips for Conquering the Literature Review from the Beginning

The literature review process can be one of the most stressful aspects of the dissertation, often because it comes so early in the writing process. This single chapter of your dissertation represents all of the background research you’ve done on your topic, the long history of academic work that has been completed on your area …

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