3 Frequently Asked Questions
Proposal, Prospectus, and Dissertation
Dr. Lyn Walden
Q. What is the difference between a proposal, prospectus, and dissertation?
A. Generally speaking, the dissertation prospectus is a brief document (20-30 pages) that provides preliminary information about your dissertation research. Dissertation proposal and prospectus are used interchangeably with some universities. Some universities call the first three chapters the proposal. Your paper cannot be called a dissertation until permission has been granted to collect data, and these data have been collected. A dissertation consists of all five chapters and includes data results. To further confuse, some universities call the prospectus a concept paper.
Q. Is there a page number or word requirement for each chapter in a dissertation?
A. This is a university and a major specific requirement. Be certain to check with your mentor and read your university's doctoral manual early in your process. As a rule, expect to have at least 100 pages and 100 references in your dissertation. Check your university's library and read several recent dissertations. Use these dissertations as a guide; however, use them only as a guide. Your mentor is always your best resource in these matters.
Q. How long do you think it takes to write a dissertation?
A. Several factors cause the time to vary widely. Some universities have faster turnaround times in Quality Review and IRB than do other universities. Some mentors and committee members are speedier than are others. Some mentors are more demanding than are others. The dean or the formal editor can hold up the process. Writing the dissertation is not what is so time consuming; in my opinion, waiting on or satisfying the demands of others is what is so time consuming. If all things fall in place and no unexpected challenges occur, I would venture an approximation of nine months to a year to write and move a dissertation through the process. With this said, however, 15 to 18 months is not an uncommon time commitment. Of course, stopping or taking a break will stretch out the time. Not following directions to the point of obsession will lengthen the time. Not understanding the dissertation must be perfect and ensuring this perfection will greatly lengthen the time. Not keeping track of references will lengthen the time. Many variables exist that make this a difficult question to answer.
A. Generally speaking, the dissertation prospectus is a brief document (20-30 pages) that provides preliminary information about your dissertation research. Dissertation proposal and prospectus are used interchangeably with some universities. Some universities call the first three chapters the proposal. Your paper cannot be called a dissertation until permission has been granted to collect data, and these data have been collected. A dissertation consists of all five chapters and includes data results. To further confuse, some universities call the prospectus a concept paper.
Q. Is there a page number or word requirement for each chapter in a dissertation?
A. This is a university and a major specific requirement. Be certain to check with your mentor and read your university's doctoral manual early in your process. As a rule, expect to have at least 100 pages and 100 references in your dissertation. Check your university's library and read several recent dissertations. Use these dissertations as a guide; however, use them only as a guide. Your mentor is always your best resource in these matters.
Q. How long do you think it takes to write a dissertation?
A. Several factors cause the time to vary widely. Some universities have faster turnaround times in Quality Review and IRB than do other universities. Some mentors and committee members are speedier than are others. Some mentors are more demanding than are others. The dean or the formal editor can hold up the process. Writing the dissertation is not what is so time consuming; in my opinion, waiting on or satisfying the demands of others is what is so time consuming. If all things fall in place and no unexpected challenges occur, I would venture an approximation of nine months to a year to write and move a dissertation through the process. With this said, however, 15 to 18 months is not an uncommon time commitment. Of course, stopping or taking a break will stretch out the time. Not following directions to the point of obsession will lengthen the time. Not understanding the dissertation must be perfect and ensuring this perfection will greatly lengthen the time. Not keeping track of references will lengthen the time. Many variables exist that make this a difficult question to answer.