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THE HOLY GRAIL : IN PURSUIT OF THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL Michael Watts – 1992, UC Berkeley

THE HOLY GRAIL : IN PURSUIT OF THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL Michael Watts – 1992, UC Berkeley. He chose… poorly. Bug Project = Research Proposal. Time between coursework and research proposal most trying time for doctoral students “Darwinian” process Some succeed

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THE HOLY GRAIL : IN PURSUIT OF THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL Michael Watts – 1992, UC Berkeley

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  1. THE HOLY GRAIL:IN PURSUIT OF THE DISSERTATION PROPOSALMichael Watts – 1992, UC Berkeley He chose… poorly

  2. Bug Project = Research Proposal

  3. Time between coursework and research proposal most trying time for doctoral students • “Darwinian” process • Some succeed • Some are “never heard from again” Research Proposal

  4. Competitive • Your project must stand out! • Improvise, adapt, overcome – be flexible Funding – It’s like football but less fun

  5. Connects three distinct things: • Theory • Method • Evidence • It is typical for most intelligent people to continuously second guess their research decisions What is a Research Proposal?

  6. Transparency • Clarity • Methodology • Theory • Plan What needs to be in a proposal?

  7. Understandable • Connections between theory, method, and evidence should be evident • Methodology must be appropriate to needs of study Transparency

  8. Strike a balance • Between jargon and readability • Be clear on “how” • Methodological precision Clarity

  9. What will we learn that we don’t already know? • Why does it matter? • Is it valid? How will we know? Theoretical Expectations

  10. Powerful Opening • Freshness / Originality • Never bury ignorance or sensitivity • Answer anticipated questions *directly* • Security in ambition • Self-promotion • Know, don’t tell • Shop around • Be specific The Proposal(not the bad movie)

  11. Casual Logic • World is knowledgeable and real • Phenomenological Logic • Interpretive logic of inquiry • Historical-Dialectical • Relationships and processes are dependent and change over time Theories and Logic

  12. Tendency is for researchers to fall into one of two categories: • “Theorists” who don’t want to get their hands dirty • “Empiricists” who don’t want to think about generalizing their precious data Warnings and Thougts

  13. Questions? • Comments? • Concerns? • Gripes? • Complaints?

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