Dissertations and Project Studies:

Dissertations and Project Studies

Why look at dissertations?

Whether you are still honing your dissertation topic or deep into researching your literature review, looking at existing dissertations, doctoral studies, or project studies can help you successfully complete your own.

Become familiar with the process:

By looking at dissertations and other capstone studies you can see how they are structured, the depth and breadth of the required sections, and the ways a research question becomes a final research study. It can also make the dissertation process seem more "doable" and give you the confidence you need to proceed.

Find resources for your own research:

Once you have located dissertations that cover topics similar to your own, you can build off of the work they have already done. Existing literature reviews provide a wealth of information that can inform your own research. Mine the bibliography to find more resources.  Look for the theories and instruments others have used to answer similar questions. You may even find a copy of the measurement instrument in an appendix.

Even if you never cite a dissertation in your own work, the time you spend looking at dissertations is well spent. Use the links at left to learn how to find examples and to explore the different ways dissertations can benefit your research.

The Research Databases page has two versions: