Getting Started - Research & Writing - Graduate Student Toolkit - Research Guides at Stephen F. Austin State University

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Theses and Dissertation - Research & Writing

Completing a thesis or dissertation is an integral part of graduate studies.

These resources on research & writing can help guide you. And there are plenty more where these came from -- just search our discovery system, SteenFind, to find them.

Try the following search strategy: research AND [your topic area here]

-- for example:

research AND education
research AND "international business"

NOTE: If you are looking for Library resources for your thesis or dissertation topic, go to the Research Guide for your particular subject area.

Contact your Liaison Librarian if you need any assistance!

Selected Books on Thesis and Dissertation Writing

Writing a Graduate Thesis or Dissertation by Lorrie Blair
Call Number: This is an e-book; click on title for access.
Publication Date: 2016
The tools needed to successfully plan, write, and defend a thesis or dissertation.
Writing a Postgraduate Thesis or Dissertation by Michael Hammond
Call Number: This is an e-book; click on title for access.
ISBN: 9781000576337
Publication Date: 2022
Writing a Postgraduate Thesis or Dissertation discusses the challenges that students encounter in their writing and provides thoughtful advice on how to address those challenges. It provides guidance on writing about literature, methodology and methods and shows the importance of stating a contribution to knowledge.
How to Prepare a Scientific Doctoral Dissertation Based on Research Articles by Björn Gustavii
Call Number: This is an ebook; click title to access.
Publication Date: 2012
With the article-based thesis becoming more common in the 'hard' sciences, here is a guide summarizing the main features of the format.

Selected Books on Doing a Literature Review

The Essential Guide to Doing a Health and Social Care Literature Review by Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor
Call Number: This is an e-book; click on title to access.
Publication Date: 2017
Step-by-step process of conducting a literature review.
Writing Literature Reviews: A Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences/5th editionEd by Jose L. Galvan
Call Number: H 61.8 .G3 2013
Publication Date: 2013
Guide in the preparation of a literature review with guidelines, sequential steps, checklists.
Succeeding with Your Literature Review: A Handbook for Students by Paul Oliver
Call Number: This is an e-book; click on title to access.
Publication Date: 2012
Step-by-step handbook with guidance on the process of researching, planning, and writing a literature review.
How to Do a Systematic Literature Review in Nursing: A Step-By-Step Guide by Josette Bettany-Saltikov
Call Number: This is an e-book; click on title to access.
Publication Date: 2012
Breaks the task down into manageable steps from start to finish.

Selected Books on the Research Process

The Productive Graduate Student Writer by Jan E. Allen; Chris M. Golde (Foreword by)
Call Number: This is an ebook; click title to access
Publication Date: 2019
For graduate students who want to become more productive writers, especially those who want to increase motivation, focus, and persistence to move a writing project to completion.
Creativity in Research by Nicola Ulibarri; Amanda E. Cravens; Anja Svetina Nabergoj; Adam Royalty
Call Number: BF 408 .U437 2019
Publication Date: 2019
Guidance on developing creativity for those doing or mentoring research; based on a curriculum developed at Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design.
100 Questions (and Answers) about Survey Research by Erin Ruel
Call Number: HM 538 .R84 2019
Publication Date: 2018
Written for students and researchers across the social sciences.
Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research by John W. Creswell; Vicki L. Plano Clark
Call Number: H 62 .C6962 2018
Publication Date: 2018
Examples from published mixed methods studies drawn from multiple disciplines.
Designing Qualitative Research by Catherine Marshall; Gretchen B. Rossman
Call Number: H 62 .M277 2016
Publication Date: 2016
Clear, easy-to-understand guidance on designing qualitative research.
Writing and Doing Action Research by Jean McNiff
Call Number: LB1028.24 .M45 2014
Publication Date: 2014
A comprehensive, user-friendly guide to the practical aspects of writing and doing action research.
Survey Research Methods by Floyd J. Fowler
Call Number: HN 29 .F68 2014
Publication Date: 2014
Companion for survey research and research methods courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Doing Research in Business and Management by Mark N. K. Saunders; Philip Lewis
Call Number: HD 30.4 .S278 2012
Publication Date: 2012
Covers all of the areas of research for students in undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in business, management, or related disciplines.
How To Do Your Case Study: A Guide for Students and Researchers by Gary Thomas
Call Number: H 62 .T49 2011
Publication Date: 2011
How to best design and carry out case studies in the social sciences and humanities.
Research Methods for Successful PhD by Dinesh Kumar
Call Number: This is an e-book; click on title for access.
ISBN: 9781000793390
Publication Date: 2017
A PhD is the start of the research careers, and these students are the backbone of Universities and research institutions.