Time Management From Proposal to Dissertation Defense
Time Management
From Proposal to Dissertation Defense
Time Management in 4 General Steps
Step 1 Set your goals! (short term and long term goals)
Step 2 Think about how will you reach your goals
Step 3 Think about how you spend time now & how to maximize that time
Step 4 Implement and monitor the plan
Plan for the unexpected all along the way
Step 1: Set Your Goals
• Short-term goals – Between proposal preparation and dissertation defense
• Are there additional skills you need?
• Do you need time to build strong community relationships to access your sample?
• Get approved to conduct your dissertation
• Finishing the dissertation
• Long-term goals – Where do you see yourself after you graduate and in 5 years?
• Publishing from your dissertation
• Obtaining a job (post-doctoral fellowship, academia, industry, other)
Example Dissertation Timeline – Proposed
August 2011 • Meet key stakeholders at the 4 sites to discuss project goals
September 2011
• Obtain IRB Approval
• Pilot questionnaire & semi-structure interview guide
September 2011 - October 2011
September 2011 • Train the research assistant
September 2011- December 2011 • Start recruitment and screening for eligiblity
Data collection • Obtain ICF, conduct research-adminsterd questionnire
Ongoing data entry and analysis • Transcription, thematic analysis, and survey data entry
January 2012- February 2012 • Clean and finalize data analysis
March 2012 - June 2012 • Final data write up, manuscripts, lay & formal presentations
Example Dissertation Timeline – Actual
August 2011 • Meet key stakeholders at the 4 sites to discuss project goals
October 2011
• Obtain IRB Approval
• Pilot questionnaire & semi-structure interview guide
October 2011
September 2011
May 2012 - July 2012
• Train the research assistant
October 2011- April 2011 • Start recruitment and screening for eligiblity
May 2012
Data collection • Obtain ICF, conduct research-adminsterd questionnire
Ongoing data entry and analysis • Transcription, thematic analysis, and survey data entry
• Clean and finalize data analysis
• Final data write up, manuscripts, lay & formal presentations
Other Considerations
• Finding a job
• Delay in data collection
• Numerous revisions – from the committee and the university
• College deadlines
SMART Goals
• Apply SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely)
S
M
A/R
T
For each goal ask the 5Ws (who, what, where, when, which)
How will you track your progress and stay on track?
Consult with fellow peers, mentors, and advisor
Ground your goals with a time frame
Practice Time
Set your goals
Step 2: Think About…
How Will You Reach Your Goals?
• Task 1 – Know the Rules of the Program (formal and informal)
• Become familiar with department, college, and university deadlines (each are different)
• Committee & time/turn around
• Anticipate completing all (or majority at a min) data collection and analysis one semester prior graduation
• Task 2 – Apply SMART technique to list steps and map out timeline
• Example short-term goal is get IRB approval by December 2015
• Tasks – Draft all collection instruments and guides by X date, Get letters of support from community agencies by X date, draft recruitment protocol and informed consents by X date etc…
Practice Time
How will you reach your goals
Step 3: Think about…
How You Spend Time Now & How to Maximize that Time
• Find the time and space that work ‘best’ for you
• Find the format that’s ideal for your dissertation
• Work/Life Balance
• If you can, get paid to work on your dissertation
• Tools that can speed you up – Work smarter NOT harder
• End note
• Live scribe
• Move toward paper free
• Maximize the library
• Qualtrics, SPSS, Atlas.Ti and other software
• Other tricks
Practice Time
Work smarter not harder
Step 4: Implement and Monitor the Plan
• Start working your plan
• Evaluate your process & success along the path
• Keep timeline on hand and visit it often
• Celebrate small and large accomplishments
Plan for the Unexpected All Along the Way
• Think about how you will react and recover when life throws you curve balls
• Identify potential challenges you may expect as a doctoral student
• Family obligations
• Family Planning
• Health
• Financial Well Being
• Who are your supports?
• What are your resources?
• Working with your advisor, committee, and campus policy
Practice Time
Implementation, Evaluation & Adjustment
To Recap
Step 1: Set your Goals (short term and long term goals)
Step 2: Think about how you reach those goals
Step 3: Think about how you spend time now & how to maximize that time
Step 4: Implement and monitor the plan
Plan for the unexpected all along the way
Questions?
YOU CAN DO THIS!!
