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Demystifing the BSHS Dissertation

June 6, 2024

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You passed your Quals !!��Now what?

NEXT STOP: DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

Target 1 (expected):

by December 2024

Target 2 (to remain in good standing):

by December 2025

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BEFORE the proposal meeting

Assemble your committee (Appx G)

Familiarize yourself with the dissertation study options

Prepare the proposal document (4 chapters)

Set date (Appx H)

Distribute at least 2 weeks in advance

Prepare a 30-45 min. overview

3 thematically-linked studies of publishable quality

At least 2 should be data-focused: qual, quant, meta-analysis

At least 1 needs to involve quantitative data analysis
At least 1 needs to involve new data collection

1 can be a systematic review

Assemble committee

anytime now
advisor has to have a BSS faculty appointment
3 Brown faculty (A doctoral committee consists of a minimum of three Brown-affiliated faculty members, including at least 2 with primary appointments in the SPH); 4^th inside/outside person may be added to recognize their contribution
Committee should be chosen to support you and also to help you make your projects as strong as they possibly could be; so pick people who have expertise in the methods, theoretical perspectives, analyses, and populations in your chosen space, and who are going to give you time and good feedback
Appendix G: committee composition must be approved before the meeting is scheduled

Distribute document >2 weeks in advance; if you want the best quality input from your committee you’ll give them time to study the document
Committee meetings are evaluative, but they are also intended to help you make your projects better, so embrace that opportunity!

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Chapter 1

Introduction and literature review

Introduce theme of the dissertation
Define common terms
Summarize background common to all studies
Overview of research questions to be addressed

BSHS Dissertation Proposal Structure

Chapter 2

Study 1

Brief specific intro with research question(s)
Methods
Analysis plan

Chapter 3

Study 2

Brief specific intro with research question(s)
Methods
Analysis plan

Chapter 4

Study 3

Brief specific intro with research question(s)
Methods
Analysis plan

Appendix

Supplemental materials, as needed

Conceptual models
Measures
Interview guides

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BEFORE the proposal meeting

Assemble your committee (Appx G)

Familiarize yourself with the dissertation study options

Prepare the proposal document (format next)

Set date (Appx H)

Distribute at least 2 weeks in advance

Prepare a 30-45 min. overview

DURING the proposal meeting

After you all assemble, expect to be excused for a few minutes

You will be invited back in present an overview of 3 studies and take questions

You will be excused again while the committee decides what suggestions/edits are discretionary and which are required, and what the outcome will be

You will be invited back in to discuss next steps

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Proposal meeting outcomes

FULL PASS

PASS WITH MINOR REVISIONS

CONDITIONAL PASS

NO PASS

no changes to design or document are needed before going forward! Advisor completes Dissertation Proposal Defense Results form and notifies Linda and Kate

revisions to the document are relatively minor and most committee members are content to allow the advisor to supervise the revisions; advisor will sign and submit the DPDR form when revisions are approved

significant deficiencies in the proposal need to be addressed, and reviewed/approved by all committee members; you might be asked to re-defend the proposal

the student may be directed to substantially revise the proposal, or may be declined candidacy to the PhD degree; this should not happen with proper preparation!

A full pass is rare – no changes to the document or design are needed before going forward. Advisor completes the Dissertation Proposal Defense Results Form (Appendix I)
A ‘pass with minor revisions’ isgiven when revisions to the document are deemed to be relatively minor and most committee members are content to allow the advisor to supervise the revisions. The student should incorporate committee feedback and submit the revised document to their advisor who will sign off and submit the Proposal Results form and give you the go ahead to proceed
A ‘conditional pass’ implies the need to address significant deficiencies in the proposal. You might be asked to re-defend the proposal. All committee members must agree that any shortcomings have been adequately addressed before the student is admitted to candidacy.
A ‘no pass’ means the student may be directed to repeat the proposal defense altogether, or may be declined candidacy to the PhD degree.
Once you have an approved proposal, you are a dissertation candidate!

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BEFORE the proposal meeting

Assemble your committee (Appx G)

Familiarize yourself with the dissertation study options

Prepare the proposal document (format next)

Set date (Appx H)

Distribute at least 2 weeks in advance

Prepare a 30-45 min. overview

DURING the proposal meeting

AFTER the proposal meeting

Attend to required edits/suggestions

Incorporate “friendly suggestions”

Get started on your research!

Meet with your committee regularly

Update your document regularly (e.g., literature review, methods) so it evolves into your dissertation

DURING the proposal meeting

After you all assemble, expect to be excused for a few minutes

You will be invited back in present an overview of 3 studies and take questions

You will be excused again while the committee decides what suggestions/edits are discretionary and which are required, and what the outcome will be

You will be invited back in to discuss next steps

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Chapter 1

Introduction and literature review

Introduce theme of the dissertation
Define common terms
Summarize background common to all studies
Overview of research questions to be addressed

Chapter 5

Conclusions

Summary of findings, across Studies 1-3
Contributions to the literature
Limitations and future directions

BSHS Dissertation Proposal Structure

Chapter 2

Study 1

Brief specific intro with research question(s)
Methods
Analysis plan

Chapter 3

Study 2

Brief specific intro with research question(s)
Methods
Analysis plan

Chapter 4

Study 3

Brief specific intro with research question(s)
Methods
Analysis plan

Results
Preliminary discussion

Results
Preliminary discussion

Results
Preliminary discussion

Additions for Dissertation Defense

Appendix

Supplemental materials, as needed

Conceptual models
Measures
Interview guides

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What happens at your dissertation defense?

Public part: 45-50 minute presentation of your research to a general audience

Family and friends can attend
So can interested members of the university community, community partners
General questions can be asked

Private part: 1+ hour with your committee, in a private space

Outcomes consist of (a) pass with distinction, (b) pass, (c) pass with minor revisions, (d) pass conditional on major revisions, and (e) no pass.

Return to celebrate with family and friends

Degrees are conferred in May, October, February