Avoiding Thesis and Dissertation Pitfalls 61 cases of problems and solutions. - book review

College Student Journal, June, 2002

Westport, Connecticut--London: Bergin & Garvey, 2000 R. Murray Thomas and Dale L. Brubaker

Avoiding Thesis and Dissertation Pitfalls was written in response to a book Thomas & Brubaker wrote in 2000 (Theses and Dissertations: A Guide to Planning, Research, and Writing, Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey). They received a host of inquiries from master's degree and doctoral candidates about problems they face in their research efforts-inquiries that include requests for potential remedies. The result is 61 case descriptions that concern types of problems degree-candidates may face as they work on their research projects. Thomas & Brubaker drew on their own experiences while supervising graduate students' research projects. Thomas & Brubaker drew on their own experiences while supervising graduate students' research projects and serving on thesis and dissertation committees and from graduate students and faculty members who told them of difficulties students have encountered during their research activities.

The book is organizes around eleven chapters and four appendices. Each appendix focuses on a special particular type of thesis/dissertation content: Anthropology, Education, Psychology, and Political Science/History. In my experience, Chapter 2 (Choosing the Defining Research Topics) should prove to be most beneficial to masters and doctoral candidates as this topic both controls the direction of the study and is one in which exuberance and overcommitment on the part of the student can cause monumental problems as the study progresses. The rest of the book is also excellent and is a recommended reference for students and faculty alike.