APA and Dissertations
On July 8th, 1892, the American Psychological Association was first organized in Worchester, Massachusetts. Since then the APA has worked tirelessly to promote the development and application of psychology, to establish high standards of research ethics, and to become the bane of existence for doctoral students working on their dissertations everywhere…
Despite the APA’s many publications, divisions, and outreach programs, most doctoral students know them primarily as the developers of APA Style.
If concepts like passive voice, first person, and anthropomorphism curdle your blood and make your head pound like a Cherokee drum, you can thank the APA today.
But, all is not as it appears. In fact, although APA and editing issues are among the most popular complaints I hear from students seeking our help, they are often merely a symptom of a deeper underlying problem. Most students who complain about APA, editing, and other writing-related issues often refer to them under the umbrella term, “writer’s block.”
However, when we investigate a little further, the issue invariably is related to what to write rather than how to write. The most important thing you can do to boost productivity in your dissertation writing is to develop a very clear & detailed understanding of what you will be doing for your dissertation.
At some point, you will have to go out into the world, collect data, and make sense of it. You should be able to describe the exact process you will undertake just as if you were Martha Stewart reciting a cake recipe. You must be just as specific, just as detailed, and just as precise.
If you aren’t, confusion and frustration will reign. It’s kind of like you’re wearing a blindfold, shuffling your feet, and reaching your hands out as you feel your way through your dissertation. But, if you are specific, detailed, and precise in conceiving your research plan, then it’s as if the blindfold falls away, you can see the path, and you are able to stride confidently toward your goals.
