One of the most critical decisions you will make as a PhD candidate is selecting your thesis committee. These people will be with you (we hope) throughout your journey, and there are some key issues to consider as you make these selections. In this article, I will explore some of Read more…
Binary logistic regression is a very useful statistical tool, under the right circumstances. But, it requires a bit more understanding and effort to interpret the results than other tools in the same family. In this article, I’ll show you how to execute a binary logistic regression analysis and interpret its Read more…
Diving into your literature search is one of the most exciting parts of the dissertation process, and also one of the most vital. While it takes some thought and preparation, developing a sound literature search strategy is a must. In order to maximize your efforts and avoid getting lost in Read more…
In the media, in professional analyses, and in academic research, we are constantly confronted with statistics intended to sell a product, prove a hypothesis, or evaluate alternatives. In defense of the field of mathematics, some statisticians and some statistics are actually objective, rigorous, and useful. But, there remains a nagging Read more…
Surveys are very common and effective (mostly) in scholarly research. They are an excellent way to collect data related to human behavior and opinions. And, a survey can support both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis. In this article I explain the differences between surveys and questionnaires, discuss sampling, and Read more…
APA style can be confusing – especially with the relatively recent switch from APA 6 to APA 7. Not to worry – we’ve got your back. Here are all your APA spacing questions answered Is APA Single or Double Spaced? In APA 7th edition, the default line spacing guideline is Read more…
What is internal validity? The validity of a research study refers to how well the results among study participants represent the reality of similar individuals outside the study. Internal validity is the extent to which the results of a study represent the reality in the population you are studying and Read more…
One of the most important sentences in your dissertation is the Specific Purpose Statement. It’s not just a sentence – it’s a statement that captures everything your study is about. Together with the Problem Statement and Research Questions, it guides the entirety of your research. It may be a small Read more…
Everybody knows external validity is important. With it, you’ll soar to the heights of research applicability. Without it, you’ll barely make it off the ground. But… what exactly is it? Fear not: if you’re confused about what external validity is and how to achieve it, you’re in the right place. Read more…
Population and sample are important concepts to understand when doing research. While people sometimes use the two terms interchangeably, they each have specific meanings. If you understand the difference from the start, you will save yourself time, headaches, and maybe even snide comments. You’ll move forward faster and thus save Read more…