We have worked with hundreds of clients. No two clients are the same, but we do see many of the same challenges holding them back from completing their doctoral program. This blog lists some of the best advice to finish your dissertation once and for all! I have either come across, given, or used to address these common challenges. Ultimately, it comes down to these seven things: knowing your why and being able to justify your decisions, being purposeful in designing your study and presenting your methods, writing as you go and being effective in presenting data, choosing the right chair, and using resources (software, coaches, editors, statisticians, etc.), and being kind to yourself.

1. Know your why and be prepared to justify your decisions.

1. 1. in order to finish your dissertation, you must know “the why” behind your research. In all decisions you make in your research, you need to know why you made those decisions and be able to articulate it in a scholarly way. In other words, you must be able to justify your choices.
   2. You must be able to explain your methodology. This includes writing it out in detail being explicit about every step.  This is important for communication and identifying any problems or concerns that may arise.

2. Be purposeful in designing your study and presenting your methods.

1. 1. Factors you may consider in choosing the right methodological approach for your research include finding a method that is comfortable for you and recognizing what data is needed to address your research question(s).
   2. It is essential to carefully design your research approach, including preparing for or preventing critiques of your methods or the data they produce. Careful design includes what you are doing and how you present this information.
   3. Factors that are considered in choosing a suitable method include what others are doing to study your topic and what each approach produces as far as data and the meaning of that data.
   4. Generally speaking, the more data you have, the better your study will be. The sample size is determined by the size of the population and the analysis you want to conduct.
   5. The methods chapter is not an encyclopedia of your data. Your methods chapter should focus on the key points of your data collection, dataset, and analysis.  If needed, additional information can be placed in the appendices.

3. Write as you go and be effective in presenting data.   

1. 1. To finish your dissertation once and for all, we suggest writing your dissertation as you go instead of simply taking a series of notes. This is will not only help you understand what you are doing, but it will also add up and feel less daunting.
   2. There are benefits to using graphs, charts, or infographics to supplement the text. For instance, if you find yourself writing several sentences describing numbers, you may have information that is better presented in a table or figure.
   3. Be purposeful in choosing the best place to write. Some people prefer to work from home, work outside, or even work at a coffee shop.  Consider the comfort of the chair, the noise level (or using apps for noise control), and other factors that might improve concentration.  Consider the best time to do your writing; some are early birds, and others might be night owls. We also recommend creating to-do lists and using timers to stay focused during your working and writing sessions.

4. Choose the right dissertation chair.

1. 1. In order to finish your dissertation once and for all, choose a chair who has a history of graduating students on time. You may get an idea of this from talking with other students in your program or from reviewing dissertations that have been completed in your program. You will want to be sure the chair is not overloaded, which could result in excessively divided attention.

Stay in control when you face advice that does not align with your direction. You do not always have to take all the advice provided if you feel someone else is trying to control your dissertation.  This does not mean you have to have a conflict with your chair—you can be cordial and professional.

5. Software programs are out there to help make your life easier.

1. 1. Consider the benefits of using software programs to make your life easier as you work on your dissertation. There are software programs for recording and organizing your data, notes, and references, such as Nvivo, Zotero, OneNote, and Mendeley.

6. Coaches, editors, and statisticians are here to help.

1. 1. Similar to sports teams, individuals have multiple specialized coaches. Dissertation coaches assist students in doing their best work, making progress, and even saving money by moving through the process faster. To schedule a free strategy call with one of our dissertation experts, apply here!
   2. Know when to turn to a trained statistician for assistance in your design, IRB application, research questions, hypotheses, sample sizes, and coaching on the use of parametric or non-parametric design and the analysis of data.
   3. Coaches, editors, and statisticians can help in all stages of the dissertation process. This can save you significant time and give you more time to think about the essential things you might have on your plate.
   4. The relationship between the Ph.D. student and the dissertation chair can be fraught with challenges, or it can be very rewarding, and of course, it can be both.
   5. Look into the benefits of working with a writing and citation editor. They can help with citation styles, your school’s formatting, template, and generally editing, like grammar. Working with an editor may lead to fewer post-defense revisions.

7. Be kind to yourself.

1. 1. Yes, we know you want to finish your dissertation once and for all, but it is a marathon, not a sprint. Take mental breaks. It is essential to take breaks and do something radically different for yourself while you are away from your research. You may find that your best ideas come when you step away, such as while you are exercising.
   2. Your dissertation only has to “be good enough.” it does not have to be perfect—consider it more of an apprenticeship where you will make mistakes and look back upon them as learning experiences.  Look at scholarship as a work in progress.

Ultimately, the best way to address challenges is to use all your resources, advocate for yourself, and communicate.  Your chair is there to help as well. It might not always feel this way when receiving critical feedback, but keep in mind that this feedback is there to improve your study. So, let us emphasize this once again: be kind to yourself. We work with so many doctoral scholars who beat themselves up every time they encounter a challenge.  There will always be challenges, so it comes down to how you address them.  We hope that some of this advice helps you to finish your dissertation once and for all and overcome the challenge of becoming Dr. You.