DPLS 728fa06 - Literature Review

DPLS 728 - Literature Review
Fall  2006                   3 Credits

Professor: David Whitfield, Ed.D.

Office Hours: By Appointment/e-mail
Email: whitfield@gonzaga.edu/david@learnleadcoach.com
Fridays (6:00-10:00) RC260
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Course Description

The course is designed to provide an overview of the literature review as it pertains to the research process, assist students in beginning to create a knowledge base about their dissertation topics, and help them articulate this knowledge base in verbal and written formats. Peer and instructor support systems are used tin this course to enable students to complete a first draft of their literature review chapter (all or in part) in preparation for the Proposal Seminar course (DPLS 730). Because students enter this course at different places in their literature review travels, each student will contract with the instructor what is reasonable for him or her to accomplish during the semester. For some, this might mean one section of the literature review chapter completed, and for others this might mean a draft of the entire chapter.

Texts for the Course

Doctoral Studies in Leadership Studies (2005). But I’ve never written a dissertation before: A user-friendly guide for the preparation of the dissertation proposal and dissertation.

Galvan, J. L. (2004). Writing literature reviews (2nd ed.). Glendale, CA: Pyrczak.

Locke, L., Spirduso, W., & Silverman, S.J. (2000). Proposals that work: A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals (4th ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Pellegrino, V. C. (1987). A writer's guide to transitional words and expressions. Wailuku, HI: Maui Arthoughts

Rudestam, K. E., & Newton, R.R. (2001). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process. (2nd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

APA Manual (5th edition)

Class Session Topics and Assignments

September 8—Session 1

1. Introduction to course requirements, course contracts, and review of literature of others

2. Be prepared to make a 15-minute presentation on your topic and where you are in your literature review.

3. Identify a classmate/peer you are willing to work with on peer editing (or identify a professional editor).

4. Be prepared to comment on statements of your classmates in ways that will help them improve their statements.

5. Be prepared to discuss and initiate your learning contract.

The Learning Contract consists of:
1. Learning goals for the course: (What do you want to accomplish?) Establish SMART goals.

2. Listing the steps you think necessary to reach your goals, and an initial timeline for completion of each step.

3. Structuring your life to implement this plan?

4. Expressing support you would like to receive from:

a. Course instructor
b. Fellow classmates
c. Advisor

5. What would make this course successful for you?

September 15—Session 2

Summarize Session 1.

1. Solidify learning contracts.
2. Update dissertation topics. Where are you in defining/refining your topic?
3. How far have you moved from last session?
4. Bring a short, double-spaced paragraph expanding on your original statement. Include a statement such as: The purpose of this study is….. Be prepared to discuss/share with the class.
5. Review suggestions in Rudestam and Newton (2001, pp61-64). Be prepared to discuss.
6. Identify at least two dissertations that are relevant to your topic, or ones that could be used as a model, though they may have nothing to do with your topic.
7. Bring at least one dissertation to class; be prepared to share and discuss.
8. Bring two pages of reference that you plan to use in your study.
9. Pay close attention to the correct format for references: the hanging indent, though all the examples in the APA manual use a regular paragraph indent.
10. Take a look at: http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html for information on electronic reference formats using APA.

September 29—Session 3
No class will be held.
Class will not meet for this session. This is an opportunity for you to CONTINUE YOUR WORK: searching and writing!!

October 13—Session 4

Summarize progress and status to date. This should be between 1 and 2 pages (double spaced)

Specific Assignments-Visit and study these sources/references:

• http://www.umi.com Click on Dissertations, Click on ProQuest.
• http://www.gonzaga.edu/doctoral/titles.html Look at dissertations done in the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies, at the Dissertation Titles on this page.
• http://wwwkerlins.net/bobbi/research/diss/ch02.html Review this closely; it is an interesting example of Literature Review from Roberta-Anne Kerlin’s dissertation, Toward a Theory of Women’s Doctoral Persistence.
• http://www.gonzaga.edu.doctoral/resources/searchguide.html
• DPLSdiss3b.dot-download and begin experimenting with adding text to chapter 2.
• Advanced search commands.
• Rudestam and Newton. (2001) Pp.229-237. 

October 27—Session 5-
No Class—Continue searching and writing.

• Summarize the foregoing, consisting of approx. 1 to 2 pages(double spaced)
• Update on students’ progress and mapping of the literature review
• Get started with the first
• Follow the APA manual
• Outline the first section of the literature review chapter
• Bring list of references (two copies) for reading you have already done. Use the APA format-a minimum of two pages. Be prepared to do peer editing, using the APA format. http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html

Read:  Galvan (2004), pp.49-86

November 10—Session 6

• Summarize the first five sessions
• Present student progress
• Present completed draft of first section of the literature review and outline of the second of the literature review.
• Form in to groups of three or four and share, edit, comment, assist.
• Galvan (2004), pp.87-96
• Fill in the Checklist on pages 91-96
• E-mail me before March 7th at least four pages (not more than six pages) of the literature review, include a table of contents, with page numbers of chapter 2.

November 17—Session 7

• Summarize
• Review contract progress
• Review draft for improvements, expansion, etc.
• Solidify outline of the second section
• Discuss, share, edit, and provide each other constructive feedback

December 1—Session 8

• Final summary
• Revisit the purpose of your study: How has it changed or how does it need to be changed?
• Present students’ final work for the course.
• Complete all work as per your personal contract
• Were do you go from here?

Works/sources to consult:
Additional Resources:

Becker, H. (1986). Writing for social scientists: How to start and finish your thesis, book, or article. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Balian, E.S. (1982). How to design, analyze, and write doctoral research: The practical guidebook. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

Borg, W.R. & Gall, M.D. (1989). Educational research: An introduction (5th ed.). New York: Longman.

Campbell, J. (1949). The hero with a thousand faces. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Cooper, H.M. (1989). Integrating research: A guide for literature reviews (2nd ed.). Newbury Park: Sage.

Creswell, J.W. (1994). Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Koberg, D. & Bagnall, J. (1976). The universal traveler: A soft-systems guide to creativity, problem-solving, and the process of reaching goals. Los Altos, CA: William Kaufmann Inc.

Lehmkuhl, D. & Lamping, D.C. (1993). Organizing for the creative person. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks.

Libutti, P. & Kopala, M. (1995). The doctoral student, the dissertation, and the library: A review of the literature. Reference Librarian, 48, 5-25.

Sternberg, D. (1981). How to complete and survive a doctoral dissertation. New York: St. Martin’s Press.