RESEARCH AND DISSERTATIONS:

DISSERTATION INTRODUCTION

In the Middle Ages an apprentice became a master and full member of his guild by completing a masterpiece. The dissertation is your masterpiece. It represents to the guild of psychology that you have gained the skills to independently define, evaluate, research, and advance the body of psychological knowledge.

Your dissertation shows that you know an area of research in the field of psychology in depth. Others will consider you an expert. It makes an independent contribution to the field, evaluates an old problem in a new way or identifies a new problem or area of concern in the field.

The dissertation is a learning process. Regardless of the results of your dissertation, completing your dissertation demonstrates that are able to you will be able to demonstrate that you can successfully) complete all phases of an independent research project.

Your dissertation is also a major component of your doctoral training. For most students, it is a vitally important, if not the most important, learning experience in their years as a doctoral student. It is another article of learning in which a convergence of many aspects of your undergraduate and graduate learning occurs.

Finally, it is a demonstration of independent and creative thinking. The dissertation from start to finish is your project. You are considered the Principal Investigator and responsible for all facets of the project. Although your dissertation chair, committee, and research vertical team (RVT) will work with you, at the end of the process, you will be an independent contributor to the advancement of the field of clinical psychology.