Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 195
•
Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
978-1-4758-4025-4 • Hardback • December 2017 • $78.00 • (£60.00)
978-1-4758-4026-1 • Paperback • December 2017 • $40.00 • (£30.00)
978-1-4758-4027-8 • eBook • December 2017 • $38.00 • (£30.00)
John J. Hampton is a Professor of Business at St. Peter’s University in New Jersey and a principal in the Princeton Consulting Group. He was dean of the schools of business at Seton Hall and Connecticut State universities, and provost of the College of Insurance and SUNY Maritime College in New York City.
Table of ContentsPrefacePart 1: The Big Picture of Scholarly ResearchChapter 1: Who is Affected by the Misdirection of Academic Scholarship? How are Harvard, Fordham, Southern New Hampshire, and the University of Phoenix doing we might ask?Chapter 2: What are contingent faculty? Do they have anything to do with scholarly research?Chapter 3: What is scholarly research anyway?” Professors do it but what are they doing?Chapter 4: When does Scholarly Research Achieve its Highest Satisfaction? Do I really want to keep on doing this stuff?Chapter 5: Is scholarly research an affliction weakening the academy? Perhaps an as-of-yet unclassified disease?Chapter 6: Why are dissertations the tipping point for scholarly research? Is this really where it all starts?Part 2: Reforming the Doctoral DissertationChapter 7: Do you have the smarts to do scholarly research? Are weaklings allowed in this club?Chapter 8: Why is a dissertation the starting point of academic scholarship? Do you need to know a about validity, reliability, and that other stuff?Chapter 9: Why are we fussing about data, information, and knowledge? Is it worth our time and trouble?Chapter 10: Where can you find hints and tips for writing a dissertation? Don’t you want to do it right the first time?Chapter 11: Do scholarly researchers have their own language? Where is a translator when we need one?Chapter 12: Does a quantitative or qualitative dissertation make more sense? Do you want to know the answer now or after you attempt it?Chapter 13: How does sampling produce valid findings? Does anybody believe what we just learned?Chapter 14: Why are limitations as important as findings? Do we need to explain that which we didn’t learn?Part 3: Candidates Only -- Practical Tips for Writing DissertationsChapter 15: Why is a dissertation like flying a fighter jet? Is it enough to take off or do want to be sure you can land?Chapter 16: What is the dilemma of the dissertation topic? Why is it so important to resolve it?Chapter 17: How can an Advisor Help Create a Workable Proposal? Do we have any tips or tricks to share with the candidates?Chapter 18: We know corruption is bad but Is it a suitable topic for a doctoral dissertation? How should we decide?Chapter 19: Have you Heard any Good Dissertation Stories Lately? Would you like One to Finish this Journey?Chapter 20: How should you Structure a Dissertation? Is it Important to know where you are going?
John Hampton’s book brings critical attention to the inefficiencies, problems and concerns that plaque the high attrition rate of doctoral students. The book identifies the need for scholarly research and inquiry to understand degree completion, and bring renewed national attention to this education issue confronting our nation. Higher education is held accountable for the success or failure of their institution. Prioritizing degree completion as a link to maximize student learning is key to ensuring student success.
— Maureen A. Blue, Professor and Director, Ed.D. Programs in Educational Leadership K-12, Saint Peter’s University.
While I was fortunate to attend two highly-rated institutions of higher learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, I have come to believe that higher education is seriously broken and is no longer serving the needs of those being educated. The quality of the educational product is in decline while costs are skyrocketing. Dr. Hampton takes a good look at Academia and tackles some of the reasons for the decline. Often using a question/answer format along with illustrative stories, the book challenges the roles of academic research and doctoral dissertations and proposes a better way to educate future generations. This is a great read from a brave author.
— Art Pulis, business consultant, Pulis and Associates
This book is effectively the “Cliff Notes” for doctoral candidates, as it advises them on the doctoral dissertation, its pitfalls, and how to avoid them. The book rings true, both from this reviewer’s own experience and the experiences of many friends and acquaintances. A key factor in successful completion of the dissertation is to note the program’s graduation rate and time required to complete the program. The stories in the book make the point, hard for enthusiastic young academics to grasp, that completion of the dissertation itself is key as the degree is the credential that launches one’s academic career. Professor Hampton himself has attained the “liberation period of scholarship” by his achievement as full professor and endowed chair in Finance, as well as his decision to mentor future academics by publishing his series critiquing higher education.
— Paula B. Alexander, Associate Professor, Seton Hall University and author of Corporate Social Responsibility, Routledge, 2015
I wish I had been able to read this book before deciding to pursue a PhD! It’s a must-read for anyone in academia or anyone who aspires to be. Peppered with interesting statistics and analyses of relevant trends, Hampton aptly points out issues of “academia as usual” and provides spot-on recommendations for navigating every part of the process of joining a college or university, from starting a PhD program, finishing it, and getting tenure. If I had read this book before starting my dissertation, I would have saved myself a year of re-writes. This book truly is packed with “wisdom, humor, and wonderful practicality.”
— Kimberly Reeve, Associate Professor of Business, The King’s College
As an adjunct professor in a graduate clinical practice program, I’ve witnessed Ph.D colleagues not getting tenure after five years of hard work. I’m also surprised at the number of people who complete the coursework for a doctorate but never complete the dissertation. Dr. Hampton explains what’s happening in a clear and honest description of the research process and all the “steps in the dance.” It should be required reading for anyone considering pursuit of a doctoral degree. I have never seen anything comparable in print and I commend the effort to bring forward these issues and challenge those in positions of responsibility to effect change.
— Kristie R. Soriano M.S., Clinical Director Speech, JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute and adjunct professor, Kean University.