Davis and Parker give many ideas how to approach and manage dissertation to doctoral student or candidate. They explain the objective of a doctoral dissertation which is as follows.
Do independent research
Make a contribution to knowledge with the research
Document the research and make it available to the scholarly community
Also they suggest yearly plan for dissertation from the first year to last year including example that is useful way to prepare dissertation. What I mostly concern part in this book is the selection of a dissertation topic since I know most of student spend a lot of time to find appropriate topic for dissertation. This book introduces characteristics of a good dissertation topic and various ways to find good topic. I learned from this chapter good course work and various experiences can reduce methodology constraints in selecting a topic.
Especially two case studies, introduced in chapter 1, The need for a different approach to the dissertation, make me think carefully how I can arrange this doctoral program effectively. I can choose James Carthly’s way or Ted Maren’s. Although they achieved doctoral degree in different environment, can we say the quality of academic achievement for both case is same? Maybe not. It depends on your choice.
Comments
Your reading of the two case studies is very real world. It may be that despite the best of intentions, life rears its head and one might choose to yield to the exigencies of life like Carthly. Given the fore knowledge of the options, cautions against underestimating effort and duration, and the tools to more deliberately plan and execute the dissertation project, it's easy to assume hands down that Maren's path is the one everyone would choose. You are very wise to point out that this is a personal choice to be made.
I also think that finding appropriate topic for dissertation is the hardest one. Sometimes, we should prepare earlier, but we also have to finish it soon. Due to the fact that, it may be others doing the same topic as ours.