The key considerations in doing dissertation projects: a note to students

The key considerations in doing dissertation projects: a note to students:

Many students hold some misunderstanding about doing dissertation projects:

1. What research methods to use?

2. Can any people offer me some relevant academic readings to study?

3. Can I use my course assignment works to re-engineer a dissertation proposal?

4. Can I use my company's research reports, e.g. customer survey, employee survey, as my dissertation project research methods "to use"?

Comments: 

1. What research methods to use?: This is not the first question to ask.

2. Can any people offer me some relevant academic readings to study?: Ask this question only after you have figure out your agenda to do literature review; and then doing literature search is straightforward; you do not need to ask your "professor" friends to do that for you.

3. Can I re-engineer my course assignment works to come up with a dissertation proposal?: It may influence your research interest, but normal subject course work requires you to show knowledge a particular subject; dissertation project requires you to show competence as a researcher. So, it is not a good idea to "re-engineer" your assignment work in this regard.

4. Can I use my company's research reports, e.g. customer survey, employee survey, as my dissertation project research methods "to use"? Do not do that; it is not your primary research methods to use and they are not informed by your literature review findings.

My advice:

1. Follow the agile literature review approach (ALRA).

2. Reflect on your learning objectives, mindset*, intellectual curiosity and life priority.

3. Pay attention to time management on dissertation projects.

4. Pay attention to methods to accelerate learning.

5. You are the researcher and your project supervisor is your mentor**, not a supervisor who "instructs" you how to perform clearly defined tasks, nor your tutor on management subjects and research methods, and, finally, nor your boss who alone determine your dissertation project result.

* a case study on mindset and intellectual curiosity: student A: "all those discussion of academic theories are essentially dribbling". 

** as a mentor, in this setting, your supervisor raises "insightful"  (e.g. exploratory) questions to guide you to do your dissertation projects, mainly by reviewing and commenting on your dissertation project ideas. Some research experience sharing from your supervisor is also provided to you from time to time.