Editorial: Rewriting a Social Science Dissertation into a Journal Article and Getting it Published

Publishing a journal article based on a social science dissertation establishes the credibility of the author and provides a mechanism for disseminating the results to a much larger audience than is available to the dissertation. However, rewriting into an article suitable for publication is often an intimidating and overwhelming prospect. The present article discusses the aspects of the dissertation that should be maintained in an article, the logistics of writing, as well as information on the review process, the process of peer review and publication, and the role of the journal editor

Positive Leadership Theory for Online Dissertation Mentoring

A number of theoretical models have been suggested for how to mentor doctoral students. However, they tend to rely on hierarchical and authoritarian relationships between the faculty and students. Such models tend to create dependency and fear of the faculty, resulting in a reluctance in coming to the mentor for guidance. Such models do not tend to work well with online adult doctoral students with jobs and families. This paper proposes a model of positive leadership for online doctoral mentors, where mentors are accessible and create an environment where success is assumed and social support is provided by both the mentor and peers. In this model of mentorship, students are encouraged to problem solve their deficiencies and work out a plan to address them. Gratitude is expressed by the mentor and encouraged in students to recognize those who have helped them to progress. The paper includes suggestions, examples, and methods to aid the mentor in positive leadership of doctoral students

Validation of the Doctoral Writing Knowledge and Efficacy Inventory

There has not been a validated measure of doctoral level writing knowledge nor one of doctoral writing self efficacy. In this study we developed and validated the Doctoral Writing Knowledge and Efficacy Inventory. The inventory showed validity, being correlated with writing apprehension, perceived writing self efficacy, and stage of dissertation.https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/current/1026/thumbnail.jp

Pedagogy: The Online Dissertation

This preliminary study examines dissertation mentoring practices reported by 80 Walden faculty. Comments related to orienting students to instructor expectations and the dissertation process, motivating students, and expectations of frequency of student drafts are reported. Findings indicate that there are currently few consistencies in the pedagogical practices of mentors.https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/archivedposters/1092/thumbnail.jp

Graduate Student Researchers\u27 Knowledge/Efficacy: Results from a Virtual Lab

Stadtlander and Giles (2010) showed the feasibility of a virtual psychology research laboratory. The present study examines improvement in students’ research skills and efficacy in a three quarter lab. Students conducted interviews in a faculty designed project, analyzed the data, and co-wrote a journal manuscript. Findings indicate lab students’ research knowledge and efficacy improved significantly over non-lab graduate students

Graduate Student Researchers\u27 Knowledge/Efficacy: Results from a Virtual Lab

Stadtlander and Giles (2010) showed the feasibility of a virtual psychology research laboratory. The present study examines improvement in students’ research skills and efficacy in a three quarter lab. Students conducted interviews in a faculty designed project, analyzed the data, and co-wrote a journal manuscript. Findings indicate lab students’ research knowledge and efficacy improved significantly over non-lab graduate students

Social Media as Support for Partners of Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Researchers have established that partners of veterans who isolate socially because of posttraumatic stress disorder are also socially impacted. It is not known how partners cope with their own social isolation and the influence of social media on the isolation while maintaining commitment to their veteran partners. Weiss’ theory of the syndrome of loneliness was used as the basis for this phenomenological study investigating social experiences in 10 female participants drawn from social media groups. Although the study was open to male or female partners, only female partners of male veterans chose to participate. Qualitative email interviews established how the participants socialized as well as the professional and supportive services they might consider beneficial. Data were coded and analyzed to identify patterns that emerged from the experiences of the participants. The primary themes that emerged included that the women had established deep commitments to their veterans and experienced social isolation. Participants’ perception of the social stigma of posttraumatic stress disorder resulted in social withdrawal and a dependency on social media for their social interaction and support

A Qualitative Study Examining Home as Faculty Workplace During COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Objectives: Using the lens of the virtual workplace model, the current basic qualitative study examined how COVID-19 self-isolation affected both online and land-based faculty (working online as an emergency due to COVID-19) workspaces and work processes. Method: A total of 20 online and six land-based faculty completed e-mail interviews both one month and 3 months post self-isolation. Results: Online faculty were more satisfied with their home workplace, but both groups felt more negative about their online work, as they felt a loss of freedom and independence due to the isolation. Conclusions: Findings indicated that both land-based and online faculty showed indications of stress due to self-isolation, which in turn affected their feelings about work. Gaining a sense of control seems to be essential to reducing stress over time. Implication for theory and/or practice: Future researchers may wish to examine the relationship of feelings of employee burnout to the stress of the pandemic. How working from home interacts with burnout is not yet known, particularly for online faculty. Both employers and virtual workers may wish to utilize the study’s findings in recognizing a need for control in virtual workers

Virtual Instruction: A Qualitative Research Laboratory Course

Online graduate programs in psychology are becoming common; however, a concern has been whether instructors in the programs provide adequate research mentoring. One issue surrounding research mentoring is the absence of research laboratories in the virtual university. Students attending online universities often do research without peer or lab support and without previous experience in supervised research projects. This paper describes a virtual qualitative research lab course at an online university that both mentored students and collected data through a virtual qualitative lab on a national scale. The authors also address logistics, problems and issues that arose, as well as suggestions for future courses

Virtual Instruction: A Qualitative Research Laboratory Course

Online graduate programs in psychology are becoming common; however, a concern has been whether instructors in the programs provide adequate research mentoring. One issue surrounding research mentoring is the absence of research laboratories in the virtual university. Students attending online universities often do research without peer or lab support and without previous experience in supervised research projects. This paper describes a virtual qualitative research lab course at an online university that both mentored students and collected data through a virtual qualitative lab on a national scale. The authors also address logistics, problems and issues that arose, as well as suggestions for future courses