Writing a dissertation requires a determination for perfection. Without that, you might as well accept your undergraduate degree and move forward. A dissertation is not like writing an argumentative thesis. It is not a master thesis writing either. It is your first ever body of work as a doctorate student and future PhD.
Any mistake on your part will be seen as incompetence as a whole. If you do not deliver what is expected of you by the panel or committee overseeing your defense, your whole dissertation will fall flat and you will need to start all over again.
You would be very unlucky to fail your dissertation because of mistakes, especially if it took you years to complete it. That is why is it is extremely important for you to avoid common mistakes, check your work diligently, and verify the data repeatedly.
In order to avoid the common mistakes, here are some tips for writing a thesis or dissertation that can help you prevent that from happening. Here is a list of the most common errors doctorate and PhD students commit most of the time on their dissertations. Read on to find out:
Common Dissertation Mistakes
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Lack of communication with your advisor.
Some students think that they are better than their advisors. Some think that they do not need advisors. Others feel too shy to approach their advisors. Thinking that way can lead to extreme repercussions down the line for your dissertation. Advisors have been doing this for years. This is your first time. Accept their critique and take it positively.
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Relying too much on the internet.
Yes, everything is digital nowadays, but did you know that there are still billions of text that have not been encoded online? No one has the time, we guess. But you must understand that there is more information out there. Libraries, for instance, are a treasure trove of text that you cannot find anywhere else.
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Overestimating your timeframe.
When you schedule your tasks, make sure that you have practiced a dry run for each of those tasks. You might end up scheduling too much time on one task, while not giving enough to the other. With a confusing timeline, your dissertation will get disorganized and you may lose more time in the process trying to iron things out.
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Secure your work at all costs.
Backup everything all the time. Program your document program to save your work every minute. Always carry an extra hard drive or flash drive with you. If you lose your dissertation, there is no getting it back. You will have to do it all over again and that’s not fun now, is it?
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Lazy researching.
This is the biggest mistake students make when writing their dissertations. They usually rely on one or two sources, which the advisors and committee members can sniff out immediately. Make sure to use at least 5 sources to validate your claims.