Who Cares How Long it Takes to Write the Dissertation? Grad Students Find Structure and Emotional Su

Aug. 15, 2008 - PRLog -- MCLEAN, Virginia – Which works better to help graduate students write the dissertation more quickly – the carrot or the stick?  Although most graduate schools don’t do much on either end to give dissertation help, the ones who do make such efforts usually opt for the stick.  For example, Harvard recently cut off funding for new student slots in departments with slower completion rates.

The problem of overly long times to completion is particularly bad in the humanities. As Scott Jaschik points out, “Even after 10 years, a majority of humanities Ph.D. students have not finished their degrees…”  One reason is that graduate schools are not set up to support their students in the process of accomplishing a long-term project like a dissertation.

Two poignant comments in response to a blog post about Harvard’s efforts offer insight into the emotional price that graduate students pay.

“It took me 10 years to get my PhD. When I finally got it my dissertation was hailed as one of the best ones ever. Up to the point where I actually published it most all my profs, save one or two supporters, were saying I ought to be kicked out of the program…. That said, profs could work a little harder to help students who are struggling, but that's part of the hazing ritual. It can work either against you or for you, depending on circumstances. “

“A PhD is one of the most ill-defined projects a sane human being will undertake. When is one done?”  

Missing from the analyses of how to help students write their dissertations more quickly is the psychological aspect of supporting them during the writing process.  Graduate students in the dissertation-writing phase need not just information about the process, but also emotional support, encouragement, structure, and connectedness with others, in addition to frequent feedback on their process.

One place that offers the psychological component that academics need in order to write productively, publish, and find life balance is The Academic Writing Club, an online accountability tool created by Gina Hiatt, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and the founder and president of Academic Ladder LLC.

The Academic Writing Club’s innovative methodology addresses professors’ and graduate students’ need to learn how to become productive writers.  The Writing Club does this in way that emphasizes balancing writing with other responsibilities.  It also provides interactivity with other academics around the process of writing.  The online set of tools help academic writers get over writing blocks, stop procrastinating, and maintain writing productivity.  

Writing Club members log on to a unique website where they can post information about their daily writing progress, receive feedback from academic writing coaches and from other participants, and also communicate via a message board.  They are able to see not only their progress, but the progress of others. This shared experience increases writing productivity dramatically.  Issues like perfectionism, negative thinking, and anxiety are all addressed by the coaches.

Although the Academic Writing Club was originally intended as a site for graduate students, it soon became apparent to Hiatt that post docs and professors also struggle with writing productively.  Now separate areas of the site are available to grad students and professors.  Participants can also choose whether they would like to be in a humanities, social science or science/math/engineering group.

The coaches who run the Writing Club have seen countless dissertations finished and books and articles published.  Many participants have stayed with the Writing Club almost two years.  Some have started as grad students and now continue as professors or post docs.  

Here are some typical comments from four participants:
“Wow, I can't believe that I have a draft done (no matter how rough) of this paper that has hounded me for close to 12 weeks. While a lot of the material has been staring at me for a long time, I couldn't make myself touch it. This group has helped me get over my block and fear of working on the manuscript, and I am so very grateful!”

"This program ROCKS! The discipline PLUS the support is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time (career–wise)."  

"I can see my work habits changing daily. For the first time EVER in my academic career I feel confident that I can not only live up to expectations but possibly even exceed them. (Immediate anxiety aside) work is fun".  

“I actually managed to spend two more hours in the evening on my article, and just sent it to my editor (!)This feels really good.  Thanks to the Writing Club!  I don't think I would be so productive without it.”  

Hiatt points out that although people can connect online through blogs or applications like Facebook, there are no structured sites other than the Academic Writing Club, for those who need to accomplish academic writing. In particular, there are no other sites like this that provide coaching guidance and feedback.

She hopes that graduate schools will someday opt for this “carrot” approach to helping grad students write the dissertation, and fund their students’ participation in the Academic Writing Club.  In the mean time, she is trying to keep the site affordable, so that graduate students can help pare down the time it takes them to complete their dissertations, and professors can learn to write and publish, while maintaining balance in the rest of their professional and personal lives.

The next session starts August 25 and runs through September 21.  For more information, go to http://AcademicWritingClub.com

Gina Hiatt, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, tenure coach and dissertation coach who enjoys helping faculty and graduate students complete their dissertations and publish, while maintaining high teaching standards and other commitments.  She is president of Academic Ladder LLC, and also runs the Academic Writing Club.  In addition to dissertation and tenure coaching, she teaches workshops and teleclasses on time management, writing, career planning and grad student/advisor relationships. You can write her at gina@academicladder.com. Get a free Dissertation Writer’s Toolkit at http://dissertationtoolkit.com.

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About Academic Ladder: Gina Hiatt, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, tenure coach and dissertation coach who enjoys helping faculty and graduate students complete their dissertations and publish, while maintaining high teaching standards and other commitments. She is president of Academic Ladder LLC, and also runs the Academic Writing Club. In addition to dissertation and tenure coaching, she teaches workshops and teleclasses on time management, writing, career planning and grad student/advisor relationships. You can write her at gina@academicladder.com. Get a free Dissertation Writer’s Toolkit at http://dissertationtoolkit.com.