Thesis and Dissertation Advisors -
Research Methods
DEBRA FISHER
Scope: distance education, web-based learning, online learning, instructional design, heuristic inquiry paradigm, qualitative research designs, mixed-methods research designs, research methodology, education, higher education, educational leadership, religious studies, theology, spirituality, multiple intelligences theory, emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, brain-based learning, adult learning theory.
DEBRA FISHER , M.S.Ed, B.A., is president and owner of an independent education, learning, and communications consulting company that serves both individual graduate learners and institutions of higher education. When working with graduate learners, Debra perceives her role as that of a personal writing coach and academic advisor, providing guidance and encouragement during the prospectus, proposal, analysis, and publication phases of scholarly writing. Whether helping clients brainstorm a researchable thesis; providing theoretical guidance relative to research focus and/or positional development; recommending structural and organizational revisions to enhance the clarity and cohesion of an argument; or editing for grammar, mechanics and punctuation, she customizes her services to meet the specific needs of her clients. More than achieving the completion and committee approval of a scholarly manuscript, clients appreciate Debra’s emphasis on the development of skills that help them communicate effectively using all the techniques of good writing—skills that serve them well beyond their graduate program. Debra has enjoyed coaching-advising relationships with hundreds of learners who represent a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, and all have been awarded their graduate degrees.
Additional Information >>VALRIE ANN GERARD
MA, PhD in Biology
- Science and medical editor and writer since 2001. Editing, copyediting, and writing of manuscripts, books, dissertations, grant proposals, etc. Topics range from ecology to epidemiology, from biochemistry to biomechanics, from environmental policy to paleontology, from natural products to swine nutrition. Focuses on organization, interpretation, and clear presentation of complex information.
- Past clients include professionals and students from Australia, China, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela, even the U.S.! Goals are successful completion of specific writing project, and helping clients improve their own writing skills for future projects.
- Val's own work includes more than fifty publications in ecology, botany, zoology, physiology, biochemistry, and mathematical modeling (see her publication list, below), and one million dollars worth of successful grant proposals .
- Over thirty years of teaching experience, including scientific writing courses. Served as advisor and/or mentor to many graduate and undergraduate students.
- Past experience as associate editor, editorial board member, and/or reviewer for over two dozen scientific journals, including Science, and government funding agencies.
TOM GRANOFF
Scope: multivariate statistics, behavioral sciences, data processing, marketing research, forensic psychology, research design, SPSS, SAS, survey research, medical research, web-based surveys, quantitative methods, focus groups, interviewing techniques, qualitative methods, correlational analysis, research methodologist, ANOVA, MANOVA, logistic regression, multiple regression, discriminant function analysis, factor analysis, Method's Chapter editing, Final Oral examination preparation.
TOM GRANOFF, Ph.D., has spent over 25 years designing surveys, analyzing data using SPSS or SAS and writing the results chapter for hundreds of theses and dissertations in most of the behavioral sciences. Tom often edits the Methods Chapter to ensure the research questions hypotheses, data gathered and the statistical analysis approach are all in agreement. He worked on over 100 separate projects in the past 12 months. Frequent majors Tom works with include Psychology, Counseling, Education, Public Health, Leadership, Business, Marketing, Sociology, Management, and Nursing. He also worked for many years in marketing research and data processing positions in the health care industry. A popular instructor, Dr. Granoff teaches graduate level research methods and statistics courses at Loyola Marymount University and Pepperdine University, both in Los Angeles. He prides himself in being able to explain most multivariate statistical tests in simple English without using math. Clients also frequently ask Tom to help them prepare for their final orals. His formal education includes a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology plus Master's degrees in Theology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Additional Information >>GLENN HILTON
Scope: computer science, software engineering, formal methods, requirements specification, computers, electrical engineering, engineering, mathematics, business, information technology, telecommunications, computer security, computer systems, computer networks, physics, chemistry, internet, operating systems, UNIX, Latex, Framemaker.
GLENN HILTON has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from McGill University in Montreal. He spent nine years as a telecommunications officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force before leaving to attend graduate school. After completing his graduate studies, he was a faculty member for 26 years in the Department of Computing and Information Science at Queen's University in Kingston, Canada. During his time at Queen's he supervised numerous Ph.D. and M.Sc. dissertations, served on many examination committees in engineering and the natural sciences, reviewed many articles for research journals, published a textbook in computer systems, and published numerous journal and conference papers. During this time he also co-founded and was the first President of Andyne Computing Limited, which grew to be a successful public company marketing business software. His research and technical interests include computer systems, software engineering, telecommunications, computer security, and critical computer systems.
Additional Information >>MELODY L. LARK
DR. MELODY L. LARK earned a Ph.D. in political science and education, M.A. in international studies (politics and policy), MBA in finance and marketing, and BA in economics and administrative studies. She also earned two accredited certificates in adolescent substance abuse treatment. Lark has advised more than 80 doctoral students. She focuses on:
1. Content (lyrics), which addresses the introduction; thesis, hypothesis, or research questions; literature review and synthesis; data collection, coding, analysis; literature review and synthesis; implications; recommendations; and conclusions.
2. University Guidelines, which includes the title page, abstract, level headings, tables, charts, citations, quotations, and references.
3. Mechanics and Style (rhythm), which includes grammar; word usage; punctuation; spelling; sentences that are active, clear, complete, concise, interesting, and relevant; smooth transitions for flow; and scholarly tone.
Topics: business, economics, education, ethics, government (international relations, law, policy, politics, programs) health, human resources, human services, philosophy, qualitative and quantitative research/statistics, substance abuse (enforcement, prevention, and treatment programs)
Scope of service: content editing; copyediting; hypotheses; thesis statements; research questions; data instruments (data collection, retrieval, coding, analysis, interpretation); research implications; recommendations; conclusions; proposals; longitudinal data analysis; cross sectional data analysis; defense preparation; report writing; grant writing.
SUZANNE MANNESS
Specialist in APA, AAA, Harvard and Turabian Documentation.
SUZANNE MANNESS is an English professor specializing in technical and business writing. She has written and edited technical manuals, informational brochures, business proposals, and grants. She has also written computer user manuals and technical instrumentation directions. Additionally, she has edited many medical textbooks and medical articles on such subjects as heart transplants, pain management, and anesthesiology. She is an expert in all documentation systems such as Chicago Style, Harvard, APA, American Anthropological Association, and MLA. Her specialty is taking complex material and translating that material into a clear, concise, audience-friendly document.
- Technical writing and editing
- Academic/scholarly writing and editing (theses and dissertations)
- Formatting specialist: APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, Harvard, AMA, and AAA.
Recommended by Nova Southeastern University, Capella, Walden, The University of Phoenix, and Northcentral University - Thesis and dissertation advising
JAMES T. McDONOUGH JR.
JAMES T. McDONOUGH JR., Ph.D. is a thesis and dissertation writing consultant and editor. He helps students and young professionals plan research, organize it, evaluate the soundness of the argumentation, and write and rewrite the English until it is publishable. He also enjoys helping persons with Ph.D.s prepare their dissertation or other research for publication by university presses and trade publishers.
He has edited material translated from Greek and Latin. Subjects have included Roman history, Catholic schools, Jews and Gentiles in the ancient world, Martin Luther, World War II, the Bible, foreign phrases used in English contexts, and biographies. He has also edited a medical dictionary, a historical novel on the First Crusade, and encyclopedia articles.
Formatting expertise: Chicago Manual of Style, Turabian.
PALMIRA SANTOS
PALMIRA SANTOS, PhD, is a social scientist, educator, clinician. and researcher. Dr. Santos has facilitated the development or redesign of several health systems in urban and rural areas of the country. She has written over 200 million dollars of successful grants and has been the lead investigator on many research efforts for over twenty five years.
Her areas of interest include: health care, health policy, health management, rural and urban health issues, health promotion specially changing behavior developing and utilizing evidenced based interventions, performance improvement, quality management, leadership, evidenced-based medicine, organizational development, and health disparities.
With over a decade of dissertation experience, Dr. Santos provides expert guidance and consultation on selecting a topic, narrowing your focus and crafting your research question (s), determining the best research design, specific step by step study implementation including designing tools, instruments, sample selection, and collection of data. Her expertise also includes consultation and guidance on the construction of each chapter and productive ways to communicate and problem solve with your committee members. Prior to Dr Santos’ role as a dissertation chair and methodology advisor, she spent over twenty years in the health care field in leadership and research roles in many areas of the country.
“During my doctorate program, I have worked with many doctorate level educators, advisors, and professors …., but I can attest that Dr. Palmira Santos is the best I have had the honor and privilege of working with. Her extensive knowledge and experience, high quality standards, attention to detail, simplistic approach, and personal concern for individuals she works with speaks high volumes as to why she is respected as the best.” Gwendolyn “Brenda” Hoskins (doctorate candidate)
"Palmira was a godsend to me. She gave me both practical and motivational guidance throughout my dissertation journey. With her invaluable help, I developed a concise outline of my proposed thesis. She also gave me the confidence to pursue and successfully complete a quantitative study, something I would not have tried without her support. Palmira was always there for me throughout the entire dissertation process. I can't thank her enough for her support and encouragement,“ Dr. William Spindle
CHRISTINE D. TOMEI
Scope: humanities, literature, modernism, cultural theory, linguistics, social sciences, history and culture of Russia, Serbia, Croatia.
CHRISTINE D. TOMEI has a Ph.D. from Brown University and is presently an Associate in the Slavic Seminar at Columbia University. She is a former full-time professor and recipient of multiple awards, including Fulbright and IREX. She has a published monograph in linguistics and literary theory and has contributed to intelligence in computational linguistics and linguistic theory. She is also editor of two other books, including the highly acclaimed, two-volume edition of Russian Women Writers (Garland: New York, 1999) which won a national book prize. She has published research in literature, cultural theory, folklore, modernism and women's studies. She taught international relations and comparative culture; also comparative literature, all levels of Russian language, beginning and intermediate Serbo-Croatian and translates from both languages. She also translates Italian and can read German, French and Dutch.
She has indexed scholarly publications including annotated indexes, has worked extensively in abstract writing, and has generated book-length camera-ready copy. Recently, she moved jobs to public administration and has finished coursework toward a Masters in Public Administration with a major in systems management. She has helped design and implement curriculum including research design.
Additional Information >>JAN VISSER
DR. JAN VISSER earned his Ph.D. in psychology in 1998. He worked as an assistant professor and currently combines teaching with a career as a fiction author. Jan has published twelve academic texts and two fiction novels. His scholarly writing is clear, concise, and to the point, while his creative writing can be described as passionate and engaging. Jan teaches Scholarly Writing and Research Design for Walden University, and he has extensive experience guiding students through the process of writing their thesis or dissertation. He consistently receives excellent evaluations from his students, who praise his commitment and the quality of his feedback.
Jan will help you design your research and write your thesis or dissertation. He can also give general advice on the use of statistics. His strengths include:
1. A thorough knowledge of research design and statistics, including t-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, regression analysis, factor analysis, and cluster analysis—he can help you determine what type of analysis you should use for your particular research question.
2. A talent for spotting weaknesses in the design of a study—if you're still in the early stages of your research, he can help you improve your design and put you on the right track.
3. A knack for presenting complex material in easily accessible prose—he will not write your thesis or dissertation for you, but he will assist you in creating a well-written, comprehensible text.
4. Attention to detail—although Jan does not do copy-editing, he will point out errors in spelling and grammar, as part of his writing assistance.
5. A quick turnaround time—you'll have your stuff back before you can say floccinaucinihilipilification (this is a word, believe it or not).
Additional Information >>