Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process, ed 2. (Reviews).

Rudestam KE, Newton RR. Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, Sage Publications Inc, 2002, paperback, 298 pp, illus, ISBN: 0761919627, $27.95.

This book is intended to serve as a guide for planning and writing research for students who are completing their master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. The authors provide a well-organized reference that leads the student through the research process. The information includes each phase of the process from selecting a topic through the oral defense of the dissertation. The material is presented in a comprehensive manner, and the book offers step-by-step guidelines that can help readers complete their dissertation. The material is up-to-date, and the book contains an excellent chapter on using a personal computer to perform a literature search and construct bibliographies and utilizing software to perform statistical analysis.

This book contains 3 main sections and 12 chapters that provide a comprehensive guide to the dissertation process. The first section contains chapters on the research process, selecting a topic, and methods of inquiry. The table at the end of the second chapter lists issues to consider when developing a research proposal. This table provides the basic elements of the proposal and is a very helpful adjunct to the book. The second section contains chapters on the literature review, the methods chapter of the dissertation, guidelines on presenting the research results, and how to accurately formulate a discussion chapter. These chapters offer step-by-step suggestions that simplify this difficult undertaking into manageable steps. The final section contains chapters on overcoming barriers, writing, using a personal computer, guidelines for how to present numbers in the dissertation, and informed consent and ethical considerations. These chapters provide many great ideas on how to deal with a dissertation committee along with many useful tips on scientific writing.

The book includes tables that contain many beneficial "student suggestions." For example, there are 7 helpful hints at the end of the chapter on the literature review that provide insightful suggestions for making the literature review more organized and easier to complete. There are also many diagrams, tables, illustrations, and models that complement the text. The authors also use case studies as needed to help clarify difficult concepts. The book concludes with a helpful 7-page section of current references.

This book would be an excellent addition to the library of any student who is working to complete a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. The book is well organized and can serve as a comprehensive guide for any student who is interested in completing research.

Ricardo Fernandez, PT, OCS
Health South Sports Medicine
and Rehabilitation
Palos Heights, Ill

Mr Fernandez is Area General Orthopedics Coordinator/Staff Physical Therapist. In addition, he serves as adjunct faculty at Northwestern University and specializes in physical therapy for patients with knee and shoulder pathologies. He is currently working on his PhD at Nova Southeastern University.