To many doctoral students, the design, implementation, and publishing of the dissertation seems like an overwhelming series of formidable tasks. 就在学生们完成学业后，他们觉得自己看到了隧道尽头的光明, 许多人担心这只是一列迎面而来的火车! 的确，有可能在没有完成论文的情况下完成博士学位课程所需的单元, 这导致了ABT这个可怕的标签, ‘All But Dissertated’. However this typically occurs when the student has run out of time and out of extensions. 谢天谢地，这是个例外. 

The reality is that 阿连特国际大学的博士生有一些安全屏障，帮助指导你完成论文. One of the first challenges out of the gate is not knowing what doctoral level study to even pursue. 对于许多学生来说，确定一个实质性的博士水平的问题是一个可接受的定量问题是具有挑战性的, qualitative, or hybrid study. 许多学生没有意识到的是，他们可以使用现有的已发表的论文来帮助他们确定一个很好的研究主题. Most published dissertations have a section that most students don’t know about. 这一部分通常涵盖了研究人员如果有更多的时间，他们会做些什么来扩大他们选择和批准的研究的范围. 学生应该进行尽职调查，看看发表的研究中的建议是否已经扩展了, 然而，这些差距通常仍然存在, 为新的博士候选人提供了一个极好的机会，将其作为自己研究的基础. 

Doctoral candidates often fear being alone in the process with no life guard on duty, 然而，现实情况是，学生将向一些已经获得博士学位并且非常熟悉论文发表过程的SME(主题专家)教授推销他们的研究概念. Students will have both a primary chair, and a secondary reader. Both of these experts will be available for questions, advice, and critical feedback along the way. 通常被选中的教师在研究课题方面有多年的经验，为学生提供了很好的视角. 

IRB和论文文件:  Writing a dissertation is similar to writing a research thesis at a graduate level, 然而，它在长度方面涉及更多, breadth, and depth. 需要广泛的研究来扩展所需的文献综述，这有助于建立研究基础所需的引用和参考文献. 直到文献综述完成，本研究的实际数据收集和研究分析才会开始, 定义了绪论和问题, and the IRB (Institutional Review Board) has granted approval for the study to commence.  Receiving IRB approval is a crucial step in the research process when human subjects are involved, 这可以追溯到二战期间对纳粹的纽伦堡审判，他们在研究中对人类受试者进行了不可接受的行为. This led to the formation of research ethics that help monitor, moderate, and ensure human subjects are protected in any research study at an international level. 

一直提供有用反馈的传统:  在提交IRB批准之前, 博士生将向他们的论文委员会提供问题和建议研究的介绍. 这是一个很好的机会，让学生获得所需的关键反馈，以完善和微调论文的第一章和第二章，准备提交IRB. 这些反馈来自于委员会成员的长期经验，他们有以前的学生提交给IRB, and the types of questions and issues that will be presented by the IRB in response. Previously it could take several months to receive an IRB decision, 然而，IRB已经对流程进行了许多改进，其中收到响应的周转时间通常接近平均三周. 这些回答通常非常详细, 并且通常作为需要在重新提交给IRB最终批准之前解决的变更需求列表提供.

Helpful Guidelines:  有一些有用的指导方针，你的论文委员会也会鼓励你不断地申请. 这些有用的建议包括 starting early, setting goals, establishing a plan, writing often and regularly, 管理和优先安排你的时间, 腾出时间写论文, staying motivated, 实行良好的健康自我保健, seeking feedback, and staying organized, among others. One of the most important lessons you’ll learn is to make a plan, plan to work, and to work the plan. It may sound simple, however it’s filled with complex nuance that one must consider. For instance, maintaining a continuously recurring block of time for writing is essential. 即使你遇到了障碍，也要写下来. 许多学生认为，如果他们不知道该写什么或写错了，他们就会失败. 他们要么忘记了，要么没有意识到的是，他们与委员会处于一个持续的反馈循环中. They will submit what they’ve written for guidance and feedback. This will act as a means to gain a True North compass bearing to stay focused, on topic, 在心中有一个最终的目标. Students must gain the mindset that nothing written is set in stone, and will change through multiple iterative adjustments until the writing is spot on aligned. 

Writing Style:  Finally, students should spend time becoming comfortable with the writing style required by the university. Alliant International University uses APA style (American Psychological Association). Spend time gaining a comprehensive familiarity with APA style for references, citations, figures, indentions, formatting, etc. This will give you a substantial boost initially and helps ensure your focus is where it should be, on the actual study and research rather than the formatting and logistics.  For some, 一篇论文可能看起来像一个累人的攀登最高的山峰，根本是遥不可及的. However, for others, 谁会提前做好准备并牢记这一指引, they won’t find that the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train. Instead, 在他们的论文旅程结束时，他们会发现一个令人惊叹的令人叹为观止的景色，充满了广阔的视野和双重彩虹. In other words, 他们将成功地发表他们的论文研究并获得“博士”称号。. 

Biography

Dr. Aaron M. 韦斯特是加州管理与领导学院(CSML)数据分析理学硕士(MSDA)项目的教授和协调员。. Dr. 韦斯特持有商业管理学士学位, 技术管理工商管理硕士学位, 以及组织领导管理学博士学位, Information Studies and Technology from the University of Phoenix. 他曾为包括谷歌在内的客户领导创新的全球分析和商业智能计划, Microsoft, Facebook, Paypal, Sony, Intel, T-Mobile, Apple, The Walt Disney Company, Intuit, Intel, Allstate, Anthem, NBC News, Bonneville International, 以及其他一些财富500强企业. Dr. Wester has previously instructed at Brigham Young University, 南新罕布什尔大学, 以及中国的天津大学. Dr. 韦斯特是一位出版作家和演说家. 他的研究兴趣包括物联网(IoT)设备构建中的冷静分析策略, 在预测机器学习环境中，有机自有媒体优化策略和行为用户参与影响.