Activity: Explore Dissertations

A dissertation is the major, book-length research project required as part of a doctoral degree.

Why use dissertations?

• Find cutting-edge, original research and emerging areas of scholarly interest that have yet to appear in journal articles and books.
• Dissertations are bibliographic monsters--citation krakens bursting from Puget Sound--so if you can find dissertations that share themes, subjects, and approaches to your own topic you will have a jump start on your research.

Activity: Locating Dissertations

1. Brainstorm words, synonymous words, topics, and phrases related to your research interest.
2. Go to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global Links to an external site.. This database includes the full text of more than a million dissertations plus information on millions more.
3. Use your brainstormed words to search for dissertations related to your research interest. If you find a dissertation that looks good, scroll to its final pages to review its bibliography.

Bonus Tips:

• If you find an article or book in the dissertation's bibliography that you want to read, look it up in UW Libraries Search. Even if we don't own it, we can get it for you via Interlibrary Loan Links to an external site..
  
• Find other collections of dissertations on Dissertations & Theses guide.

Next Up:

• Return to the Activity Breakout or jump to the next module.