The Stanford Sociology Doctoral Program: Dissertation Proposal Defense
The dissertation proposal should specify the research question, the data that will be used to address that question, the analyses that will be undertaken with these data, and how the results, whatever they might be, will speak to the question at hand. The proposal should establish that the research question is important, that the proposed research will advance the existing research literature, and that the research is feasible.
In some cases, students will choose to report on relevant preliminary analyses, as these may help to establish the feasibility or viability of the proposed research. It is nonetheless important not to proceed too far with the project in advance of the defense. The proposal may in this regard be understood as a tightrope act in which the feasibility of a project has to be established without also appearing presumptive about whether the committee will in the end approve it.
The latter concern may in part be addressed by maintaining close contact with all members of the committee as the topic is developed and the proposal written. It is the responsibility of the student to regularly meet with committee members. The proposal itself should be shared with members of the committee at least two weeks in advance of the defense.
The purpose of the hearing is to explore whether the research question is a good one, whether the proposed research will advance the research literature, and whether the data and analyses appropriately speak to that question. It is conventional for the student to lead off the hearing with a short overview of the project. The amount of time to be allotted for that overview should be settled in advance with the Chair of the committee but is typically 15-20 minutes. The remainder of the session is then devoted to questions from the committee members that identify possible problems with the proposed research or analysis and that explore ways to improve the project.
At the end of the exam, the student will be excused, and the committee will then formally vote on whether to approve the project and advance the student to candidacy. Even when a positive decision is made, the committee will invariably identify ways in which the dissertation research should be improved, and these requirements will be conveyed to the student either by the committee as a whole (at the end of the defense) or via the Chair (at the end of the defense or in a subsequent meeting with the student).
This requirement must be completed by December 15th of the fourth year of residency. Note: it is a University requirement that the student be enrolled in the quarter in which the defense will take place.
For Oral Defense of Dissertation Proposal form, University requirements, and information see the University Oral Examination Form
ABOUT THE DISSERTATION:
At the choice of the student (and in consultation with her or his advisor), the dissertation requirement may be met either by:
- Submitting the usual book-length document of the sort now required; or
- Submitting three independent papers.
The latter papers may address the same topic, but should be written as stand-alone, single-authored papers in standard journal format (i.e., AJS or ASR). None of these papers may overlap substantially with the second-year paper or with one another. (The main criterion in judging “substantial overlap” is whether any standard journal, such as AJS, would regard the papers as too similar to publish both.)
The final dissertation must be submitted to all committee members at least 30 days in advance of the filing deadline.