How Can You Determine If Your Dissertation Has Already Been Published?
The process of determining if your dissertation has already been published can be both daunting and important, especially as you navigate the academic landscape. Understanding the distinctions between a thesis and a dissertation and utilizing appropriate resources can illuminate pathways to originality and uniqueness in your scholarly work.
What is the Difference Between a Thesis and a Dissertation?
Before we delve into how to find out if your dissertation has already been published, one must first understand the key differences between a thesis and a dissertation. Ph.D. candidates typically write a dissertation, not a thesis. A thesis is usually a piece of work completed at the undergraduate or master's level, while a dissertation is the final piece of work for a Ph.D. degree. While both may undergo double-blind peer review, the scope, depth, and originality of a dissertation are generally greater and more comprehensive.
Resources for Finding Published Dissertations
To determine if a dissertation has already been published, leverage the following resources:
Databases by Type: Dissertations Theses
Academic databases such as PubMed, ProQuest, and others offer extensive resources for finding theses and dissertations. These resources provide you with a wide array of search options and filters to find relevant works. For instance, ProQuest's Dissertations and Theses database is a prime resource for research.
National University Library
The National University Library is another valuable resource where your dissertation might be indexed or stored. This library offers a vast collection of academic works, making it a vital source for your research. Visit the library's URL for access.
Database Searches
Conduct thorough searches using academic databases. Enter key terms related to your topic to identify relevant theses, dissertations, and research papers. For example, if you are researching 'differences in salaries by gender,' incorporate keywords like 'gender pay gap' and 'salary disparities.'
Institutional Repositories
Check institutional or national databases where theses and dissertations are commonly stored. For instance, in India, the Shodhganga database is a prominent location for finding academic research. Other countries may have similar repositories for their academic institutions.
Review Journal Articles
Search review articles within your academic field to identify whether they reference similar topics. These articles often provide an overview of existing literature, which can help you identify gaps in the current research.
Plagiarism Check Tools
Utilize software tools like Turnitin to identify overlaps with existing research. This not only helps in identifying potential plagiarism but also in understanding the existing landscape of your topic.
Your Chapter on Literature Review
Incorporating the findings from the above resources into your chapter on Literature Review is invaluable. A service such as Better research better learning better insights can be immensely helpful. By searching for your topic, you can locate previous research that has been conducted, which can guide your further work.
While merely finding previous research on your topic doesn’t preclude you from continuing, it does highlight the need to identify a unique niche or propose a novel methodology within the existing literature. For instance, if the differences between salaries by gender have been extensively studied, identifying a unique angle like incorporating Moral Orientation can make your research stand out.
The Laws of Probability
Even if someone has published on the same topic, it is highly unlikely that they would use the exact same data. This fact allows you to identify your research as an original contribution. If you have used dissertations in your undergraduate history classes, you might find interesting and useful dissertations that can inform your current work. However, make sure you have a clear understanding of your own contributions and how they are distinct from the previous works.