The completion of a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation requires discipline, independent initiative, creative thinking, working with others, and the surmounting of self-doubt. This book attempts to facilitate the dissertation process for students. This book is organized around the themes of content and process. The first part of this book focuses on selection of a topic and methods, qualitative and quantitative, by which a topic may be approached. Part 2 focuses on content, including what dissertation chapters may include and should not include and the appropriate presentation of material. The review of the literature and statement of the problem, description of the research methodology and the presentation of empirical data and results are discussed. In Part 3 issues of process are addressed, including common barriers to progress. Separate chapters discuss the writing process and task and emotional blocks, the effective use of a personal computer and computer software to complete the dissertation, and the presentation of numerical data. A final chapter deals with informed consent in research and other ethical issues. (Contains 105 references.) (PRW)