Researcher SWOT Assessment

1 Researcher SWOT Assessment Section 1 – Key Result Areas Research and Writing Knowledge Required: 1. I need to understand the structure of the dissertation. A dissertation consists of five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction and the significance of the study. Chapter two includes the literature review. The study methodology is covered in chapter three. In the fourth chapter, a researcher presents the results. Lastly, chapter five includes conclusions and recommendations.

2. I also need to know how to identify the main elements of each dissertation chapter.

3. I need knowledge of the components of a dissertation, including the title page, copyright page, committee approval page, abstract, table of contents, list of figures, acknowledgment, dedication, chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, chapter four, chapter five, references, endnotes, and appendices.

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RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

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4. I need knowledge in the formats of different types of studies, including quantitative and qualitative.

5. I need to understand the key steps in the process of writing a dissertation, including selecting a topic, preparing a prospectus, choosing an advisor, selecting committee members, writing and presenting a proposal, conducting the research, writing the dissertation, scheduling the defense, incorporating feedback and resubmitting the dissertation, and graduating.

6. I need knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of all the parties involved in the dissertation process, including the doctoral candidate, advisor, dissertation committee, and the institutional review board (Roberts, 2010).

Research and Writing Dispositions Required: 1. I need to have the courage to face doubts and fears during the process of writing the dissertation.

2. I should have a positive mental attitude by avoiding negative self-talk and believing that I can complete the dissertation in spite of the difficulties.

3. Possessing commitment by willing to work on the dissertation to completion despite the obstacles and doing whatever it takes to achieve this goal (Roberts, 2010).

4. I need to be passionate about the selected topic and believing in the significance of the study.

5. I should have the ability to persevere through fear, discouragement, obstacles, disappointments, and criticism until the dissertation is complete.

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

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6. Possessing the stamina to put in many hours of work on the dissertation and maintain high performance.

7. I need to have a spirit of adventure throughout the process of writing the dissertation by accepting risks and overcoming my fear of the unknown (Roberts, 2010).

Research and Writing Skills Required: 1. Gain research skills such as gathering data and analyzing results.

2. Develop basic writing skills, including proper sentence and paragraph construction, logical organization of the dissertation, and appropriate transitions.

3. Gain skills in selecting a suitable research topic and refining it (Wellington, 2010).

4. Develop scholarly academic writing skills such as clarity, coherence, conciseness, objectivity, formality, and rationality.

5. Gain skills in using technology and the internet to conduct research. For example, I need to gain skills in using internet search engines, online databases, and online libraries to conduct literature searches. I also need to learn to use reference management software programs such as Zotero, ProCite, and Connotea (Roberts, 2010).

6. Gain skills in designing data collection tools such as questionnaires.

Section 2 – Personal SWOT Assessment Strengths 



I am aware of the structure,

Weaknesses 

I like procrastinating tasks and doing

components, and format of a

them at the last minute. Therefore, I

dissertation.

often end up not doing tasks

I possess the writing skills required to

thoroughly or being unable to meet

write a dissertation. I have basic

deadlines. This may hinder my ability

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

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writing skills, including proper sentence and paragraph construction,



I am not very good at time management. Therefore, I may fail to

dissertation, and appropriate

allocate sufficient time to the

transitions. I can also write in a clear,

completion of the dissertation. 

When working on a long or tedious

and rational manner.

task, I usually suffer from writer’s

I am internet savvy and computer

block. This weakness may affect my

literate. I am conversant with the use

ability to work on my dissertation and

of technology and the internet to

complete it on time.

conduct research. These skills will be





logical organization of the

coherent, concise, objective, formal,



to complete the dissertation on time.



I am not proficient in matching the

useful in writing my dissertation.

problem under study with the

I have the ability to persevere in

appropriate research design.

difficult situations.



I lack skills in data analysis.

I possess the skills in designing data



I am not fully conversant with all the

collection tools such as questionnaires.

aspects of APA referencing. 

I am not familiar with all the aspects of using search engines to access relevant literature sources, such as using truncation, keywords, and Boolean operators.

Opportunities 

The university provides a dissertation

Threats 

One of the threats is maintaining a

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT



manual to guide doctorate students in

balance between my life and pursuing

the process of completing their

the doctorate. I am not sure if I will

dissertation.

manage to balance my personal and

Another opportunity is the availability

family commitments and write the

of academic support from the faculty

dissertation.

advising committee and doctorate





Another threat is that I may lack

advisors. Committed advisors are

personal support from family and

available to help me assess my

friends. They may not understand why

preparedness and improve my skills

I am pursuing the doctorate and may

and knowledge in areas where I am

be unsupportive of my decision. As a

not yet proficient.

result, I face the threat of feeling

Another opportunity is full access to

lonely throughout the dissertation

the university’s online library.

journey.

Graduate students can also access



Another threat is the course repeat

research materials from the physical

policy. If I earn a low grade, I will be

library at the campus. They can also

academically dismissed from the

access resources from other libraries

doctorate program and will not be

in the US through interlibrary loan

allowed to retake it. Therefore, I need

services. Therefore, I have the

to ensure that I am committed to the

opportunity of accessing all the

program to avoid scoring a failing

materials needed to complete my

grade.

dissertation. 

5

The doctoral program is flexible as it



If my graduate program is interrupted for any reason and I am unable to

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT allows a leave of absence for up to one

complete at least a single course per

year. Therefore, I am not worried

year, I will have to reapply to the

about failing to complete the program

program, and re-admission is not

because I can take a leave of absence

guaranteed.

and resume the program later in case of any unexpected emergencies. 

Another opportunity is the availability of various funding opportunities for the doctoral program. Financial aid is available for doctorate students, including federal grants, state aid, loans, and scholarships. Therefore, I am not worried about paying for the doctorate program.



6

Moreover, counseling services are available for doctoral students to help address issues that may affect their mental wellbeing and performance in the dissertation. Such issues include working under pressure, balancing academic work and family commitments, and dealing with obstacles.

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT 

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After successfully completing the program, the university’s faculty members write recommendation letters and endorse the graduates for employment, internship, and licensure.

Part 3 – Plan for Scholar/Researcher Development Key Result Area

Goal

Finding relevant

Become proficient in

resources to write the literature review

Action Steps

Timeline or Deadline

1. Search the

1. By the end of

using truncation,

internet on

week two of

keywords, and

how

this term.

Boolean operators to

truncation,

get precise search

keywords, and

week five of

results.

Boolean

this term.

operators work.

2. Practice using truncation, keywords, and Boolean operators to conduct searches on

2. By the end of

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

8 various online databases.

Creating correct APA

Become proficient in

1. Download

1. By the end of

in-text citations and

using reference

Zotero and

week three of

reference list for the

management software

register for a

this term.

dissertation

programs such as

free account.

2. By the end of

Zotero to assist me in

2. Watch videos

week seven of

creating accurate APA

on how to use

in-text citations and

Zotero to

reference lists.

create in-text

this ter whe I

citations and

complete my

reference lists.

final

3. Practice using

this term.

3. By the end of

assignments.

Zotero to create in-text citations and reference lists on my assignments.

Matching the

Become proficient in

1. Go through

1. By the end of

problem to the

identifying the

the research

week two of

research design.

appropriate research

courses to find

this term.

design for the research

out how to

2. By the end of

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT problem.

9 select an

week four of

appropriate

this term.

research

3. By the final

design.

week of this

2. Search the internet for additional information on matching the research design with the study problem.

3. Practice selecting research designs for various problems using past research papers and dissertations.

term.

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

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Analysis of the

Learn different data

1. Study the

collected data

analysis methods such

materials on

week four of

as regression analysis,

data analysis

this term.

cluster analysis, and

provided in

2. By the end of

cohort analysis.

the course.

week eight of

2. Practice using

1. By the end of

this term.

various data analysis tools using past research papers and dissertations.

Avoiding

Completing the

1. Practice

procrastination of

dissertation without

invalidating

completion of

tasks when doing my

putting off working on

the excuses

my

dissertation.

it until the last minute.

for putting off

assignments

working on

for this term.

my assignments.

2. Practice using

1. By the

2. By the completion of my

reminders

assignments

such as setting

for this term.

timers to

3. By the

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

11 ensure that I

completion of

work on my

my

assignments at

assignments

the scheduled

for this term.

time instead of postponing.

3. Practice dividing assignments into small steps and achieving each at a time.

Managing my time

Learn effective ways

well when working

of managing my time.

on the dissertation.

1. Practice

1. By the end of

tracking time

week one of

to learn the

this term.

amount of

2. By the end of

time taken by

week two of

different

this term.

tasks.

3. By the end of

2. Practice prioritizing important

week three of this term.

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

12 tasks and completing them before others.

3. Practice using a to-do list to complete tasks (Lantsoght, 2018).

Avoiding writer’s

Ensuring that I am not

1. I will use

block when working

stuck during the

sticky notes to

week four of

on the dissertation.

writing process.

practice

this term.

clustering

1. By the end of

2. By the

ideas

completion of

(Roberts,

my

2010).

assignments

2. I will practice writing the

for this term.

3. By the

first imperfect

completion of

draft and later

my

revising it.

assignments

3. I will practice

for this term.

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

13 taking breaks whenever I experience writer’s block and engage in activities that stimulate creative thinking, such as physical exercise.

Maintaining a

Achieving a school-

balance between my

life balance by

personal life and

ensuring that I do not

school work.

neglect my personal

schedule and

2. By the end of

life during the

sticking to it.

week one of

3. Tracking time.

this term.

dissertation journey.

1. Setting goals

1. By the end of

and priorities.

week one of

2. Making a

4. Setting boundaries.

this term.

3. By the end of week two of this term.

4. By the end of week four of this term.

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT Having personal

1. Seeking

14 1. Explaining to

1. By the end of

support during the

support from

friends and

week one of

dissertation journey.

friends and

family about

this term.

family during

the doctoral

2. By the end of

the dissertation

process, why

week six of

journey.

it is important

this term.

2. Connecting

for me to

with other

pursue it, and

doctoral

the

students to

importance of

share ideas and

their support.

fears and

2. Attending

support one

seminars and

another.

conferences to make connections with other doctoral students.

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT

15 References

Lantsoght, E. O. L. (2018). The A-Z of the PhD trajectory: A practical guide for a successful journey. Springer.

Roberts, C. M. (2010). The dissertation journey: A practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation. Corwin Press.

Wellington, J. (2010). Weaving the threads of doctoral research journeys. In P. Thomson & M. Walker (Eds.), The Routledge doctoral student’s companion: Getting to grips with research in Education and the Social Sciences (pp. 128-142). Routledge.