[ILL-L] Dissertations...to catalog or not to catalog

[Robinson, Arthur]

I hope this won't offend anyone or attract flames, but I'll put in my
two cents.

 

First, how many of you out there were as good drivers when you took your
drivers test as you are now?  How would you feel if you discovered the
pilot on your plane was 24?  He or she might be an outstanding pilot,
but I'd be nervous about his/her lack of experience. Dissertations are a
valuable part of training graduate students to do research, but they're
part of the learning process.  I have read a fair number of
dissertations.  A few are very good; most have valuable information but
are flawed and hard to get through; some are appallingly bad.  

 

Second, dissertations are by their nature highly specialized.  They're
supposed to be on subjects that haven't been covered before.  Often
they're exhaustive studies on some small detail that has not hitherto
been thought worthy of being covered in depth (possibly with good
reason).  It may be a topic that even the members of the committee don't
know much about.  I have read some dissertations (on aspects of popular
culture) that contained MANY glaring errors.  

 

In a previous life, in the early 1980s (please don't do the math), I
wrote a dissertation myself.  I spent three years on it, and did the
best I could.  But I don't think it would be of much use to most
undergraduates.  

 

For some research, on subjects that have not been covered in books,
dissertations are valuable sources.  Seniors writing theses, and of
course faculty, may find them essential.  But in general I would not
recommend them for freshmen and sophomores. 

 

Arthur Robinson (GLG)

 

From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Rachel BenEliezer
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:41 AM
To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
Subject: RE: [ILL-L] Dissertations...to catalog or not to catalog

 

Judith,

A little off the subject but I found the 3rd paragraph of your message
very surprising

 

Most of the time the full dissertation would also not be appropriate for
research. Dissertations are written by students to fulfill the
requirements for obtaining a degree. Sometimes really good ones are
published later as books, but in the dissertation form they are seldom
acceptable as a source.

 

Why would a dissertation not be appropriate for research? After all a
dissertation is an MA/ PHD that goes through a very strict process by a
number of professors /moderators before it's accepted as a degree.?? So
why is it not acceptable as a source?

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