Dissertation+Chairs

The Chair
"The chair plays a crucial role on your committee. This individual, more than any other, will affect the time it takes to complete your dissertation, as well as the quality of your experience during the process. Ideally, your chair will have all five of the characteristics described [below]- expertise, chemistry, responsiveness, [and] student centeredness. . . - and will have a clear understanding of the steps in the dissertation review process at your institution. In addition, an ideal chair will be savvy about the informal aspects of the dissertation review process, such as who to contact for clarification of a requirement or resolution of a problem, as well as when and how to do so most effectively. Faculty members who have been associated with an institution for some time typically have this type of insight into its inner workings. Finally, the idea chair will be someone respected by other faculty and students who has a track record of helping students to complete their dissertations and graduate in a timely manner". ( Levasseur, R. E. (2011). Dissertation research: An integrative approach. St Augustine, FL: Mindfire Press . pp. 98-99 )

Expertise
"You want faculty on your committee who have content and methodological expertise. A content person will help you to (a) ground your research in the literature, (b) design a research project that has the potential to add new knowledge to your field of study, and (c) interpret the meaning of your findings in relation to the existing literature in your field. A methodology expert will help you to design and conduct a research project to answer your research questions (or test your hypotheses) in a way that follows accepted research methods, and thus has internal validity, reliability, and external validity". (Levasseur, R. E. (2011). Dissertation research: An integrative approach. St Augustine, FL: Mindfire Press., p. 96)

Chemistry
"It is imperative that you relate and work well with the people on your committee. Because completing a dissertation is a time consuming and demanding activity, it is better to think of your committee, especially your chair, as potential colleagues rather than as mere advisors. If you find a highly qualified faculty member who could provide needed expertise, but to whom you do not relate well, do not ask that person to serve on your dissertation committee. Life is just too short to put up with the aggravation that might come from trying to work with such a person". ( Levasseur, R. E. (2011). Dissertation research: An integrative approach. St Augustine, FL: Mindfire Press., p. 96 )

Responsiveness
"It is incumbent on you to access the responsiveness of each potential committee member. There are many ways to do this, including (a) working with the person, (b) talking with other students who have worked with or had the individual as an instructor or mentor, (c) sending an email or leaving a voice mail message to test the person's responsiveness unobtrusively, or (d) just asking the individual about his or her policy on responding to students. Use any method you wish, but do not fail to determine the responsiveness of each potential member of your committee. Otherwise, when your patience is at its ebb from waiting for what seems like an interminable time for a response to a question or a review of a proposal or dissertation draft, you will regret your lack of diligence". ( Levasseur, R. E. (2011). Dissertation research: An integrative approach. St Augustine, FL: Mindfire Press., p. 97 )

Student Centeredness
"One of the most important criteria that you should consider when selecting committee members is whether or not they are student centered. By student centered I mean that they are truly concerned about their students' well-being, and will do what it takes to enable them to learn and succeed. Given the unique demands of the dissertation, which is a new learning experience for all who undertake it as well as a demonstration of research competence by a student whose research skills are in the early stages of development, the importance of having student-centered committee members who are patient and supportive can hardly be overstated. Personal experience and reputation are the two best ways to assess the student centeredness of potential dissertation committee members". (<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Levasseur, R. E. (2011). Dissertation research: An integrative approach. St Augustine, FL: Mindfire Press., pp. 97-98 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11.7px;">)