Research Guides: AHLP 890 Dissertation Seminar: Home

How to Use This Guide

After each week's lesson, library materials will be saved on this research guide for future use. Be sure to check back periodically for updated information, and to refresh your skills as you undertake the dissertation writing process. You can contact the librarians through the information located on the bottom left of this guide.

Library Tutorials

The following links will assist you in understanding how to access materials through the Health Sciences Library website.

Health Sciences Library Website Orientation for the College of Health Professions
This orientation tutorial for the Health Sciences Library will highlight the main features of the library's website, as well as important services available to you as an affiliate of VCU.
Creating an ILLiad Account
Before you can start requesting items from VCU Libraries, you will need to set up an account. This research guide will show you how to create an account and request items through interlibrary loan.

Related Guides

How to Conduct a Literature Review (Health Sciences)
Overview of how to get started writing a health sciences literature review.
Systematic Reviews
Guide that helps users to understand what a systematic review entails, as well as provide resources to do one.
Data & Statistics
This guide will help you find statistics and data. Using the term data implies that you want access to a file you can manipulate with programs like SPSS, SAS or R whereas statistics means that you want to find prepared numerical information in the form of pre-prepared tables, figures, percentages etc.
DMP Tools
The DMPTool (dmptool.org) helps researchers: create ready-to-use data management plans for specific funding agencies; meet requirements for data management plans; get step-by-step instructions and guidance for data management plan; learn about resources and services available at your institution to fulfill the data management requirements of their grants
OSF - Open Science Framework
Open Science Framework (OSF) is a free, open source web application built to help researchers manage their workflows. The OSF is part collaboration tool, part version control software, and part data archive. The OSF connects to popular tools researchers already use, like Dropbox, Box, Github and Mendeley, to streamline workflows and increase efficiency.
Research Data Management
If you start planning early, you can save time later when your data is easy to find, use, analyze, and share with your collaborators.

Recorded Sessions

Mendeley Information Session: April 24, 2020
A recording of an information session on using a citation manager (specifically Mendeley) to organize your dissertation bibliography.
Zotero Basics
Library webinar recorded on February 8, 2024 for the Zotero citation management tool.
Getting Started with Mendeley
Library webinar from February 6, 2024

Library and VCU Resources

The Dissertation Journey by Carol M. Roberts; Laura Hyatt
Call Number: LB1742 .R63 2019
ISBN: 9781506373317
Publication Date: 2018-10-01
Unlimited access to this text.
Daring the Doctorate by Ada Demb
Call Number: LB2369 .D45 2012
ISBN: 9781610486941
Publication Date: 2012-12-13
Only one copy available for loan through Cabell Library.

VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations
Electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) make VCU student research and creativity available online as full-text documents and multimedia presentations for use by the university community and others involved in research.

Dissertations and Theses Full Text (ProQuest)
This database gives access to the dissertations and theses produced by students at VCU.

Graduate School Thesis and Dissertation Manual
"The VCU Graduate School Electronic Thesis and Dissertation manual provides a general set of guidelines approved by the University Graduate Council."