Must-Reads for Your Dissertation Journey

Last summer, my EPSA mentee asked me to put together a list of things to read before the start of his master’s at Oxford. I was so excited! However, I soon realised I really needed to boil down the infinite list of things I read during the past year. This is what I came up with, not all of them are academic books but all of them are, in my modest opinion, great.

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Dear X,

Here are some of my favorite reads from this year. I hope these will give you a taste of why academia is so cool and why I love it so much.

• To understand a bit more the beauty of quantitative inquiry I suggest:

  • Book: The Essential Guide to Effect Sizes: Statistical Power, Meta-Analysis, and the Interpretation of Research Results by Paul D. Ellis.

  • Description: Delve into the intricacies of quantitative inquiry with this essential guide. Ellis, P.D. provides a comprehensive exploration of effect sizes, statistical power, meta-analysis, and the interpretation of research results. The 1st edition, published by Cambridge University Press, is a treasure trove for those seeking a deeper understanding of the quantitative aspect of their research. The examples provided are simple and explain complicated concepts in an extremely accessible way Read more.

• Challenging Assumptions About Numbers and Statistics:

  • Book: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World - And Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund.

  • Description: This book was a love-and-hate relationship, illuminating nonetheless. The authors, Hans Rosling and family, take readers on a journey of "Factfulness," highlighting ten reasons why our perceptions about the world might be flawed and challenging common misconceptions about numbers and statistics. Gain a fresh perspective on the state of the world and challenge your assumptions. Read more.

• Navigating the Epistemological Scope of Qualitative Inquiry:

  • Book: Listening to People: A Practical Guide to Interviewing, Participant Observation, Data Analysis, and Writing It All Up by Annette Lareau.

  • Description: For those delving into qualitative research, Lareau's practical guide is a must-read. Explore the epistemological scope of qualitative inquiry through insights into interviewing, participant observation, data analysis, and effective writing. The first chapter is utter poetry: Why is dreaming so important for research? What does trigger your curiosity and how do you handle it? Read more.

  • Article: ‘How many cases do I need?’: On Science and the Logic of Case Selection in Field-Based Research by Mario L. Small.

  • Description: Small's article explores the critical question of epistemology in qualitative research. Just read it. Really, everyone should read this. Answers all the questions about the qualitative vs quantitative debate. Read the full article.

• Mixed-Methods Done Right:

  • Book: Someone To Talk To by Mario L. Small.

  • Description: What people say does not always reflect what they think and what reality looks like! In this insightful work, Mario Luis Small delves into the intriguing phenomenon of individuals confiding highly personal matters to people with whom they share minimal closeness. Small challenges conventional wisdom and, notably, sidesteps big data and large-scale network analysis. Instead, he revisits fundamental questions about human connections, exploring the reasons behind who we confide in, why those connections form, and the intricate ways in which we utilize them. Read more.

  • Book: Citizens of Europe? The Emergence of a Mass European Identity by Michael Bruter

  • Description: I read this book a million times. I have quotes of it on a Post-it on my window. Just wow. Focus groups, regressions, you name it! Michael Bruter's groundbreaking book offers the first empirical exploration of the emergence of a mass European identity across EU member states from 1970 to the present day. Going beyond conventional approaches, Bruter introduces a novel theory of political identities, incorporating both 'civic' and 'cultural' components. This work challenges preconceptions by demonstrating how multiple identities can reinforce, rather than exclude, each other. Additionally, Bruter delves into the often-unseen influences of media and political institutions on the development of these new political identities. Embark on a journey through the complex tapestry of European identity with this compelling exploration. Read more.

Happy reading and hope you are having a great summer!

Elena

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Embarking on your Ph.D. or Master's dissertation journey is no easy task. I personally struggled a lot, but these readings reminded me why I love research and why spending your days thinking about things is such a pleasure and a privilege.