published vs unpublished thesis

Citation Help for APA, 7th Edition: Master's Thesis, Dissertation, or Capstone Project

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Introduction

When creating references for dissertations, theses, and projects, you will need to determine the correct reference type to follow. Dissertations, theses, and projects are generally divided into two separate groups; those that are published and those that are unpublished.

In most cases, unpublished projects are those that are in print and available only from the degree-granting institution. On the other hand, published projects are those that are available in a database, a university archive, or a personal website. 

Variations - URLs?

Some URLs may be long and complicated. APA 7th edition allows the use of shorter URLs. Shortened URLs can be created using any URL shortener service; however, if you choose to shorten the URL, you must double-check that the URL is functioning and brings the reader to the correct website. 

Common URL Shortner websites include:

More Information

For more information about URLs, see Section 9.36 on page 300 of APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE:  Check your instructor's preference about using short URLs. Some instructors may want the full URL. 

Variations - DOIs?

Some DOIs may be long and complicated. APA 7th edition allows the use of shorter DOI numbers. Shortened DOIs can be located at the International DOI Foundations, shortDOI Service . 

More Information:

For more information about DOIs, see Section 9.36 on page 300 of APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference for using short DOIs. Some instructors may want the full DOI. 

Variations - Live Hyperlinks?

Should my urls be live.

It depends. When adding URLs to a paper or other work, first, be sure to include the full hyperlink. This includes the http:// or the https://. Additionally, consider where and how the paper or work will be published or read. If the work will only be read in print or as a Word doc or Google Doc, then the URLs should not be live (i.e., they are not blue or underlined). However, if the work will be published or read online, then APA advises to include live URLs. This would allow the reader to click on a link and go to the source.   

For more information, see Section 9.35 on pages 299-300 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference about using live URLs. Some instructors may not want you to use live URLs. 

Print Master's Thesis, Dissertation, or Project

When creating references for dissertations, theses, and projects, you will need to determine the correct reference type to follow. Dissertations, theses, and projects are generally divided into two separate groups; those that are published and those that are unpublished. In most cases, unpublished projects are those that are in print and available only from the degree-granting institution. 

Panasuk, K. N. (2008). What variables appear to work in stress management programs in the workplace and how effective are

these  programs  [Unpublished master’s final project]? The College of St. Scholastica.

Author: Panasuk, K. N.

Begin the reference with the author's last name first. then, add the initials for the first and middle names (if the middle name or middle initial is provided). add a period after each initial, and if there is a middle initial, add a space between the initials., year of publication: (2008)..

Next, in parentheses, list the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title verso page (back side of title page). Follow the parentheses with a period.   

Title & Subtitle of the Book: What variables appear to work in stress management programs in the workplace and how effective are these programs [Unpublished master's final project]?

Next, add the title and subtitle of the master's thesis, dissertation, final applied project, or capstone. The title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle and all proper nouns.  Italicize the title and subtitle. Do not add a period immediately after the title. Instead, add brackets with the type of project (Master's project, doctoral dissertation, etc.) you are referencing. Before the type of project add "Unpublished". When choosing wording to describe the project, use the language the degree-granting institution uses to describe the project (e.g., Master's thesis, Doctoral dissertation, Final Applied Project, Capstone Project, Clinical Project, etc.). Add a period after the brackets. If the title has a question mark or exclamation mark, replace the period after the brackets with the proper punctuation mark used in the title.   

Source Information: The College of St. Scholastica.

Complete the reference with the source information, which is the full name of the college or university awarding the degree. add a period after the institution's name.  more information:.

For more information about master's theses, dissertations, or capstone projects, Section 10.6 on pages 333-334 in the APA Manual, 7th edition.

Parenthetical Citation Example:

 (Panasuk, 2008)

Narrative Citation Example:

Panasuk (2008) identified ...

For more information about author format within parenthetical and narrative citations, see Section 8.17 and Table 8.1 on page 266 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

Master's Thesis Published in a Commercial Database (like ProQuest Dissertations & Theses)

When creating references for dissertations, theses, and projects, you will need to determine the correct reference type to follow. Dissertations, theses, and projects are generally divided into two separate groups; those that are published and those that are unpublished. In most cases, published projects are those that are available in a database, a university archive, or a personal website. 

Skallet, S. (2016). Environmental approval duration estimating model for improved linear energy construction project schedules  (Publication No.

10125148)  [Master's capstone project, The College of St. Scholastica]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. 

Author: Skallet, S.

Begin the reference with the author's last name first. then, add the initials for the author's first and middle names (if a middle name or middle initial is provided). add a period after each initial, and if there is a middle initial, add a space between the initials.     year of publication: (2016)..

Next, in parentheses, add the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title page verso (back side of title page). Follow the parentheses with a period.   

Title & Subtitle of the Book:  Environmental approval duration estimating model for improved linear energy construction project schedules  (Publication No. 10125148) [Master's capstone project, The College of St. Scholastica].

Next, add the title and subtitle (if there is a subtitle) of the capstone, final applied project, thesis, or dissertation. Separate the title and subtitle with a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle and all proper nouns. Italicize the title. Do NOT add a period after the title.

After the title, in parentheses, add the publication number (normally found in the record of the project within ProQuest). Before the publication number put "Publication No." Do NOT add a period after the parentheses. 

After the publication number, add brackets with the type of project (Master's thesis, Master's capstone project, doctoral dissertation, etc.) you are referencing. Use the language described by the degree-granting institution to describe the project. Then, add a comma and the name of the institution. Add a period after the brackets.      

Source Information: ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. 

Complete the reference with the commercial database where you found the masters thesis/project. end with a period.    more information:  .

For more information on Master's Theses/Projects, see Section 10.6 on pages 333-334 in the APA Manual, 7th edition.

 (Skallet, 2016)

Skallet (2016) argued ...

Dissertation Published Online

Adame, A. (2019). Fully immersed, fully present: Examining the user experience through the multimodal presence scale and virtual reality gaming

variables [Master's thesis, California State University San Bernardino]. CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, &

Dissertations.  https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/918/

Author: Adame, A. 

Begin the reference with the author's last name first. Then, add the initials of the author's first and middle names (if a middle name or middle initial is provided). Add a period after each initial, and if there is a middle initial, add a space between the initials. 

Year of Publication: (2019). 

Next, in parentheses, add the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title verso page (back side of the title page). Follow the parentheses with a period. 

Title & Subtitle of the Book: Fully immersed, fully present: Examining the user experience through the multimodal presence scale and virtual reality gaming variables [Master's thesis, California State University San Bernardino]. 

Next, add the title and subtitle (if there a subtitle present) of the thesis or project. Separate the title and subtitle with a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle as well as proper nouns. Italicize the title and subtitle. Do NOT add a period after the title. Instead, after the title, add brackets with the type of project (Master's thesis, doctoral dissertation, etc.) you are referencing. Use the language described by the degree-granting institution to describe the project. Then, add a comma and the name of the institution. Add a period after the brackets.   

Source Information: CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, & Dissertations.  https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/918/

Complete the reference with the name of the website or archive where you found the project. After the name of the website or archive, add a period. Then, add the URL to the project. 

For more information about Master's Theses or Projects, see Section 10.6 on page 333 and example 66 on page 334 in the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

(Adame, 2019)

Adame (2019) distinguished between ...

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APA 7th edition - Citations: Theses & Dissertations

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Published vs. unpublished

Citations for dissertations and theses reorganize elements depending on whether they are published or unpublished.

• A dissertation or thesis is considered published when it is available through a database, institutional repository, or archive
• e.g. [Master's thesis, University of British Columbia] or [Doctoral dissertation, Simon Fraser University]
• Include the URL if the URL will work for readers, or else end the citation with the name of the database, repository, or archive 

General format - published

Reference List 

AuthorLastName, A. A. (Date). Title of dissertation or thesis (Publication No. ## - if available) [Document type, institution name]. Publisher. http://www.website.com/webpage

(AuthorLastName, Year)

• Unpublished
• An unpublished dissertation or thesis includes the name of the university as the source.
• A URL is generally not included as an unpublished document is assumed to be in print or a digital document unavailable publicly.
• If available in a database or repository/archive, treat as published.

General format - unpublished

AuthorLastName, A. A. (Date). Title of dissertation or thesis (Publication No. ## - if available) [Unpublished document type]. Institution Name. http://www.website.com/webpage

1. Published

Hossain, M. A. (2018). What do police recruits identify as strategies to deal with their triggers/biases to deliver fair and impartial policing? [Capstone Project, Justice Institute of British Columbia]. The Vault. https://jibc.arcabc.ca/islandora/object/jibc%3A2380?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=16b067104b80bcb271bb&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0

(Hossain, 2018)

Ferguson, J. (2010). Queer Japanese cinema: A rich and diverse cultural history's challenge to hegemonic ideologies of gender and sexuality (Publication No. MR82331) [Master's thesis, University of British Columbia]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

(Ferguson, 2010)

2. Unpublished

Smith, I. (2020). Effects of library instruction on college students' citation practices [Unpublished undergraduate thesis]. Okanagan College.

(Smith, 2020)

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Theses/dissertations

Dissertations or theses can be either published or unpublished. Those that are unpublished are usually obtained from the respective university in print format. Those that are published, are usually available from a research database or a university archive/repository. 

The examples below show how to reference both types of dissertation/thesis.

See also the guidance on the APA's Style website at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/unpublished-dissertation-references (unpublished dissertations) And https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/published-dissertation-references (published dissertations)

Unpublished theses, dissertations

Parenthetical citation  

 (Aggrey, 2012) 

Narrative citation

Aggrey (2012)

Reference List   

Aggrey, K. K. (2012).  The collaboration between the NHS Trusts (Lincolnshire Foundation Partnership Trusts)

      and the voluntary sector on performance of mental health care delivery in Lincolnshire [Unpublished doctoral

      dissertation]. University of Lincoln.   

1. Author(s)’ surname, comma, initial(s) with a full stop after each initial  2. Year of submission in round brackets followed by a full stop   3. Title of thesis/dissertation in italics  4. Description in square brackets [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] or [Unpublished master’s dissertation] followed by a full stop  5. Name of institution followed by a full stop 

Published dissertation/thesis from a database

Parenthetical citation

(El-Chab, 2016)

Narrative citation 

El-Chab (2016)  

Reference list 

El-Chab, A. (2016).  The effect of dietary standardisation on exercise performance and physiological

     responses in male athletes  (Publication No. 10588261) [Doctoral dissertation, Oxford Brookes University].

     Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global.  

1. Author(s)’ surname, comma, initial(s) with a full stop after each initial (and comma if more than one author)  2. Year of publication in round brackets followed by a full stop   3. Title of thesis/dissertation in italics  4. Publication number in round brackets   5. Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis in square brackets, name of institution followed by a full stop  6. Database name followed by a full stop  

Dissertation/thesis published online (not in a database)

Parenthetical citation 

(Lund, 2017) 

Lund (2017)

Lund, T. W. (2017). Perceptions of academic dishonesty in a cross-cultural context: Students views on cheaters, cheating,

       and severity of offences  [Master’s thesis, Marietta College]. OhioLINK: Electronic Theses & Dissertation Center.

        https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_olink/r/1501/10?p10_etd_subid=150733&clear=10 

Format: 

Author surname, Initial(s). (Year).  Title of dissertation  [Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis, Name of Institution).

       Name of resource. URL 

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What is a thesis?

What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track, thesis abstract, lit(erature) review.

A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours. 

Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.

Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.

The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.

• PhD This site directs candidates to the GSAS website about dissertations , with links to checklists,  planning, formatting, acknowledgments, submission, and publishing options. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus . Consult with your committee chair about specific requirements and standards for your dissertation.
• DDES This document covers planning, patent filing, submission guidelines, publishing options, formatting guidelines, sample pages, citation guidelines, and a list of common errors to avoid. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus .
• Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.

Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.

Critical Reading

Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:

https://guides.library.harvard.edu/sixreadinghabits  

https://youtu.be/BcV64lowMIA

Conversation

Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase ,  integrate , and cite sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.

The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.

Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.

Accountability

Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.

Common Pitfalls

The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.

There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.

Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html

https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques

Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.

An abstract is a short (approximately 200-word) summary or overview of your research project. It provides enough information for a reader to know what they will find within the larger document, such as your purpose, methodology, and results or conclusion. It may also include a list of  keywords. An abstract is an original document, not an excerpt, and its contents and organization may vary by discipline.

A literature review establishes a set of themes and contexts drawn from foundational research and materials that relate to your project. It is an acknowledgment that your scholarship doesn’t exist in a vacuum. With the review, you identify patterns and trends in the literature to situate your contribution within the existing scholarly conversation.

What is a literature review? A literature review (or lit review, for short) is a critical analysis of published scholarly research (the "literature") related to a specific topic. Literature here means body of work, which traditionally was done in written form and may include journal articles, books, book chapters, dissertations and thesis, or conference proceedings. In the case of design, however, literature has an expanded breadth since the body of work is oftentimes not represented by words. A design review may include plans, sections, photographs, and any type of media that portrays the work.

A literature review may stand on its own or may be inside a larger work, usually in the introductory sections. It is thorough but not exhaustive--there will always be more information than you can reasonably locate and include. Be mindful of your scope and time constraints and select your reviewed materials with care. A literature review

• summarizes the themes and findings of works in an area
• compares and contrasts relevant aspects of literature on a topic
• critically assesses the strengths and omissions of the source material
• elaborates on the implications of their findings for one's own research topic

What does a literature review look like? Each discipline has its own style for writing a literature review; urban planning and design lit reviews may look different than those from architecture, and design lit reviews will look significantly different than reviews from the biological sciences or engineering. Look at published journal articles within your field and note how they present the information.

• Introduction: most scholarly articles and books will have a literature review within the introductory sections. Its precise location may vary, but it is most often in the first few paragraphs or pages.

Dedicated literature reviews: these are stand-alone resources unto themselves. You can search for "literature review" and a topic, and you may find that one already exists. These literature reviews are useful as models within your field, for finding additional sources to explore, and for beginning to map the general relationships within the scholarly conversation around your topic. Be mindful not to plagiarize the source material.

Database search tip : Add the phrase "literature review" to your search to find published literature reviews.

Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.

Theses at the Frances Loeb Library  is a research guide to finding p ast GSD theses.

DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.

HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.

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Dissertations and Theses

• Finding dissertations and theses
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Dissertations and theses as a research tool

Obtaining theses & dissertations written at other institutions, citing dissertations and theses, databases focused on dissertations and theses, sources indexing dissertations and theses, print dissertation indexes and bibliographies.

We can help locate sources, create multimedia components, manage your data, cite sources, answer questions about copyright, and more.

Theses and dissertations can be a valuable source of information for research.  They can offer the following benefits:

• Just like journal articles, conference proceedings, and other forms of literature, they present original research. Recently completed theses can provide "sneak previews" of ideas and findings that have yet to reach the public via other publication formats.
• They may be the only publicly-available work by authors who do not otherwise publish for general audiences or through commercial publishers.
• They contain extensive bibliographies.
• They provide inspiration for the formatting and presentation of ideas, graphs, charts, and other components of a document.
• They provide insight into the early work of a particular person and have value for historical and biographical purposes.

Want to borrow a thesis or dissertation written at another institution that isn't available in  full text online ? Request it via  ILLIAD , Tufts' interlibrary loan service. Choose the "Thesis" request form and provide as much descriptive information as you can. Not all theses or dissertations are available or loanable, but we'll try to find you a copy!

Some other ways you might be able to find a copy of an older dissertation:

If you can identify the author's institutional affiliation, visit that institution's webpage to see if they catalog or archive students' dissertations. 

Contact the author.  Some authors will post all or some of their dissertation on their website or have journal articles or other publications which draw heavily on this work.

Search the author's name and/or thesis title in full-text journal databases which include article references. These citations may provide clues as to how to locate the document.

Contact your  subject librarian  for assistance.

As with journal articles, books, and other sources, theses and dissertations must be properly cited in any document that references them.  Most citation styles, including APA, Chicago, and MLA, provide specific instructions for formatting these citations.  Citation Management tools, such as EndNote and Zotero, automatically format references for these sources in your selected citation style.  More information is in the Citing Sources guide.

Although requirements for citing dissertations vary according by style, they generally seek to convey the following information:  that the item is a dissertation (rather than an article or a book); the type of degree it resulted in (master's, PhD, etc); whether it was published; and which institution granted the degree.  An example of a citation for a dissertation is presented here in four major citation styles:

• APA:   Miaoulis, I. N. (1987). Experimental investigation of turbulence spectra of charge density fluctuations in the equilibrium range. Unpublished Ph.D., Tufts University, United States -- Massachusetts.
• Chicago:   Miaoulis, Ioannis Nikolaos. "Experimental Investigation of Turbulence Spectra of Charge Density Fluctuations in the Equilibrium Range." Ph.D., Tufts University, 1987.
• IEEE:   [1]    I. N. Miaoulis, "Experimental investigation of turbulence spectra of charge density fluctuations in the equilibrium range,"  United States -- Massachusetts: Tufts University, 1987, p. 98.
• MLA:   Miaoulis, Ioannis Nikolaos. "Experimental Investigation of Turbulence Spectra of Charge Density Fluctuations in the Equilibrium Range." Ph.D. Tufts University, 1987.

The following sources focus primarily or exclusively on theses and dissertations; some provide direct access to full-text.

• DART-Europe E-theses Portal "A partnership of research libraries and library consortia who are working together to improve global access to European research theses."
• Dissertations & Theses: Full Text Comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses worldwide. Of the over 2 million titles in the database, more than 930,000 are available in PDF format for free download. Those that aren't freely available can be ordered from within the database.
• DSpace@MIT Over 25,000 theses and dissertations from all MIT departments completed as far back as the mid 1800's. Note that this is NOT a complete collection of MIT theses.
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) Search engine for graduate papers completed at universities both in America and abroad.
• Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD) Open access (OA) theses and dissertations from institutions worldwide.
• Ethos Service from the British Library for reading and ordering theses produced by students in the United Kingdom.
• Theses Canada Theses from over 60 Canadian universities, going back to 1965.
• Shodhganga@INFLIBNET Centre Digital repository of theses and dissertations from universities in India.

In the following subject-specific databases, the Advance Search option enables filtering by dissertation as the document type.

• American Bibliography of Slavic and East European Studies Sources on East-Central Europe and the former Soviet Union.
• ARTbibliographies Modern Sources on all forms of modern and contemporary art.
• EconLit Economic literature.
• Engineering Village For literature on all engineering disciplines.
• PsycInfo Sources on psychology and related disciplines.
• Sociological Abstracts For the literature on sociology.
• SPORTDiscus with Full Text Sources on sport, physical fitness, and physical education.
• World Shakespeare Bibliography Sources on materials published since 1971 related to Shakespeare.

A number of indexes and bibliographies of dissertations have been published, primarily in print format.  These often focus on specific historical eras, geographic regions, or topics.

• Dissertation Indexes in the Tufts Catalog
• Dissertation Indexes in WorldCat
• Dissertation Indexes in Google Books
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• URL: https://researchguides.library.tufts.edu/theses

• AUT Library
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APA 7th Referencing Style Guide

• Theses and dissertations
• Referencing & APA style
• In-text citation
• Elements of a reference
• Format & examples of a reference list
• Conferences
• Reports & grey literature
• Figures (graphs and images)

Terminology - Thesis, dissertation or exegesis?

Published theses and dissertations, unpublished theses and dissertations.

• Audio works
• Films, TV & video
• Visual works
• Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
• Computer software, games & apps
• Lecture notes & Intranet resources
• Legal resources
• Personal communications
• PowerPoint slides
• Social media
• Specific health examples
• Standards & patents
• Websites & webpages
• Footnotes and appendices
• Frequently asked questions

Thesis and dissertation can mean different things depending on where the degree is awarded. Always check the title page, or subsequent pages, to determine exactly what the work is and use the information for your reference. ​

Auckland University of Technology (and other NZ universities)

• Thesis is either for a doctoral or a master's degree.
• Dissertation is either for a master's or a bachelor's degree with honours.
• Exegesis is the written component of a practice-based thesis where the major output is a creative work;  e.g., a film, artwork, novel.

Other parts of the world

• In North America and some other countries, dissertation is used for a doctoral degree and thesis for a master's degree.

Theses available in a database, a university archive or from a personal website.

Reference format

Theses published online (e.g. in institutional repositories), theses from proquest dissertations and theses global.

Find how to cite in text on the  In-text citation  page.

 Unpublished thesis or dissertations are usually sourced directly from the university in print form.

 Reference format

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APA 7th Referencing

• Style summary
• Easy Referencing tool This link opens in a new window
• In-text citations
• Reference lists
• Secondary sources (as cited in)
• Streaming videos
• Film/Movie, TV, radio and podcasts
• Print books
• Book chapters
• Edited books
• Conference papers and webinars
• Dictionaries and encyclopedias
• First Nations resources and knowledges
• Images, artworks, and screenshots
• Journal articles
• Newspapers and magazines
• Lecture/Class materials, MOOCs/learning modules and personal communications
• Legal cases
• Legislation, bills and regulations
• Conventions and treaties
• Taxation rulings
• Coroners' reports
• Medical databases
• Plant labels and profiles
• Standards, building codes and patents
• Graphs (figures)

Theses and dissertations overview

• Theses/Dissertations format
• Translated and foreign works
• Websites and webpages
• Online documents (e.g. white paper, brochure, fact sheet, ppt slides etc.)
• Social media, apps, games and AI
• APA 7th quiz

A thesis or dissertation will either be unpublished - available only in print at the awarding institution; or published - either on a website, or in a theses database such as ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. The principles when referencing a thesis are similar to those used when referencing a book.

• Unpublished (print)
• Online from a database
• Online from a website/archive

Thesis/Dissertation printed and paper bound

Reference elements.

In-text citation

Thesis/dissertation from online database.

Thesis/Dissertation from online website/archive

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APA Referencing - Education & CCSC students: Unpublished or informally published work

• Abbreviations
• Journal article
• Quotes & citations
• Reference lists
• Referencing questions
• Audiovisual works
• Brochure or pamphlet
• Conference paper
• Dictionary/Encyclopedia
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• Group author
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• Self-referencing
• Software app
• Figures & tables

Unpublished or informally published work

How to reference an unpublished or informally published work.

As with all referencing in academic writing, referencing is a matter of establishing the authority of the source or information you are relying upon as evidence to support the claims you make in your writing. This is the reason for peer review as it is a process that establishes the authority of a work through expert checking. Peer-reviewed published works are accepted as having greater authority than works that are not peer reviewed. Sometimes, however, the most useful research article might not be available as a peer-reviewed published article but it is available to us in an unpublished form. Use other peer-reviewed articles if possible but if there is a lack of published research reports and, for example, a pre-press version is available directly from the author, you may use it. Check whether the article has been published before submitting your final assignment or thesis and, if it has, reference the final version, taking into account any changes that the editors may have required in the peer-review process.

Unpublished and informally published works include:

• work in progress
• work submitted for publication
• work prepared for publication but not submitted

a university website

An electronic archive such as academia.edu or researchgate.

• the author's personal website

In-text citation

Reference list

Author, A. A. (Year).  Title of manuscript.  Unpublished manuscript [or "manuscript submitted for publication," or "Manuscript in preparation"].

If the unpublished manuscript is from a university, give this information at the end.

If you locate the work on an electronic archive, give this information at the end.

If a URL is available, give it at the end. 

If you use a pre-print version of an article that is later published, reference the published version.

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What is the Difference Between Published and Unpublished Thesis?

• by Sean Brown
• October 11, 2023

As an aspiring researcher or academic, you may find yourself pondering questions about the publication and dissemination of your thesis. What exactly does it mean for a thesis to be published or unpublished? What impact does this distinction have on your work? In this blog post, we will dive into the world of thesis publication and explore the key differences between published and unpublished theses.

Whether you’re a graduate student looking to turn your research paper into a book or a PhD candidate seeking to publish your thesis, this blog post will provide you with valuable insights. We will also answer burning questions such as whether ResearchGate is peer-reviewed, where to find information about a book’s publication, and the locations of renowned publishing houses like Taylor and Francis and Routledge Publishers.

So, if you’ve ever wondered about the nuances of publishing a thesis or the benefits of making your research widely accessible, keep reading to uncover the distinctions between published and unpublished theses.

The Lowdown on Published and Unpublished Thesis in the Academic World

When it comes to thesis writing, two terms often come up: “published” and “unpublished.” But what do they mean, and how do they differ? Let’s unravel this academic mystery, shall we?

Published Thesis: Making Waves in the Academic Ocean

A published thesis is not just any ordinary piece of work; it’s a victorious triumph that has navigated its way through peer review and found a cozy spot in the vast sea of academic literature. Picture it as an intellectual A-lister, strutting down the red carpet, basking in all its glory.

The Perks of Being Published

Published theses are like celebrities in the academic world. They have benefits that unpublished theses can only dream of. One of the major advantages is credibility. When your thesis is published, fellow scholars view it as a reliable source of knowledge, unquestionably glossy and polished.

Unpublished Thesis: The Hidden Gem

Unlike its showy counterpart, an unpublished thesis is like a concealed treasure, waiting to be discovered. It may not have had its moment in the spotlight yet, but that doesn’t mean it lacks substance. In fact, some unpublished theses pack a punch that could rival the heavyweight champions of the academic world.

The Perks of Being Unpublished

While unpublished theses may not have the glitz and glamour of their published counterparts, they do offer certain advantages. For starters, an unpublished thesis allows you the freedom to experiment with ideas and concepts without the pressure of meeting stringent publishing criteria. It serves as an incubator for innovation, giving you the space to explore uncharted territories.

Published vs. Unpublished: Which One Should You Choose

Now that we’ve examined the characteristics of published and unpublished theses, you may be wondering which path to choose. Well, my academically inclined friend, it all depends on your goals and intentions.

If You Seek Visibility and Prestige…

…then a published thesis is the grand prize you’re looking for. It will showcase your expertise to the academic world, garnering recognition and admiration from your peers. Just like a superstar, it will make you a sought-after name in your field.

If Innovation is Your Game…

…then an unpublished thesis is your secret weapon. It allows you to break free from the shackles of convention and delve into unexplored territories. You have the freedom to challenge existing theories, question traditional assumptions, and present groundbreaking ideas.

The Verdict: The Choice is Yours

Ultimately, the decision between publishing and keeping your thesis unpublished lies in your hands. Consider your research goals, aspirations, and the level of impact you wish to make in your field. Whether you choose the red carpet or the hidden gem, remember that what truly matters is the quality and significance of your work.

Now, armed with the knowledge of the difference between published and unpublished theses, go forth and conquer the academic world, my ambitious friend!

Key Takeaways

• Published theses have undergone rigorous peer review and hold credibility in the academic world.
• Unpublished theses offer the freedom to explore ideas without the pressure of adhering to publishing criteria.
• Published theses provide visibility and prestige, while unpublished theses foster innovation and experimentation.
• The decision between a published and unpublished thesis depends on your specific research goals and aspirations.
• Ultimately, what matters most is the quality and significance of your work, regardless of its published or unpublished status.

FAQ: What is the Difference Between Published and Unpublished Thesis?

By [Your Name]

How do I Turn my Research Paper into a Book

Turning your research paper into a book can be an exciting journey! Here are a few steps to help you transform your scholarly work into a published book:

Refine and Expand : Take the time to refine your research paper, ensuring it is well-organized and free from errors. Expand your content by providing additional analysis and incorporating any new developments in your field.

Target the Right Publisher : Research publishers who specialize in your subject area. Look for publishing houses that have a track record in publishing academic books within your field.

Write a Book Proposal : Craft a compelling book proposal that outlines the purpose, scope, and market potential of your book. Include a sample chapter to showcase your writing style and expertise.

Submit your Proposal : Submit your book proposal to the publisher, following their submission guidelines . Be patient and prepared for feedback or revision requests.

Revise and Edit : If your book proposal is accepted, work closely with the publisher’s team to revise and edit your manuscript. Address any comments or suggestions provided by the publisher’s editors.

Publication Process : Once your manuscript is finalized, the publisher will guide you through the publication process, which involves copyediting, typesetting, and designing the book cover.

Publication : Your book will be published and made available for purchase. Celebrate your accomplishment and promote your work through social media, academic conferences , and personal networks.

Remember, publishing a book requires dedication and perseverance. Don’t hesitate to seek advice from experienced authors or mentors along the way.

Is ResearchGate Peer-Reviewed

ResearchGate is not a peer-reviewed platform . It is a social networking site designed to enable researchers to collaborate, share research findings, and connect with peers. While it provides a platform for researchers to share and discuss their work, papers uploaded to ResearchGate are not subject to formal peer review by the platform itself.

If you are seeking rigorous peer review for your research, consider submitting your work to academic journals or conferences within your field. These traditional publishing channels often follow a rigorous peer review process to ensure the quality and validity of research publications.

How do you Publish a PhD Thesis in a Book

Publishing your PhD thesis as a book can be a valuable way to showcase your research and reach a wider audience. Here’s a general outline of the process:

Thesis Evaluation : Evaluate if your thesis has the potential to be transformed into a book. Consider the significance of your research, its relevance to a wider audience, and its potential for expansion beyond the scope of your thesis.

Writing and Revision : Take the time to revise and expand your thesis into a comprehensive and cohesive book manuscript. Address any feedback or suggestions provided by your thesis committee.

Book Proposal : Develop a detailed book proposal that outlines the objectives, target audience, and market potential of your book. Include a sample chapter to showcase your writing style and the uniqueness of your research.

Publishing Houses : Research publishing houses that specialize in your subject area. Look for publishers that have published similar books in the past and have a strong presence within your academic field.

Submit your Proposal : Submit your book proposal to the publishers you have identified, following their submission guidelines. Be prepared for potential revision requests or rejection, as the publishing industry is highly competitive.

Editorial Process : If your proposal is accepted, you will work closely with the publisher’s editorial team to revise, refine, and finalize your manuscript. Address any comments or suggestions provided by the editors.

Publication : After the editing and production processes are completed, your book will be published and made available to the public. Ensure to participate actively in promoting your book through academic conferences, social media, and other relevant platforms.

Remember that publishing a thesis as a book may require additional research, revision, and the inclusion of new material. Consult with your advisor or colleagues who have published their theses as books for further guidance.

Where do you Find Where a Book Was Published

Finding where a book was published can be quite simple. Follow these straightforward steps:

Check the Title Page : The title page of a book usually contains important publication information, including the publishing company’s name and the location where the book was published.

Look for the Copyright Page : The copyright page is typically found on the back of the title page. It provides detailed information about the book’s publication, including the publisher’s name and address.

Search Online : If the book is relatively recent, searching for the book’s title along with the author’s name on online book retailers or search engines can help you find the publication details.

Remember, the publishing location refers to the city or town where the book was printed or produced, and it is different from the publisher’s physical location, which may have multiple offices or branches around the world.

Where is Taylor and Francis Publishing Located

Taylor and Francis is a well-known academic publishing company with a global presence. The company has multiple offices and publishing locations worldwide. Some of their prominent locations include:

London, United Kingdom : Taylor and Francis has a significant presence in London, with multiple offices located throughout the city. London serves as one of their major publishing hubs.

Philadelphia, United States : Taylor and Francis also has a significant operation in Philadelphia, with offices dedicated to publishing academic works for the North American market.

Singapore : Taylor and Francis has established an office in Singapore to cater to the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting their commitment to global reach and collaboration.

These are just a few examples of Taylor and Francis’ publishing locations, but their reach extends beyond these regions. With their broad network, Taylor and Francis contributes to the dissemination of academic knowledge worldwide.

How do you Publish a Monograph

Publishing a monograph, a single author’s scholarly work, follows a similar process to publishing other academic books. Here’s an overview of the steps you can take:

Research and Writing : Conduct thorough research in your area of interest and produce a well-written monograph that contributes to existing knowledge in your field.

Identify Suitable Publishers : Look for academic publishers who specialize in your subject area. Take note of their submission guidelines, publishing focus, and the types of monographs they typically publish.

Prepare a Book Proposal : Craft a persuasive book proposal that outlines the significance of your monograph, its target audience, and its market potential. Include a sample chapter to showcase your writing skills and the unique contribution of your work.

Submit your Proposal : Submit your proposal to the publishers you have identified as suitable for your monograph. Ensure you follow their submission guidelines and be prepared for potential revisions or rejections.

Editorial Process : If your proposal is accepted, you will work closely with the publisher’s editorial team to refine and finalize your monograph. Address any comments or suggestions provided by the editors.

Publication and Promotion : Once the editing and production processes are complete, your monograph will be published. Engage in promotional activities, such as book launches, academic conferences, and social media, to increase the visibility and impact of your work.

Remember, publishing a monograph requires dedication, persistence, and adherence to academic standards. Seek advice from colleagues or mentors who have experience in publishing monographs to guide you throughout the process.

Can you Publish Your PhD Thesis

Yes, it is indeed possible to publish your PhD thesis! Many scholars choose to publish their theses to share their research findings, contribute to their field, and increase the visibility of their work. Here are a few options to consider:

Book Publication : Transform your thesis into a book manuscript by expanding upon your research, addressing feedback, and ensuring its clarity and coherence. Submit your book proposal to academic publishers.

Journal Articles : Break down your thesis into smaller research articles and submit them to reputable academic journals. This allows you to focus on specific aspects of your research and reach a broader audience.

Conference Proceedings : Present your thesis findings at conferences and consider submitting extended versions of your conference papers to conference proceedings. This provides a platform to disseminate your research among fellow academics.

Open Access Repositories : Share your thesis on open access repositories like institutional repositories or preprint servers. This allows your work to be freely accessible to researchers around the world.

Collaborative Research : Collaborate with other researchers in your field to publish joint papers or co-authored books that build upon your thesis findings. This widens the scope and impact of your research.

Remember, when publishing your thesis, always ensure that you acknowledge the originality and intellectual contributions of your advisor, committee members, and any other collaborators who supported your research journey.

Where are Routledge Publishers Located

Routledge is a well-known publishing company specializing in academic books, journals, and digital resources. It has a global presence with offices located in various parts of the world. Some of Routledge’s prominent locations include:

London, United Kingdom : As a renowned British publishing company, Routledge has its headquarters in London, making it a significant hub for their operations and editorial teams.

New York City, United States : Routledge has a substantial presence in New York City, with offices dedicated to serving their North American market. This location allows them to effectively engage with scholars and researchers in the United States and Canada.

Melbourne, Australia : Routledge has an office in Melbourne, emphasizing their commitment to serving the Asia-Pacific region. This location enables them to connect and collaborate with academics and researchers in Australia and other neighboring countries.

These are just a few examples of Routledge’s publishing locations, and their reach extends beyond these regions. With their extensive network, Routledge contributes significantly to academic publishing across the globe.

In this FAQ-style subsection, we discussed some common questions related to the difference between published and unpublished theses. We explored the process of turning a research paper into a book, the peer-review aspect of ResearchGate, publishing a Ph.D. thesis, finding the publication location of a book, locations of Taylor and Francis Publishing and Routledge Publishers, publishing a monograph, and the possibility of publishing one’s Ph.D. thesis. By addressing these questions, we hope to have provided you with valuable insights into the publication world. Remember, the journey of transforming your research into a published work is a remarkable endeavor that deserves celebration!

• book proposal
• multiple offices
• publication
• publication process
• renowned publishing houses
• research paper
• routledge publishers
• unpublished theses
• unpublished thesis

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APA 7th Edition Style Guide: Unpublished Manuscripts/Informal Publications (i.e. course packets and dissertations)

• About In-text Citations
• In-Text Examples
• What to Include
• Volume/Issue
• Bracketed Descriptions
• URLs and DOIs
• Book with Editor(s)
• Book with No Author
• Book with Organization as Author
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• Classical Works
• Course Materials
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Multi-Volume Works
• Newspaper Article
• Patents & Laws
• Personal Communication
• Physicians' Desk Reference
• Social Media

Unpublished Manuscripts/Informal Publications (i.e. course packets and dissertations)

• Formatting Your Paper
• Formatting Your References
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• APA Quick Guide
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Formatting your References

Once you type your references on the reference page, you will need to put in a hanging indent and double-space the entire reference list. In Microsoft Word, highlight the references from A to Z, then find the paragraph function in the Word ribbon. Select Hanging under Indentation and Double under spacing. See the Formatting your References tab for instructions on doing this on a Mac or in Google Docs.

Abbas, D. D. F. (2020). Manipulating of audio-visual aids in the educational processes in Al-Hilla University College. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24 (3), 1248-1263. https://doi.org.db12.linccweb.org/10.37200/ijpr/v24i3/pr200875

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What is the difference between “Published” vs. “Unpublished” works, why does it matter, and how does the difference relate to Online vs. Print publishing?

U.S. Copyright Law defines publication as:

“the distribution of copies or phonorecords of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies or phonorecords to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution, public performance, or public display constitutes publication. A public performance or display of a work does not itself constitute publication.”

Publication under the first part of the definition is rather straightforward. Publication under the second part is a bit more complicated. Generally, publication occurs on the date on which copies of the work are first made available to the public. Unpublished works are those which have not been distributed in any manner.

Although prior to 1978, copyright protection generally was available only for published works, such protection is now available for published as well as unpublished works.

Whether a work is published or unpublished still matters for certain reasons. For example:

• works that are published in the United States are subject to mandatory deposit in the Library of Congress;
• unpublished works are eligible for protection without regard to the nationality or where the author lives;
• certain limitations on the rights of a copyright owner are applicable only to published works; and
• the duration of protection for works made for hire may be determined by the date of publication.

For more information, see Distinction Between Published and Unpublished Works.

Can Zotero distinguish between published and unpublished theses?

• adamsmith October 1, 2023 edited October 1, 2023 The CSL/Zotero APA style decides this based on the archive field. See https://www.zotero.org/groups/2205533/test_items_library/collections/MR2N872S/items/UD3VZHS5/item-list for template entering a dissertation published on ProQuest
• DWL-SDCA October 1, 2023 Doctoral theses in some European countries receive an ISBN and I've seen these cited as books (with no mention of thesis status). My own had a press run of 500 and is housed on the university's press site with a different ISBN. I've never quite understood how to treat these under APA.
• adamsmith October 1, 2023 Yeah, there has been some debate about this in the past and I'd indeed be inclined to treat these as books for citation purposes.

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Published versus Unpublished Dissertations in Psycho-Oncology Intervention Research

Stefan schneider, sarah k knapp-oliver, stephanie j sohl.

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Correspondence to: Anne Moyer, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, Tel: (631) 632-7811, Email: [email protected]

There are conflicting views regarding whether gray literature, including unpublished doctoral dissertations, should be included in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Although publication status frequently is used as a proxy for study quality, some research suggests that dissertations are often of superior quality to published studies.

We examined 107 projects involving doctoral dissertations (42 published, 65 unpublished) that studied psychosocial interventions for cancer patients.

Published dissertations were more likely to be supported by research funding but were not more likely than unpublished dissertations to examine specific types of interventions. Across several indices of methodological quality there were minimal differences. Dissertations with significant findings tended to be more likely to be published than those without significant findings.

Conclusions

Unpublished dissertations focusing on psychosocial interventions for cancer patients are not necessarily of vastly inferior quality to those that eventually are published. Because doctoral dissertations are easy to access relative to other forms of gray literature, are free from some types of bias, and are reported thoroughly, they merit inclusion in comprehensive literature reviews.

Key terms: dissertations, cancer, oncology, psychosocial, intervention, meta-analysis

There are conflicting opinions about whether gray literature, including unpublished doctoral dissertations, should be included in systematic reviews and meta-analyses [ 1 ]. On the one hand, doctoral dissertations are not peer reviewed in the same fashion as published journal articles; on the other hand, they are subjected to intense scrutiny by dissertation committees, and their reporting is typically quite thorough. Often publication status is used as a convenient proxy for methodological quality [ 2 ] and this practice may have some merit. However, even peer-reviewed journals differ in their methodological rigor, and published articles vary in their reporting quality due to differences in journal space limitations. Finally, some argue for the high quality of doctoral dissertations, asserting, “often the culmination of months or years of work, the dissertation is the concrete manifestation of a doctoral student’s best thinking, guided and refined by the sage suggestions of the student’s committee members” [ 3 , p. 537].

The small number of empirical studies evaluating the quality of gray literature has generally attested that dissertations actually have stronger methodology than published studies [ 4 ] or that there is limited evidence that trials in the gray literature are of lower quality than published trials [ 5 ]. However, it is unclear whether these conclusions apply to studies in psycho-oncology research. Because searching for and retrieving gray literature, including dissertations, is time-consuming [ 6 ], decisions to include them in reviews are complex and should be based on empirical evidence [ 7 ].

In a prior, larger review of 488 published and unpublished projects investigating psychosocial interventions for cancer patients we characterized the methodological quality of this literature as a whole and focused on trends over time (Moyer, Sohl, Knapp-Oliver, Schneider, in press). We found that particular strengths of this research, present in a majority of projects, included using randomized designs, testing for baseline group equivalence, and monitoring treatment, the use of which rose significantly over time. In that review we identified a subset of 107 projects that included at least one doctoral dissertation, suggesting that this is a fruitful area for budding investigators. Sixty-five of these projects, however, included dissertations that remained unpublished, prompting the question of whether they were of lower quality than projects with published results.

In this review we focus on the characteristics and methodological quality of just these 107 published and unpublished dissertations. Because prior reviews have contrasted unpublished dissertations with published studies in general, they have not explored the potential for publication bias resulting from only some dissertations making their way into the published literature. Thus, this review, in comparing only published versus unpublished research originating from doctoral dissertations, may shed some light on reasons for differential publication.

It may also be that publication was more likely when the dissertation reported significant findings. This “publication bias” is a well-documented problem [ 8 ] and can result from authors selectively submitting, or from journals selectively accepting, those manuscripts that show significant results [ 9 ]. Thus, an additional goal of this review was to examine whether dissertations that reported significant findings were more likely to be published.

Study Identification

Studies included in the larger review (Moyer, Sohl, Knapp-Oliver, Schneider, in press) examined psychosocial interventions for adult cancer patients that: (1) reported outcomes on psychological, emotional, behavioral, physiological, functional, or medical status; (2) were first reported as a published article or dissertation between January 1980 and December 2005; and (3) included 10 or more individuals per group. Electronic databases (PsycINFO, which indexes dissertations; PubMed; and Dissertation Abstracts Online, which indexes doctoral theses from 1861 to the present from U.S., Canadian, British, and European universities [ 10 ] were searched using key terms (e.g., cancer , neoplasms , tumor , and psychosocial intervention , psychotherapy, psychological treatment, education, cognitive behavioral, relaxation, stress management, support group, self-help group, nursing intervention, biofeedback ). The reference lists of included reports and of 94 prior reviews and meta-analyses also were examined. Searches for articles citing prior reviews and the tables of contents of several journals ( Psycho-Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, European Journal of Cancer, and Cancer Nursing ) were conducted.

Separate reports based on the same sample (e.g., separate articles reporting outcomes at 3-month and 12-month follow-ups) were consolidated as being from the same project. The larger sample included 673 reports comprising 488 projects, 107 of which included dissertations. As some projects yielded multiple dissertations (and some dissertations reported on more than one project), there were 112 dissertations conducted across the 107 projects. However, our analyses were at the project level.

A follow-up search of the PubMed and PsycINFO bibliographic databases determined if unpublished dissertations had been published by November, 2008. For projects that yielded more than one dissertation, if at least one was published, we coded the project as published. In all, 42 projects comprised (at least one) dissertation that had been published and 65 projects comprised (at least one) dissertation had not been published; for simplicity, we refer to these as published dissertations and unpublished dissertations , respectively.

Study Coding

Coding of descriptive project characteristics involved the types of interventions that had been investigated and whether the project had received research funding. Because some authors have noted difficulties in tracking dissertations when female investigators have married and changed their names [ 6 ], we also examined whether our coding of publication status was linked to the gender of the principal investigator. Coding items assessing the quality of study methodology and reporting were adapted from prior work [ 11 ]. Although consensus on essential areas of methodological quality has yet to be reached, and no one scale is considered appropriate for all research topic areas [ 12 ] we included aspects of quality conventionally considered important. These involved aspects of the sample description; the research design, including the quality of randomization, where applicable; intervention specification and provision; and data analyses, such as whether intent-to-treat analyses were conducted. Due to the low feasibility of keeping participants and interventionists blind to treatment groups for psychosocial interventions, items assessing this were not included. Similarly, because outcomes in this area are predominantly based on self-report, assessments of blinding of outcome assessors also were not included. Aspects of reporting from the CONSORT [ 13 ], such as noting the number dropping out of treatment, also were evaluated. Combining elements related to different dimensions of methodological quality is not advised because they are theoretically independent and may be negatively related [ 2 ]. Therefore, we report these elements of methodological quality separately. Because prior research has shown that studies in the published literature have more participants than studies in the gray literature [ 5 ], we also examined sample size. Finally, to address the question of publication bias, we coded whether or not a project reported at least one significant intervention effect.

Coding according to a detailed manual was conducted by the PI and two teams of thoroughly-trained graduate-level coders. Coders met regularly to prevent coding drift, discuss coding dilemmas, and to reach consensus on independently-coded projects (representing 9.2% of the total sample) used for reliability estimation. Ten key continuous a priori coding items were examined for reliability. The agreement for the ratings of the PI, Coder 1, and Coder 2 was .83 and for the ratings of the PI, Coder 3, Coder 4, and Coder 5 was .90 (average two-way mixed effect intraclass correlation [ 14 ]). Ten key categorical a priori coding items were also examined. The agreement for the ratings of the PI, Coder 1, and Coder 2 was .72 and for the ratings of the PI, Coders 3, Coder 4, and Coder 5 was .61 (average generalized kappa [ 15 ]).

Statistical Analyses

For continuous outcome variables, we used t -tests to compare published and unpublished dissertations. For categorical outcome variables, we used chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact test when cells had an expected count of less than 5. A Bonferroni-corrected alpha level of 0.002 (0.05/26) was adopted to account for the multiple tests of significance conducted.

Investigator, Report, and Intervention Characteristics

Published dissertations were significantly more likely to have had some form of research funding (73.7%) than unpublished dissertations (26.3%, χ 2 [1, N = 107] = 29.30, p = 0.000). The proportion of female principal investigators was somewhat greater (85.7%) for published dissertations than for unpublished dissertations (67.2%, χ 2 [1, N = 106] = 4.59, p = 0.032), but this difference was not significant at the corrected alpha level. There were no significant differences in the likelihood of published versus unpublished dissertations’ examining cognitive, behavioral, or cognitive-behavioral interventions (47.6% vs. 47.7%, χ 2 [1, N = 107] = 0.00, p = 0.994); non-behavioral counseling or psychotherapy interventions, (4.8% vs. 13.8%, Fisher’s Exact [ N = 107] p = 0.195); educational or informational interventions, (19.0% vs. 10.8%, χ 2 [1, N = 107]= 1.45, p = 0.228); social support interventions, (4.8% vs. 4.6%, Fisher’s Exact [ N = 107] p = 1.00); multimodal interventions, (19.0% vs. 26.2%, χ 2 [1, N = 107] = 0.72, p = 0.396); or interventions using complementary or alternative medicine approaches, (21.4% vs. 9.2%, χ 2 [1, N = 107] = 3.15, p = 0.076).

Quality of Study Methodology and Reporting

Table 1 compares the methodological and reporting quality of published versus unpublished dissertations. Of 16 statistical comparisons, there were no significant differences between published and unpublished dissertations. Although published dissertations were somewhat more likely to use randomized as opposed to other types of designs (83.3% versus 61.5%, χ 2 [1, N = 107] = 5.78, p = 0.016), this trend was not significant. In addition, published dissertations did not have significantly larger numbers of initial participants per group ( M = 37.70, SD = 42.46) than unpublished dissertations ( M = 29.39, SD = 23.94, t [105] = 1.29, p = 0.199). Finally, there was a trend for a larger proportion of published dissertations to report significant findings than unpublished dissertations, (100.0% versus 84.6%, Fisher’s Exact [ N = 107] = 0.006), although it did not reach significance at the corrected alpha level.

Note. All analyses χ 2 (1, N = 107), except where N is indicated otherwise. F.E. = Fisher’s Exact Test.

Categories do not add to 100.0% due to rounding.

Comparison between randomized versus all other types of design.

Comparison between randomization procedures described and methods to prevent subterfuge included versus all other levels of quality of randomization.

Subcategories do not add to 100% because they are not mutually exclusive.

We examined 107 projects comprising 42 published and 65 unpublished dissertations examining psychosocial interventions for cancer patients, comparing their characteristics and methodological quality. Published versus unpublished dissertations were not more likely to examine different types of interventions, but were more likely to be supported by research funding. On several indices of methodological quality, differences were minimal. However, there was a trend for dissertations in this area to exhibit publication bias; whereas every published dissertation reported a significant finding, only a proportion of unpublished dissertations reported one. Thus, excluding unpublished dissertations from systematic reviews may ignore null-results from methodologically sound research.

It was not clear whether having research support for the study was linked to the likelihood of using a rigorous randomized design, which may lead to a more publishable study, or if having funding is linked to publication status independently, perhaps by producing an imperative to persevere in publishing a study. We found no association between having funding and using randomized designs (χ 2 [1, N = 107] = 0.36, p = 0 .55), suggesting that being awarded funding may encourage authors to pursue publication, perhaps through pressure from funding agencies that expect timely publication of projects and use this in decisions for future funding.

Limitations of this analysis include the fact that our search strategy involved only three bibliographic databases, although additional channels of study identification were pursued. Although Dissertation Abstract Online indexes dissertations conducted at most North American, UK, and many European universities, coverage of other countries is limited. Consequently, some existing dissertations likely remained unidentified.

Findings support the notion that unpublished doctoral dissertations, at least in this area of research, are not necessarily of vastly inferior quality. Because doctoral dissertations are easy to identify in bibliographic databases, are not subject to publication-review bias and the file-drawer effect due to automatic entry into the Dissertation Abstracts International database, can often be obtained via institutions’ interlibrary loan services (or purchased commercially), and have thorough reporting, we concur with other authors [ 4 , 6 ] that they merit inclusion in comprehensive literature reviews.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (R01 CA100810) to Anne Moyer. We are grateful to John Finney for helpful feedback on a prior version of this manuscript.

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