Response

by | May 3, 2011

Thank you, John, for raising some interesting questions about NO. Not for a moment am I suggesting that learners become automatons. Instead, use those critical thinking skills to help you understand those times when NO can only mean NO.

Let me give you a few other examples of when we say NO. First, some learners are going to hear NO to a proposed topic—perhaps repeatedly—until the proposed topic actually will work. That happens at every doctoral-granting institution – but each institution has very specific criteria and standards for dissertation topics. Proposed topics will not be approved until they reach the required standards. Second, no dissertator is allowed to begin his/her research until after the IRB approval is official and the final proposal conference call has been held. Anyone who begins to collect data before the IRB approval will likely be required to start the dissertation process again.

Look at the many other ways you see NO around you each day. It might come in the form of the signs along streets and roads. One-way streets have signs that say “Do not enter.” Is that a NO that you challenge or accept? Shallow hotel swimming pools have signs that say: “No Diving.” Do you try it anyway? When you pull into a gas station to top off your tank, you will see signs that say: “No Smoking.” Do you decide to light up anyway?

What is the common feature in all of these NO messages? All of them are designed to protect you and others. I understand that many of us have that visceral reaction to hearing NO to a request. But please step back, employ those critical thinking skills, and understand that in the end, that NO will save you a great deal of time and frustration.

Topics posted in: Advisors & Faculty, Attitudes & Motivation.
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One Response to "Response"

  1. John Spitzberg says:

    Dr. Davis,

    You are, of course, correct. I can readily see where someone could get into academic problems by going it alone without the university policy book close by. I suspect that we all make overt, covert, intentional or unintentional decisions about our autonomy. Thanks for replying. John Spitzberg

    May 15, 2011 at 9:39 am