Abstract Reality
How do I start?
The previous Abstract Reality articles discussed the abstract portion of the dissertation itself. With this article, we are going back to the beginning with a question I get asked quite frequently: “How do I start?”
There comes a time in every Ph.D. (and some master’s degree) student’s program when he or she has to choose a dissertation or thesis topic. Some students just “know” what they want to write about, others have a general idea, and some are so passionate about several different areas that they often feel lost. The answer I always give is to choose a topic that genuinely interests you. After all, you will be spending a great deal of time researching and writing about it.
Once you have a general idea, ask yourself what you really want to know about the topic. Do you have questions that you have not found an answer to yet? Do you want to prove to the world that a previously held assumption is not true? These are the types of questions that will help you narrow your topic into one that will result in a great dissertation or thesis. For the most part this works, but sometimes students just get stumped. If this happens, you can always visit the CCNH Web site to see what other students have chosen as a topic, dissertation categories, and even abstracts (which can certainly be used for a thesis). While you cannot write about the exact same topic, what you find just may lead to your own inspiration. You can also contact me, Janice, or Avie in the writing and research department for more help.
Happy writing!
Misty White, MA
Research and Writing Advisor
An Evaluation of the Feasibility of Practicing a Food Combining Diet within West Virginia Hospitals
This study examined the representation and feasibility of food combining practices of 19 West Virginia general hospitals. The study involved an examination of a one-week supply of the conventional dietary menu selections from each hospital. Using a measure known as “averaged daily food combining dietary intake” (ADFCDI) to provide information regarding the daily dietary reference intake (DRI), a seven-day compilation of compatible meals was selected for analysis. The results of this study concluded that in the sample hospitals, food combining during hospitalization was determined to be infeasible. Additional conclusions of significance were that nutritional neglect was widespread in the medical industry, characterized by a refusal to share menu data, a lack of printed dietary educational information on menus, and the inclusion of food selections known to contribute to malnutrition and chronic disease.
Mary Beth Falbo, Ph.D., is a recent graduate of the Ph.D. in Holistic Nutrition program of CCNH. After earning a B.S. degree in biology from West Virginia Institute of Technology and a M.S. degree in biological sciences from Marshall University (where her original research used wetlands to ameliorate acid mine drainage pollution), she has worked as a biological consultant on environmental issues and as a college biology professor. As a holistic nutrition consultant, her current efforts will be directed toward establishing more stringent goals concerning nutritional education in all public arenas.
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