Industrial/organizational psychology - management and leadership - human resources - general psychology
clinical psychology – education - public health - counseling psychology
Writing Your Psychology Dissertation, Thesis, Capstone
I can help you develop your dissertation. I consult on dissertation methodology and content, both quantitative and qualitative, across many different topics and fields. I can help you hit the ground running by working with you to develop a quick and customized outline for your dissertation or thesis that can be fully completed within one to two years. I have a great deal of research experience, which includes hundreds of research studies for private industry. So I can easily spot which research topics are practical and which to avoid.I will help you flesh out your early and sometimes fuzzy ideas into specific and practical research designs, hypotheses, analytical methods and chapter outlines for thesis and dissertation documents. My primary goal is to help you develop the content you need to write literature reviews, methodological sections, and other components of your thesis or dissertation, so that you are well-prepared for your oral defense.
Free 15-minute phone consult
Dr. Tom Davidson has been an advisor on more than a hundred research committees for students who have achieved their doctorate or master's degree. He specializes in students who are near the beginning of their thesis or dissertation work. He will help you choose a topic, select a quantitative or qualitative methodology, and develop an effective research design. Dr. Davidson has a great deal of research experience, including hundreds of research studies for private industry. He can quickly hone in on key constructs and measures, practical methodological designs and clear statistical tests for your thesis or dissertation study. And he keeps students focused on doing only what is necessary to graduate with their master's or doctorate degree as soon as possible. Dr. Davidson takes the confusion out of thesis and dissertation development, helping students save time and money by making swift progress.Dr. Davidson consults on the following topics.
Quantitative research methodologies:
Survey Methodology
Survey Development and Validation
Statistical Process Control
Productivity Measurement
Critical Incident Ratings
Sample Sizes (Power Analyses)
ANOVA
MANOVA
Multiple Regression
Correlation Analysis,
Path Analysis
Mediation and Moderation Studies
Qualitative research methodologies:
Behavioral Observations
Behavioral Interviewing
Field Research
Interviews
Focus Groups
Action Research
Research Design Development:
Developing Operational Definitions
Developing Research Questions
Developing Hypotheses
Choosing Construct and Measures
Choosing Analytical Methods
Research Content Development:
Translating General Student Research Ideas Into Specific and Practical Research Elements
Choosing Practical Topics that can be Completed within 1-2 Years
Quick and Customized Proposal Outlines
Defining Study Scope
Developing Chapter Logic and Clarity
Developing Literature Reviews
Designing Methodological Sections
Research Interests:
Behavioral Sciences
Business processes
Corporate Democracy
Decision-Making
Education
Emotional Intelligence
Empowerment
Health Care
Hiring and Selection
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
International Organizations
Job autonomy
Job Characteristics
Job Design
Job satisfaction
Leadership Development
Learning Organizations
Management
Motivation and Rewards
Organization Change
Organization Commitment
Organization Culture and Climate
Organization Trust
Performance Management
Productivity
Public Policy
Quality Improvement
Self-Efficacy
Social Science
Statistical Process Control
Strategic Planning
Systems Thinking
Teamwork and Teambuilding
Training and Development
Total Quality Management
Toxic Leaders
Training and Development
Transformational Leadership
Virtual Teams and Organizations
Workplace Bullying
Workplace Creativity and Innovation
Workplace Stress
Committee Chair
Dissertation
- Olsen, Brigit (June, 2011). Transformational Leadership Behaviors Among Future Search Leaders (Dissertation)
- Sin, Kwan-Hang (August, 2010). Social Loafing In Virtual Collaborative Decision Making: Relationship among Media Richness, Media Synchronicity, Group Performance, and Individual Effort (Dissertation)
- Abad, Kimberly (July, 2010). Antecedents of Workplace Deviance: The Influence of Disposition, Organizational Cynicism, and Equity Sensitivity (Dissertation)
- Pomraning, Donald (May, 2010). An Exploratory Study: Overall Organizational Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Emotional Intelligence Factors as Antecedents of Organizational Trust (Dissertation)
- Lomakina, Nataliya (Nov, 2008). Predicted Adjustment and its Relationship to 360-Degree Behavioral Ratings and Personality Measures in Leaders Considered for Expatriate Assignments (Dissertation)
- Nier, Scott (Dec, 2008). The Relationship Between Organizational Culture and Organizational Performance in a Large Federal Government Agency (Dissertation)
Thesis
- Minardo, Melissa (April, 2011). Gender Differences in Perceived Leadership Style and the Influence on Job Satisfaction (Thesis)
- Lawrence, Dale (March, 2011). The Impact of Team Building To Establish Early Trust, Cohesion and To Avoid Attribution Bias in Virtual Teams and Their Collaboration (Thesis)
- Sommers, Misty (October, 2009). The Big Five Personality Theory and Air National Guard Job Performance (Thesis)
- Butler, Rachelle (Nov, 2008). The Effects of Gender, Tenure, and Conforming Behavior in Job Analyses on the Accuracies of Collected Ratings (Thesis)
- Gianneschi, John (Oct, 2008). Work Values and Motivating Older Technical and Professional Workers (Thesis)
- Gass, Rachel (July, 2008). Employees’ Cognitive Style and Level of Job Satisfaction in a Matrix Management Structure (Thesis)
- Johnson, Tiffany (June, 2008). The Effects of Feedback Frequency on the Productivity of Teleworking Employees (Thesis)
- Oldaker, Jennifer (May, 2008). The Effects of Leadership Style and Flextime on Job Satisfaction (Thesis)
- McCullogh, Megan (May, 2008). “Soldier, Keep up the Good Work.” Feedback, Motivation, and Job Satisfaction Among Senior Noncommissioned Officers in a United States Army Basic Combat Training Unit (Thesis)
- Tolentino, Yanilka (Jan, 2008). Gender-Based Differences of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Employers’ Perception of Seriousness to Women’s versus Men’s Complaints (Thesis)
- Nyegaard, Scott (Dec, 2007). Creating Leaders for the Business World (Thesis)
- Hussey, Glenn (Jan, 2007). Affect Versus Job Characteristics: Does Disposition or Job Quality Determine Job Satisfaction? (Thesis)
- Ayers, Rachel (June, 2007). Effectiveness of Communities of Practice (Thesis)
- Pollard, Lawanda (April, 2007). Team-based Selection Methods (Thesis)
- Tam, Della (Nov, 2006). Relating Cultural Confounds with Employee Selection and Occupational Choice in Multicultural IT Industries (Thesis)
- Bradburn, Matthew (June, 2006). Effects of Reward Programs and Punishment Programs on Improving Employee Attendance (Thesis)
- Abad, Kimberly (April, 2006). Organizational Cynicism (Thesis)
Committee Member
- Kubatzke, Trevor (Feb, 2011). Factors Impacting the Early Exit of Community College Presidents (Dissertation)
- Rhodes, Oliver (Feb, 2007). Ethical Standards of Leadership and Their Impact on Organizational Effectiveness (Thesis)
- Washington, Christa (Jan, 2007). The Effects of Formal vs Informal Mentoring On Protégés and Career Development (Dissertation)
Education
California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego, CA.
Ph.D., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, August 1995.
M.A., Clinical Psychology, June 1987.
Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA.
B.A., Psychology and Liberal Arts, June 1984.
Professional Experience
Present
Faculty, Organizational Psychology Doctorate Program (2005-Present)
Organization behavior and leadership courses, and chair for dissertation and thesis committees.
Director, Organizational Psychology Doctorate Program (2005-2006)
University of Phoenix, Vancouver, BC
Instructor
Organization behavior, leadership, operations management. Served several terms as faculty chair for graduate business.
Director of Academic Affairs
Assistant Department Chair
Davidson Management Consulting, Vancouver, BC
Independent Consultant
Services include consulting and training in: operational design; customer service; market research; managerial skills; employee performance; effective teamwork; change management; quality improvement methods and tools; process reengineering; and selection and development.
Sample of Client Companies:
Olympic College, Bremerton Westland Insurance, Vancouver Squamish Terminals, Vancouver Conair Aviation, Ltd., Abbotsford Neptune Bulk Terminals, Vancouver Discovery Software, Vancouver Carewest Inc., Calgary Calgary Regional Health Authority, Calgary |
Para-Med Health Services, Toronto Public Health Services, Edmonton The Department of Energy, Albuquerque Highland Hospital, Rochester St. Joseph's Medical Center, Burbank St. Mary's Medical Center, Saginaw Hewlett Packard, San Diego Apple Computer Incorporated, Coopertino |
University of California (UCSD), San Diego, CA
Assistant Director of Leadership and Management Program for Engineers
Navy Personnel Research and Development Center, San Diego, CA
Senior Consultant in Total Quality Management/Leadership, Quality Support Center (1990-1992)
Researcher in Total Quality Management/Leadership, Organization Systems Department
San Diego State University Extended Studies, San Diego, CA
Instructor in Action Management Program for Entry Level Supervisors
Organization Development Network (ODN), San Diego, CA
Conference Coordinator
Professional Education and Training
Industrial Psychology |
Organizational Psychology |
|---|---|
Advanced Statistics Personnel Management and Selection Managerial Assessment Psychometric Theory Psychometric Measurement Social Psychology Research Design Individual Differences |
Work Motivation Organization Behavior Organization Diagnosis Performance and Appraisal Systems Career Development Organization Behavior Modification Organization Development Consultation |
Professional Affiliations
(current and past)
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
American Society for Quality Control
American Psychological Association
Organization Development Network
West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
American Psychological Association
British Columbia Association for Quality in Health Care
Professional Organizations
(current and past)
- Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- American Psychological Association
- West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
- British Columbia Association for Quality in Health Care
- American Society for Quality Control
- Organization Development Network
Research Interests
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Job autonomy Job satisfaction Job Characteristics Job Design Self-Efficacy Hiring and Selection Emotional Intelligence Organization Culture and Climate Organization Change Organization Commitment Organization Trust |
Virtual Teams and Organizations Teamwork and Teambuilding Workplace Stress Workplace Creativity and Innovation Corporate Democracy International Organizations Leadership Development Transformational Leadership Motivation and Rewards Systems Thinking Learning Organizations |
Quality Improvement Total Quality Management Statistical Process Control Toxic Leaders Workplace Bullying Productivity Empowerment Decision-Making Performance Management Training and Development Strategic Planning |
Articles
Chapters 2-3-1: The Best Order for Writing Your Dissertation Proposal
Kick-start Your Thesis or Dissertation with The Bare Bones Research Design Outline
FEEDBACK
"Dr. Davidson was not only helpful but crucial in my Ph.D. journey. He inspired me to identify a meaningful topic, control my topic scope, and formulate workable hypotheses. He is particularly insightful in quantifying concepts in abstract domains like leadership, and effectively drives students to operationalize variables. While completing a dissertation is a painfully long process, Dr. Davidson patiently encouraged his students to go forward each day, and always with a sense of humor. He is always available to respond to students' questions and requests, and never procrastinates. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Davidson , who has become my role model when supervising other students." - Paul K. Sin
"Dr. Davidson had a profound impact on my dissertation experience and was instrumental to my successful completion. Thank you so very much Dr. Davidson, for being a great thinker and scholar, demonstrating tremendous patience, and providing reflective and generative guidance." - Don Pomraning
"I would like to thank Dr. Davidson for his patience, constructive feedback, guidance, encouragement and most of all for his ability to treat others as scholars in our own rights." - Melissa Minardo
"Dr. Davidson encouraged me consistently and brought clarity to a very scary process. He helped me define and simplify my research ideas into a manageable project, while maintaining the meaning of the study. I am so thankful for his approach." - Brigit Olsen