The need for establishing an overall plan for preparing the dissertation is established in this handbook, and specific suggestions are offered to doctoral candidates in all fields. Guidelines are presented on: how to choose an advisor and a dissertation committee, predissertation development activities, selection of a topic, preparation of the proposal, time schedules and budgets, how to work with the advisor, and the defense and eventual publication. Illustrated with tables and charts that highlight these steps, the book also includes a bibliography with additional sources of information. Three appendices provide information on tools and techniques for searching the data, selected references on research, and use of the computer to process research data. (LBH)