A PhD manuscript does not need to resemble a ‘door stop’. The traditional format — divided into introduction, literature review, methods, results and discussion — is not the only option for presenting your research. In some fields of study (and at some universities) students can opt for the three (or triple) article dissertation (TAD) format, also known as the journal article format. This involves organizing your thesis into three (or more) publishable full-length articles, and joining them with an introduction that presents the general theme of the research project, as well as summarizing the main findings in the conclusion chapter.
Should I choose the TAD, journal article format?
Students should discuss format options with their advisor and Dissertation Committee to make sure it is acceptable at their place of study, as well as being appropriate for their topic. The journal article format might be difficult to execute if you have a single focal question that cannot be easily divided into three (or more) logical manuscripts. The approach is more suitable for projects that involve multiple experiments and various data sets, or for mixed methods studies where the author wishes to separate the qualitative part from the quantitative part.
This approach might be particularly pertinent to part-time students. For example, if a PhD takes six years to complete, there is a possibility that early research becomes outdated by the time the student gets ready to graduate. However, if there is a series of papers that get submitted and critiqued as the research progresses, this drawback can be managed.
TAD format strengths
Knowledge dissemination is very important in the academic world. By organizing your work into journal publications, you are learning the important skill of communicating your findings. You also increase the possibilities of getting published and cited prior to defending your thesis. Students who chose the traditional format often do not get a chance to transform their manuscripts into articles once their PhD is completed. Another benefit of the TAD format is if for any reason you do not get to finish your PhD, you still have published work from you academic efforts.
Students who opt for the TAD format also purport that this approach enables them to split their thesis into manageable chunks and set realistic goals. Moreover, these students experience more structure as their work gets continuously monitored both formally and informally by different parties – e.g. by their advisor and journal reviewers.
TAD format weaknesses
There is a realistic possibility that the papers you submit to journals get rejected. Also, the acceptance process can often be lengthy. Nonetheless, receiving timely feedback can also be very beneficial, as it helps you improve and adjust your work sooner rather than later. You also need to consider the possibility that after the review, the framing of your papers will change, which might affect the overall alignment of your articles and your project as a whole. Some authors might struggle to write a coherent introduction that connects all the articles, especially if they become disjointed as they pass the review process.
Journals also impose word or page limitations, so it might be difficult to include all the study’s details and its full background. However, this can be overcome by including appendices to your dissertation text. One last thing to consider with the journal article format is the authorship. You usually need to be able to show that you are the sole or primary author on at least two of the published (or publishable) articles.