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Matt DeMonbrun, PhD
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Matt DeMonbrun, PhD
Home
Academic Work
Consulting
Doctoral Services
Applied Research
Institutional Consulting
Blogs
Contact
Get In Touch
Home
Academic Work
Consulting
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Doctoral Services
Applied Research
Institutional Consulting
Blogs
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Get In Touch
How to Justify Your Sample Size in a Dissertation Proposal
Research Design & Methods, Dissertation & Research Design Matt DeMonbrun 2/27/26 Research Design & Methods, Dissertation & Research Design Matt DeMonbrun 2/27/26

How to Justify Your Sample Size in a Dissertation Proposal

Sample size questions often create anxiety during dissertation proposals. This post explains how to justify your sample using power analysis, saturation, and feasibility reasoning in ways committees recognize as defensible.

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How to Respond to Methodological Critique from Your Committee
Research Design & Methods, Dissertation & Research Design Matt DeMonbrun 2/21/26 Research Design & Methods, Dissertation & Research Design Matt DeMonbrun 2/21/26

How to Respond to Methodological Critique from Your Committee

Methodological critique can feel overwhelming, but it is usually a request for clarification, alignment, or stronger justification. This post explains what committees are actually evaluating and how to respond in ways that strengthen your proposal.

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Choosing the Right Statistical Software 
Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 2/6/26 Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 2/6/26

Choosing the Right Statistical Software 

Choosing statistical software is a strategic research decision, not a technical preference. This post explains how to select between Stata, R, Python, SPSS, and more based on your research design, timeline, and committee expectations.

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What Makes Research Methodologically Defensible?
Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/29/25 Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/29/25

What Makes Research Methodologically Defensible?

Research is rarely evaluated on whether it follows a single correct path. Instead, it is judged on whether methodological decisions are coherent, justified, and appropriate for the research context. This post explains what makes research methodologically defensible across review settings.

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When Reviewers Disagree: Navigating Conflicting Research Feedback
Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/22/25 Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/22/25

When Reviewers Disagree: Navigating Conflicting Research Feedback

Conflicting feedback from reviewers is common across research contexts. This post explains why disagreement occurs, how to distinguish preferences from substantive concerns, and how to respond strategically without redesigning the study.

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Responding to Methodological Critique Without Redesigning the Study
Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/15/25 Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/15/25

Responding to Methodological Critique Without Redesigning the Study

Methodological critique often feels like a call to start over. In practice, most feedback can be addressed through clearer justification, alignment, and explanation rather than redesigning the study. This post explains how to respond strategically.

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Ethical Research Support: Where Guidance Ends and Authorship Begins
Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/12/25 Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/12/25

Ethical Research Support: Where Guidance Ends and Authorship Begins

As researchers seek methodological and analytic support, ethical questions about authorship and responsibility often arise. This post explains where appropriate research guidance ends and where authorship and accountability begin.

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Power, Sample Size, and Feasibility in Real-World Research
Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/8/25 Research Design & Methods Matt DeMonbrun 12/8/25

Power, Sample Size, and Feasibility in Real-World Research

Power and sample size decisions in real-world research are shaped by feasibility, access, and constraints. This post explains how evaluators assess these decisions and how transparency and alignment support defensible research design.

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Matt DeMonbrun, PhD
Independent Research and Consulting Services

robert.demonbrun@gmail.com