My Dissertation Journey

Dear Dr. Guy White,

Thank you for your instructional videos, supporting information, encouragement, and book The Dissertation Warrior–The Ultimate Guide to Being the Kind of Person Who Finishes a Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis. Your approach to explaining and breakdown an overwhelming topic and writing a dissertation provides the confidence and path to persevere throughout this journey. Following your videos on the building blocks of a dissertation, provide a framework that instills confidence to master each phase.

When I am overwhelmed with the enormity of the overall task, reading your book or viewing a video, grounds me again and provides actionable steps to get back in sync.

Thank you for taking the journey with me!

Chip

Reflections on Dissertation Work 

July 10th, 2023

Genaro “Chip” Iglesias

Moving from learning the building blocks that support a dissertation journey to executing the writing based on the literature takes time and effort. The greatest challenge to overcome is synthesizing the relevant content in the literature, given the vast amount of information. The biggest challenge has been transitioning from learning building blocks to dedicating the proper time to identifying the literature, notating, and reading for depth. Enough time has yet to be available to develop a depth of knowledge to have confidence in drafting a literature review. I want to have a firmer grasp of literature at this stage. I remind myself that it is part of the journey, but not being in more control feels like uncharted territory.

The pace slows down when more relevant content is identified, requiring efficiency yet mastered. More time is needed for researching, skimming, notating, and reading in depth before drafting dissertation sections. My pace moves forward when I decide which content supports my topic. Focusing my work on each heading and subheading will help increase my attention to the relevant literature. I need to improve my writing pace to feel better about my progress.

Dissertation Journey

Part I

The roots of positive psychology date back to the Greeks and the term Aristotle’s eudaimonia, the condition of human flourishing or living well. Moving into the 20th century, the works of William James and Carl Jung influenced the literature on optimal experiences. Their work on altered states of consciousness laid the foundation and contributed to developing “flow theory.”

Flow state was the explanation for the state of consciousness, and the foundational work on flow was introduced by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, known as the foremost authority on flow research. His initial research leading to establishing “flow” as a term was in 1975. His groundbreaking research initially focused on artists and creative individuals. He wanted to understand the characteristics, conditions, and outcomes of flow.

Csikszentmihalyi’s book published in 1990, “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience”, was pivotal in bringing the concept of flow to a broader audience. The book synthesized his research and provided a framework for understanding flow and how it could benefit everyone.  This sparked an expansion to other areas beyond the initial focus on the artist experience. Researchers evaluated other areas to examine flow states in education, sports, and other leisure activities. Over time, flow theory expanded beyond the domain of creativity and artistry. Researchers started exploring flow experiences in domains such as sports, work, education, and leisure activities, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of flow across different contexts. The advent of technology, such as video games and digital media, introduced new areas to be studied. Positive psychology expanded into sports psychology with contributions from authors like Susan Jackson examining strategies aimed at promoting flow and optimizing performance. These historical events have contributed to flow theory moving through stages. It built a comprehensive and applied understanding through each progression. Throughout this journey, the underlying question examined what made some perform optimally and whether are there antecedent factors that can be learned.

From 1975 through around 2012, other influential authors and researchers have been Jeanne Nakamura, Susan Jackson, Judith LeFevr, Sami Abuhamdeh, Antonella Delle Fave, Fausto Massimini, among others. Lesser known but also contributing to the literature are Marta Bassi, and Judith Glick-Smith. Since 2012, others have joined and contributed to the flow state community, like Kotler (2022), Alameda et al. (2022), Melnikoff et al. (2022), Pels et al., 2018, Djalovski et al., (2021); Goldstein et al., (2019), and to facilitate team flow Shehata et al., (2021).

The research on flow states has more recently focused on the underlying neurophysiology. It has been demonstrated that flow is associated with “specific alterations in brain activity, including changes in neural oscillation, neuro-modulatory processes, dynamic activations of specific brain regions, as well as alterations in large-scale brain connectivity (Huskey et al., 2021, 2018; Alameda et al., 2022).”

Intertwining flow with a focus on decision-making and achieving optimal experiences, others have contributed to the literature that touches on positive psychology. Some influential authors and researchers in this space have been Daniel Kahneman, Gary Klein, Marty Seligman, Daniel Goleman, Malcolm Gladwell, and George Kaempf.

Part II

            The recommendations for future research from other researchers have provided guidance and the logic to examine how flow explains decision-making in first responder high-pressure environments and how the findings can contribute to the literature on optimizing athletic performance. This is still evolving.

Glick-Smith (2011), recommended that future research could “develop a model to help people maximize the number of flow experiences.” Within the fire service profession, she also indicated that there is a connection between flow and decision-making, but that additional work was needed to identify how one can “enter a flow state” and improve decision-making and optimize experiences. Additionally, Glick-Smith also wanted to understand how the work of H.L. Thompson (2010) focusing on stress can help understand how to trigger flow states.

            Csikszentmihalyi (1993) identified a correlation between the frequency of flow experiences and one’s self-esteem. How does this impact critical decisions if self-esteem is low?

Steven Kotler et al. (2022) focused on the neurobiology of flow and stated we needed to learn more about better understanding the “neural basis of flow, then, it is incumbent on flow researchers to resolve these theoretical, conceptual, and mechanistic ambiguities.”

Closely aligned with decision-making in flow states is the work of Gary Klein, which is focused on the power of intuition as a tangible skill that is developed and a product of the experience we develop over time. Klein (2003), in The Power of Intuition, posits that intuition is “based on accumulated and complied experiences” and that we must continue to study its benefits since those that do not trust intuition are less “effective decision makers.” Intuition has ties to flow states in that it leans on prior experiences to perform optimally.

In Flowing with Optimal Performances: Athletic Peak Performance Reimagined Through First Responder Critical Incident Size-up and Situational Awareness, I will endeavor to bring the “lived experiences” of first responder decision-making in high-pressure situations to influence athletic peak performance. This qualitative study examines the decision-making process of first responders in critical incidents and describes optimal performance in high-pressure situations through an interpretive phenomenological analysis. It will allow an understanding of the participant’s subjective lived experiences on their own terms and facilitate defining such experiences and give meaning to their phenomenon.

Bringing flow states and intuitive decision-making research by researchers such as Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Susan Jackson, Judith L. Glick-Smith, Daniel Kahneman, and Gary Klein will give meaning to “being in the zone” and performing optimally. They and the voices of first responders and competitive athletes will help me contribute to the literature by providing a framework that can be a training model. I link my research questions to the research purpose by inquiring- What factors contribute to sound decision-making in high-pressure public safety settings? How can being in a “flow state” facilitate decision-making? How does flow-based leadership help with developing optimal experiences? I am interested in these questions because “flow” states have been suggested to lead to happiness, higher levels of performance, and optimal experiences and may explain why some in high-pressure situations excel, and others do not.

Flowing with Optimal Performances: Athletic Peak Performance Reimagined Through First Responder Critical Incident Size-up and Situational Awareness

In developing an approach to this topic and evaluating from a theoretical or conceptual framework, I am leaning towards a conceptual framework which includes one or more formal theories (in part or whole). A state of “flow” is the anchor of the topic but since one theory may not full explain optimal decision-making, I am drawing on “intuition” research, as well, to explain optimal performance. I don’t believe the theories could be drawn out although a decision-making model may be an outcome that could be depicted visually. The explanation of optimal performance in high-pressure situations by being in “flow” and understanding how to spark the elements that assist one to get in flow could be also explained by “intuition” decision-making and therefore being a subdomain.

These theories are applicable today and are very current in their findings and research. Flow states and “intuition” theories will help answer the question as to why some perform optimally in public safety high-pressure critical incidents and if and how its elements can assist competitive athletes to replicate such states and outcomes.

Flowing with Optimal Performances: Athletic Peak Performance Reimagined Through First Responder Critical Incident Size-up and Situational Awareness

The purpose of this study is to evaluate first responder critical incident decision-making and determine if flow states explain the successful state of mind of decision-makers. This research would reimagine how athletes can perform optimally using a similar framework give their need for peak performance. Flow state, also known as being “in the zone,” refers to a state of optimal performance and engagement. “It is characterized by a complete immersion and focus on the task at hand, a sense of control, and a loss of self-consciousness (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993).” This comes from the field of positive psychology. “People who report a high frequency of flow experiences are more satisfied with life in general” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993).” Flow states have been studied in various sectors, but the research focuses on the underlying factors of being in “flow’ specifically in first responder environments and leveraging the findings to enhance flow states in athletes. Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow Theory serves as the foundational framework for understanding flow states. “According to this theory, flow is achieved when the perceived challenge level of the task matches the individual’s skill level, leading to a state of deep concentration and enjoyment” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993).

Csikszentmihalyi suggests that “the flow states are more likely to appear when the level of challenge presented by their activities aligns with their acquired skills and expertise.” The tasks of both firefighters and athletes involve high-pressure situations, require intense physical demands. Also, and there is a need for rapid decision making given the pace of their activity. These conditions require a laser-focus that can lead to flow states and optimal performance. The repetitive conditions faced develop a muscle memory influencing flow states. Therefore, training and experience contribute towards achieving flow states. During such episodes everything feels like it is coming together as it should (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993; Seligman, 2002).

This study examines the intersection of the theories of “flow, creative suspension, and gentle action’ by focusing on the flow experiences of firefighters and antecedents to flow (Glick-Smith, 2011). Understanding and optimizing these elements can contribute to flowing, leading to enhanced performance. Using a first responder framework of “size-up”, which is a process of gathering large amounts of information, quickly, to determine the appropriate tactics and strategy based on risk mitigation, will “reimagine” how to flow in athletic performances. Situational awareness is also developed through first responder training and experience and involves   perceiving, then processing and predicting an outcome that leads to actionable tasks. This research adds to the body of knowledge on how a person can enhance their decision-making ability to make appropriate decisions within an optimal flow state. We also draw on the literature of decision-making such as Klein who focuses on intuitive decision-making (Klein, 1999, 2003, 2009).

The research sets out to ascertain conditions for flow in high-pressure first responder critical incidents and decision-making through size-up and situational awareness to reimagine how competitive athletes can optimize performance. Jackson studied the relationship of “flow to peak performance and peak experience.” “There was support from both quantitative and qualitative analyses for the idea that these experiences more often occur together than independently for elite athletes (Jackson, 1992).”

References

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1993). The evolving self: A psychology for the third millennium. New York, NY: Harper Perennial.

Glick-Smith, J. L. (2012). The path of the razor’s edge: An examination of the flow experiences of firefighters. ProQuest: UMI 3481816.

JACKSON, SUSAN A., Ph. D., Elite Athletes in Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Sport Experience. (1992).

Klein, G. (1999). Sources of power: How people make decisions. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Klein, G. (2009). Streetlights and shadows: Searching for the keys to adaptive decision making. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 118

Klein, G. (2003). The power of intuition: How to use your gut feelings to make better decisions at work. New York, NY: Currency Books.

Seligman, M. E. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: Free Press.

In narrowing a dissertation topic and “pruning” as author Dan Butin, The Education Dissertation suggests, we strive to, in Butin’s words, “master a body of knowledge about a very little slice of an immensely huge pie.” This exercise helped shape a vague idea of “flow states” that explains optimal performances. and Narrowing the topic, helping explain why some succeed in high-pressure decision-making in public safety, military and athletics. More “pruning” narrows the topic to ultimately how it can be a framework for a defined demographic such as those in city management. In doing so, I searched for a passion topic that links my practitioner experience with theory. The scaffolded pyramid helped move from a dissertation “blob” to a “path” to a dissertation topic.