This qualitative study explored personal and program experiences that affect dissertation completion and non-completion to provide insights that might help students and faculty in their decision-making and advising. Interviews were conducted with 13 graduates and 9 "all-but-dissertation" (ABD) students regarding the traits they felt led to persistence or lack of persistence in their progress toward the doctoral degree. A structured interview form based on published studies of dissertation completion/non-completion was used. Participants felt that there was more structure and direction associated with courses than with the independent activity required to complete a dissertation. They described the need for self-motivation and self-direction as important attributes for successful completion of their degrees. Students recommended course work in dissertation proposal writing, support groups of students working on their dissertations, careful choice of advisors, persistence, good communication with their committee, and well managed allocation of time. Interview questions and responses are appended. (Contains 17 references.)(JLS)