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Structural Guidelines

These guidelines for Traditional Proposals and Dissertations Ed.D. have been prepared to be helpful to students and faculty during the development of the dissertation/proposal and not to provide rules and regulations that must be adhered to inflexibly. Variations from convention can be justified if the variation strengthens the proposal/dissertation and makes the argument more convincing.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Quantitative Research
- Structure for Proposal in Quantitative Methodology
- Structure for Dissertation in Quantitative Methodology
Qualitative Research
- Structure for Proposal in Qualitative Methodology
- Structure for Dissertation in Qualitative Methodology
- Mixed Methods
- Structure of Proposal and Dissertation in Mixed Methods
Q Methodology
Structure for Proposal in Q Methodology
- Structure for Dissertation in Q Methodology
Philosophical Analysis Methodology
Structure for Proposal in Philosophical Analysis Methodology
- Structure for Dissertation in Philosophical Analysis Methodology
Descriptions of the Proposal/Dissertation Components
Expression, Style, and Presentation

Introduction

These guidelines have been prepared to be helpful to students and faculty during the development of the dissertation/proposal and not to provide rules and regulations that must be adhered to inflexibly. Variations from convention can be justified if the variation strengthens the proposal/dissertation and makes the argument more convincing. 

A dissertation proposal is fundamentally an argument supporting the proposed research. Every component of the proposal should be developed to establish that the proposed research is of value, soundly designed, and within the capability of the researcher to complete (Marshall & Rossman, 1999). The proposal serves at least three functions: it communicates the student’s research plans; it serves as a plan for the research itself; and it is a contract between the student and the faculty who serve as members of the student’s dissertation committee (see Locke, Spirduso, & Silverman, 2000). The following guidelines to the development of the dissertation proposal have been prepared to assist doctoral students at the University of West Florida and the faculty who will be advising them during the dissertation process.

Dissertation proposals and dissertations at the University of West Florida will follow the style guidelines of the American Psychological Association as outlined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition (2010). A number of books are available that describe development of the dissertation proposal and the dissertation itself. These references are particularly recommended for use by students and faculty at UWF:

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th   ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Glatthorn, A. A. (1998). Writing the winning dissertation: A step-by-step guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Goes, J. & Simon, M. (2014). The importance of alignment in dissertation development. Retrieved from http://www.dissertationrecipes.com/the-importance-of-alignment-in-dissertation-development/

Jones, R. D. (2014). Dissertation writing: The importance of alignment. Retrieved http://refractivethinker.com/articles/dissertation-writing-the-importance-of-alignment/

Leery, P. D., & Ormond, J. E. (2005). Practical research: Planning and design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.

Locke, L. F., Spirduso, W. W., & Silverman, S. J. (2013). Proposals that work: A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Maher, F. A., & Tetreault, M. K. T. (2001). The feminist classroom: Dynamics of gender, race, and privilege (Expanded ed.). New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (1999). Designing qualitative research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Roberts, C. M. (2010). The dissertation journey. A practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Rudestam, K. E., & Newton, R. R. (1992). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative methods emphasize objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational techniques. Quantitative research focuses on gathering numerical data and generalizing it across groups of people or to explain a particular phenomenon.

Babbie, E. R. (2010). The Practice of Social Research. 12th ed. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Cengage.

Muijs, D. (2010).  Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. 2nd edition.
London: SAGE Publications.

Your goal in conducting quantitative research study is to determine the relationship between one thing [an independent variable] and another [a dependent or outcome variable] within a population. Quantitative research designs are either descriptive [subjects usually measured once] or experimental [subjects measured before and after a treatment]. A descriptive study establishes only associations between variables; an experimental study establishes causality.

Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic, and an objective stance. Quantitative research focuses on numeric and unchanging data and detailed, convergent reasoning rather than divergent reasoning [i.e., the generation of a variety of ideas about a research problem in a spontaneous, free-flowing manner].

Main characteristics are:

  • Data are usually gathered using structured research instruments.
  • The results are based on larger sample sizes that are representative of the population.
  • The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given its high reliability.
  • Researcher has a clearly defined research question to which objective answers are sought.
  • All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data are collected.
  • Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged in tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual forms.
  • Project can be used to generalize concepts more widely, predict future results, or investigate causal relationships.
  • Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or computer software, to collect numerical data.

The overarching aim of a quantitative research study is to classify features, count them, and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed.

Structure for Proposal in Quantitative Methodology

Bearing in mind that there is no one format for a dissertation proposal, the Director for the Ed. D. program at UWF after the review of over 30 suggested outlines from sister universities is submitting the following formats for the different types of dissertations undertaken by our students and encouraging other specializations that have unique outlines to share their formats for consideration. For the purposes of the Ed. D. program at UWF, a proposal shall essentially be the first three chapters of the dissertation with chapters one and three written in future tense.

In addition to these structural guidelines an interactive word document template is proposed. This template incorporates all the writing style guidelines and specifications in the document provided by the UWF Graduate School (see https://secure.uwf.edu/media/university-of-west-florida/graduate/thesisdissertation-/finalformatchecklistfordissertations.pdf

Title
Copyright Page
Introductory section
     Title page
     Detailed table of contents
     List of tables
     List of figures

Chapter One-Introduction
     Background and contextualization of the issue
     Problem statement
     Purpose statement
     Significance of the research
     Assumptions of the study (if applicable)
     Hypotheses and/or research questions
     Definition of measures/variables
     Overview of theoretical framework and methodology
     Delimitations and limitations of the study
     Organization of the study
     Definition of terms
     Chapter summary
 
Chapter Two-Review of the Literature
     Introduction
     Theoretical framework(s) underlying the research purpose
     Analyses and syntheses of relevant empirical studies pertaining to the topic. Using studies directly and tangentially related to the topic with appropriate delineated subheadings.
     Conceptual framework (if applicable)
     Chapter summary

Chapter Three- Procedures and Methods

Research design-Type of research and specific subtype
Site selection- Context and access
Description of the Population
Description of the sample (size and power)
Sampling method(s)
Ethical issues/Permissions- informed consent, and UWF Institutional Review Board approval
Description of the Research protocols/Instrumentation

  • Reliability (as found applicable to the study type)
    • Rationale equivalent reliability
    • Equivalent-forms reliability
    • Scorer/rater reliability
    • Split-half reliability
    • Test-retest reliability
    • Cronbach Alpha
  • Validity(as found applicable to the study type)
    • Face validity
    • Content validity
    • Construct validity
    • Criterion validity

Data Sources
Pilot testing procedures, (if applicable)

  • Report on pilot testing
    • Design
    • Sampling
    • Data collection procedures
    • Findings
    • Lessons learned and changes adopted for main study

Data collection procedures:

  • Prior to data collection
  • During data collection
  • After data collection

Researcher positionality

Research validity

  • Threats to internal validity (as found applicable to the study type)
    • Differential selection of subjects
    • Instrumentation
    • Statistical regression
    • Selection-maturation interaction
    • History
    • Mortality
    • Maturation of subjects
    • Testing, etc.
  • Threats to design validity (as found applicable to the study type)
    • Selection-treatment interaction
    • Reactive arrangements
    • Pretest-treatment interaction
    • Specificity of variables
    • Experimental effects
    • Multiple-treatment interference

Ethical issues- informed consent, and UWF Institutional Review Board approval
Treatment/cleaning and sorting of the data

Data analysis techniques

  • Statistical model
  •  Analysis procedures
  • Critical assumptions
  • Justification of the model
  • Chapter summary

Conclusions
References
Appendices

The following components should be appended to the proposal:

  • Completed “Request for Review of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human and Animal Subjects”
  • Copy of informed consent form, if required
  • Copies of any tests, questionnaires, and other instruments to be used in the research
  • Copies of requests for access and letters of introduction, as appropriate
  • Complete bibliography or reading list, if it is agreed upon by the student and the major professor that this should be included in the proposal

Each of the appendices should be referenced within the text of the proposal and clearly labeled following the guidelines of the APA publication manual (e.g. “Appendix A”).