An abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the entire proposal, typically ranging from 150 to 250 words. The APA manual notes the type of information that should be included in abstracts for different types of studies. In general, the abstract outlines the major headings: the research question, theoretical framework, research design, sampling method, instrumentation, and data and analysis procedures. In a final dissertation, the abstract also outlines key findings and interpretations. A reader should gain a high level understanding of the entire document from its abstract. Do not add any information in the abstract that is not discussed throughout the dissertation. Because it highlights the entire proposal, researchers often write the abstract after the remainder of the document. Writing an abstract is an important skill requiring the ability to be concise. In publications, the abstract is often the first thing potential readers review to determine whether to continue reading your work.

THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL BUS8115 AND BUS8120 5

You may provide a brief dedication on this page. The dedication should be no more than one page. You will complete the dedication in BUS8120. You may find it helpful to research examples of dedications in dissertations.

You may provide brief acknowledgements on this page. The acknowledgements should be no more than one to two pages. You will complete the acknowledgements in BUS8120. You may find it helpful to research examples of acknowledgements in dissertations.

Similar to the table of contents, list tables (including caption and page number location) on this page. Refer to the APA manual for guidance. You will complete this task in BUS8120.

Similar to the table of contents, list any figures (including caption and page number location) used in your dissertation. Refer to the APA manual for guidance. You will complete this task in BUS8120.

The table of contents outlines your study for the reader. The easiest way to create the table of contents is to use the levels of heading feature in Microsoft Word. For example, this template has already been set up using headings (in Microsoft Word editing utilities) for the major portions of the outline. Subsequently, Microsoft Word will automatically create the table of contents, which has been started below, by using the Table of Contents feature in the references tab of Word (although note, different versions of Word sometimes locate options in different places). (delete this paragraph before submitting documents to the Drop box.)

Table of Contents Abstract iii Dedication iv Acknowledgements v List of Tables vi List of Figures vii Chapter 1 – Introduction 1 Purpose of the Study 1 Statement of the Problem 1 Definition of Terms 1 Theoretical Framework 1 Research Questions and Hypotheses 1 Scope of the Study 2 Significance of the Study 2 Summary 2 Chapter 2 – Literature Review 3 Summary 3 Chapter 3 – Methodology 4 Research Design 4 Population and Sample 4 Instrumentation 4 Research Procedures 4 Data Analysis 5 Protection of Human Rights 5 Delimitations and Limitations 5 Assumptions, Risks and Biases 5 Significance of the Study 5 Summary 6 Chapter 4 – Results 7 Purpose of the Study 7 Questions and Hypotheses 7 Initial Data Examination 7 Statistical Analysis 7 Results Summary 8 Chapter 5 – Discussion 9 Recommendations 10 Summary of the Study 10 References 11 Appendix 12

Previous work should already have a strong introduction. Provide a brief summary of key results and discussion as you complete them in your chapter 4 and 5 work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

You should already have a clear purpose section from your previous work. Provide any updates based upon collection and analysis of data. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

You should already have a strong statement of the problem from your previous work. Provide any updates based upon collection and analysis of data. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Continue to add to the definition of key terms section. Clarify any terminology that may be confusing. If you are using any terms in ways that are contrary to the discipline’s body of knowledge provide a very brief justification for the alternative usage in the definitions. Provide a fuller justification in the body of your work.

Your theoretical framework should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Your questions and hypotheses should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Some delimitations and limitations where noted as part of the proposal process. Add any new, key issues. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Update the significance of the study that emerged as you collected and analyzed data. The significance of the study focuses on the implications and outcomes of the proposed study. Write this section with the focus on how the study’s results will benefit others. Discuss the implications of the study affecting practice, policy, and scholarly/future research.

Frequent inclusion of summary sections can help guide the reader through your work. As you close your introductory chapter, what are the most important takeaways of the work? How do we answer “so what?” Dissertations contain a fair amount of redundancy. Chapter one, in particular, will contain succinctly re-stated material from other sections of the dissertation. However, if you write your chapter one well, you may be able to use it as the basis for a published article in a journal. Update the summary based upon development of the full dissertation.

Your literature review should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

As part of clear writing, the judicious use of summary paragraphs is helpful. Even the best-written literature reviews and research can lose connection or flow with the reader. Periodic summary statements that clarify the key points or findings of a section can help keep the reader informed and engaged.

Your population and sample discussion should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. In addition to calculations for desired sample (you made for proposal), clarify what actually happened. For example, what was the actual sample? Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Instrumentation should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation. You may need to include sample instruments and permissions as appendices.

The research procedure should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. What actually happened? Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Protection of Human Rights discussion should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation. Include any necessary forms as appendices.

Delimitations and Limitations discussion should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Assumptions, Risks, and Biases discussion should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation.

Significance of the study should be completed as part of the proposal process. Provide any updates based upon continuing work. Begin adjusting verb tense from the future tense of the proposal to the past tense for the completed dissertation. proposal.

Frequent inclusion of summary sections can help guide the reader through your work. As you close your introductory chapter, what are the most important takeaways of the work? How do we answer “so what?” Dissertations contain a fair amount of redundancy. Chapter one, in particular, will contain succinctly re-stated material from other sections of the dissertation.

Provide a brief restatement of the study purpose and problem, including your umbrella research question.

Provide a brief restatement of research question and/or hypotheses.

The exact way you will format your results section will depend upon the nature of your study (e.g., quantitative versus qualitative). However, one of the first types of results you should report is some of the initial analysis. For example, if you have proposed to do a regression analysis, yet there are not statistically significant correlations among your variables, then there is little point actually doing regression. Accordingly, in this initial section (using levels of heading as necessary), report some of the descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, and correlation matrices. Additionally, report on sample characteristics, computed reliability coefficients for the instruments assessed on your data, and any appropriate assumptions (e.g., linearity, normality, independence of error terms, homoscedasticity). For a qualitative study, initial data analysis may include any initial observations (e.g., interviews) that were used as brief pilot studies to refine any questions or processes. This section may also include a discussion of any data cleansing (e.g., missing values, incomplete surveys) or other techniques you employed to prepare the data for analysis.

The next section of your results reports the primary analysis. For a quantitative study, you will list each hypothesis (generally providing a subheading for each) followed by the results providing answers to that hypothesis. Your report should include the type of tests conducted, relevant coefficients, equations, or models, and assessment of statistical significance. You should also include any post hoc or secondary analysis. Your discussion of statistical analysis relative to each hypothesis should include a brief summation regarding whether the research hypothesis is supported.

For qualitative research, the analysis section will likely not be statistical analysis (or at least not solely statistical analysis.) Much qualitative research is theory-building in nature. Your analysis will probably include some type of coding of narrative resulting in some type of model, key variables or insights. The analysis section will detail how the coding occurred and how the insights were formed. It will likely include summary or sample comments or observations from participants that support the existence of the variables, relationships, model, insights, or conclusions you are drawing. Similar to quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis should be organized using headings to delineate the key steps and findings, being sure to connect to the research question(s).

For both quantitative and qualitative research, organize data into tables or graphs where appropriate. Tables should be complete (i.e., self-explanatory). Tables need to have appropriate APA titles and each table must be referenced and further explained in the text of your chapter 4. You will also need to include a list of tables and figures in the front matter of your dissertation.

The results summary section provides a brief assessment of the findings, especially within the context of the study’s umbrella question, purpose or problem. Taken altogether, what do the findings suggest as an answer to the question?

Although the entire dissertation represents an opportunity for you to demonstrate your doctoral level ability to design and conduct meaningful research, the discussion chapter often represents a particular opportunity to distinguish one’s research competency. Consider the flow of the dissertation and how each chapter fits together. Chapter one represents an introduction to the study, but also contains succinct sections summarizing key information from every section of the dissertation. A well-done chapter one may be nearly ready for submission to a journal for publication. Chapter two engages the existing literature to draw out a topic and a question for your research. In other words, it moves from the broad (discipline literature) to the specific (your study). Chapter three discusses how you are going to conduct your specific research. Chapter four reports the findings of your study. Accordingly, chapter five is your opportunity to take what you’ve learned from your specific study and integrate it back into the larger body of discipline.

How do your findings point out consistencies or inconsistencies with other studies (e.g., literature review)? How do you interpret the meaning of the results? How do your findings inform, extend, or even challenge existing theories or ideas? These questions are not meant to be an outline per se, but idea starters about the types of things you should address.

Similar to previous sections of your dissertation, you should organize your discussion chapter using headings and subheadings. Be rigorous and vigorous in how you connect your findings to the literature. Chapter five is an opportunity for you to “flex your muscles” and show your mastery of the discipline in the application of your research findings. However, be sure to acknowledge any risks, limitations, biases, or weaknesses in the findings or the interpretation.

As a part of the scholarly and professional community, you need to answer the “so what” question. For example, are their recommendations for practitioners or practicing professionals that emerge from your work? What should leaders or organizations do differently? Also, provide your recommendations for future research. What should researchers consider next? Where does your study take the field? What gaps are still evident? What questions are still unanswered?

As the final segment of your study, provide a brief (1 -2 page) capstone. Synthesize the study down to its most essential parts. What did you do? Why? What did you find? Did you answer your question? Why does it matter?

Black, A., & White, B. (2016). Sample document. City, ST: Publisher.

How to write a research proposal. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wwwe.dbu.edu/uwc/documents/howtowriteaproposaltemplate.pdf

Refer to the APA manual for the proper formatting of header name for the appendix section, especially when you have more than one appendix.