This final assignment draws on each of the six course learning outcomes
and the course concepts. In this final week, you will compile a
comprehensive research prospectus by applying the information you
have learned throughout this course, synthesizing the foundational
research elements you have developed, and integrating suggestions for
improvement based on feedback you have received. This culminating
project must demonstrate your comprehension and application of
coursework and current research in relation to your research interests.
Now is an opportunity to think more deeply about the process of
developing a viable theoretically-based study based on a topic of interest
and significance. With a researchable problem in mind and with a clear
idea of what qualitative or quantitative research involves, you will be able
to think about carrying your ideas further and consolidating these ideas
in terms of developing a dissertation proposal.
Your prospectus will serve as the preliminary research focus for your
dissertation courses. While this is not intended to be a dissertation
proposal, development of your prospectus will provide practice with
applying research and academic writing skills before completing actual
dissertation work. All the work that you completed in this course will be
very useful in terms of developing your dissertation research proposal.
This is the goal!
This week draws on all that you have learned so far in this course and
offers you an opportunity to showcase your writing skills and
organization of thought and logic, skills that will help you excel in the
dissertation sequence. To complete this final assignment successfully,
you will need to incorporate all of the feedback you have received in
previous weeks of this course and integrate the suggested
improvements.
Refer to the resources provided throughout this course as well as any
new materials of your choice in the form of books and peer-reviewed
literature. Now would also be a good time to search the NCU Library
LibGuides and databases and seek some additional literature. In fact,
you may have begun to do this already since you were reminded earlier
in this course that keeping your literature current is so very important!
Since this final assignment is a valuable opportunity to prepare for the
dissertation courses, you should be very thoughtful as you prepare this
work. Following are some important points to consider as guidelines in
preparing your Prospectus:
Include the following components in this order:
1. Title
2. Cover Page including Table of Contents
3. Introduction (includes background/context) – 2 to 4 pages in
length.
4. Research Problem (include problem statement) – Do not exceed
300 words.
5. Research Purpose – Content should be presented within one
single paragraph and not exceed one page.
6. Research Questions – Present research questions that are
directly answerable, specific, measurable, and/or testable within
the given timeframe and location identified in the problem and
purpose statements. Hypotheses are only listed in quantitative
studies.
7. Methodology and Research Design – Be sure to clearly explain
and justify all choices made.
8. Theoretical Framework – Include your rationale for selecting this
framework and justify your choice by indicating (a) how the
framework is suited to the study; and (b) the ways in which this
framework can be used to potentially bring about new and
significant knowledge and insights based on the study’s findings.
Remember, the objective of Ph.D. research is to be theoretically
significant in terms of contributing to the body of knowledge in your
field or discipline.
9. References – List these in accordance with APA 7 regulations.
10. Optional Appendix – While not required, here you may choose
to include any relevant documents or resources related to your
theoretical framework and/or a diagrammatic form of your
theoretical framework that you may have created.
