Dissertation Chapter 1: Introduction |
| Introduction |
| Describe the topic of the study, why the study needs to be conducted, and the potential positive social change implications of the study |
| Preview major sections of the chapter |
| Background |
| Briefly summarize research literature related to the scope of the study topic |
| Describe a gap in knowledge in the discipline the study will address |
| End the section on why the study is needed |
| Problem Statement |
| State the research problem |
| Summarize evidence of consensus that the problem is current, relevant, and significant to the discipline |
| Frame the problem in a way that builds upon or counters previous research findings focusing primarily on research conducted in the last five years |
| Address a meaningful gap in the current research literature |
| Purpose of the study |
| Indication that this is a quantitative study. |
| The study intent (such as describe, compare, correlate, explore, and develop). The independent, dependent, and covariate variables. |
| Research question(s) |
| State the research questions. |
| State the null and alternative hypotheses that identify the independent and dependent variables being studied, the association being tested, and how the variables are being measured. |
| Theoretical Foundation |
| Identify the theory or theories and provide the origin or source. |
| State the significant theoretical propositions concisely and major hypotheses regarding a more detailed explanation in chapter 2. |
| Explain how the theory relates to the study approach and research questions. |
| Conceptual Framework |
| Identify and define the concept and phenomenon that grounds the study. |
| Concisely describe the conceptual framework (a description of the body of research that supports the need for the study) as derived from the literature with a more detailed analysis in chapter 2. |
| State the logical connections among key elements of the framework regarding a more thorough explanation in chapter 2. |
| State how the framework relates to the study approach and key research questions, and instrument development and data analysis, where appropriate. |
| Nature of the study |
| Provide a concise rationale for the selection of the design and tradition. |
| Briefly describe the key study variables (independent, dependent, and covariates). |
| Briefly summarize the methodology (from whom and how data are collected and how data will be analyzed). |
| Definitions |
| Provide concise definitions of the independent variable, dependent variable(s), and any covariates (with a more detailed analysis of coding, described in chapter 3). |
| Define terms used in the study with multiple meanings (e.g., socioeconomic status, educator, health service professional). Do not include common terms or terms that can easily be looked up in a dictionary. |
| Include citations that identify support in the professional literature for the definition or operational definition. |
| Assumptions |
| Clarify aspects of the study that are believed but cannot be demonstrated to be true. Only include assumptions critical to the meaningfulness of the study. |
| Describe why the assumption(s) was (were) necessary in the context of the study. |
| Scope and Delimitations |
| Describe specific aspects of the research problem addressed in the study and why the particular focus was chosen (issue of internal validity). |
| Define the study’s boundaries by identifying populations included and excluded and theories and conceptual frameworks most related to the area of study (this is an issue of external validity). |
| Address potential generalizability. |
| Limitations |
| Describe limitations of the study related to design and methodological weaknesses (including issues related to limitations of internal and external validity, construct validity, and confounder variables). |
| Describe any biases that could influence study outcomes and how they are addressed. |
| Describe reasonable measures to address limitations. |
| Significance |
| Identify potential contributions of the study that advance knowledge in the discipline. This is an elaboration of what the problem addresses. |
| Identify potential contributions of the study that advance practice and policy, as applicable. |
| Describe potential implications for positive social change that are consistent with and bounded by the scope of the study. |
| Identify potential contributions of the study that advance knowledge in the discipline. This is an elaboration of what the problem addresses. |
| Summary |
| Summarize the main points of the chapter. |
| Provide a transition to chapter 2. |
IntroductionAM2022-03-13T18:42:21+00:00