Need a 3-4 page answer for the attached 1 question. All the details needed are in the document.
*** Refer to the Attached the dissertation templates
APA format, intext citations and references are must.
Mock Dissertation Chapter One Introduction
Overview: As you observed in the LIVE session, there is a connection between chapter three and chapter one. Therefore, as an extension of our week in the mock chapter three from last week, we will write a mock chapter one. For the sake of preparation, we will be using the required headings from the University of the Cumberlands Doctoral Research Handbook. Like we discuss in class, each university has unique parameters for what they expect in chapter one, so you may see papers from other universities that look slightly different. The importance here is to focus on the content, not necessarily the organization. This assignment will help determine your readiness to write a full-length chapter one.
Directions:
1. Review the rubric to make sure that you understand what is expected of you in this assignment.
a. DSRT 837 Rubric Adapted from Doctoral Research Handbook.docx
2. Using the appropriate dissertation template, develop a 3-4 page (more is fine) mock chapter one that includes all sections of the respective methodology selected.
a. You will NOT write a theoretical framework in your mock chapter one as this will be completed in a later week.
3. Turn in your mock chapter one to the submission box.
Refer to the Attached the dissertation templates
Week1 Research Question:
Using Data Science Techniques To Enhance Data Security in SMBs
Data science is being embedded into cyber security and data security. It is being used to identify the patterns of past attacks and predict the potential risks within the framework of the system. Machine learning is highly used in analyzing large data sets to find the patterns that spot an attack.
Due to the high licensing cost and contracts, many small and medium-scale businesses use open-source tools and applications. This tends to put these organizations in harm’s way. Due to the low volume of data or fewer users in the organization, the management will choose open-source software tools, which sometimes have fewer security protocols and high exposure to data breaches and security threats.
Research Questions:
· What drives SMBs to choose open-source technologies?
· How safe are these open-source data science technologies?
· What measures can be taken to aid SMBs in using open-source data science tools to protect their data better?
I work with a small insurance firm where various open-source applications are used daily. I want to leverage my experience and access to this situation and try finding answers to the above along with my research. I plan to find the reasons behind the management’s decisions and what factors drive technical teams to choose particular open-source technologies. I will research more on their pitfalls and successful implementations.
DSRT 837 Rubric (Adapted from Doctoral Research Handbook)
|
Criterion |
4 (Expert) |
3 (Proficient) |
2 (Fair) |
1 (Poor) |
|
I. Critical and reflective thinking capable of facilitating institutional, informational technology, or business related problem-solving or school/ college improvement |
Critically analyzed the topic. Discussion of the topic was extensive and anchored in fact and reason. Information about significant aspects of the topic were analyzed from the perspective of key related concepts. Meaning of the analysis was summarized. |
Critically analyzed the topic. Discussion of the topic was anchored in fact and reason. Information about significant aspects of the topic were analyzed from the perspective of key related concepts. Either the analysis or summary lacked some level of detail. |
Somewhat critically analyzed the topic. Discussion of the topic was minimally anchored in fact and reason. Information about significant aspects of the topic were somewhat analyzed from the perspective of key related concepts. Analysis and summary included but lacks a significant level of analysis and discussion. |
Minimally discussed the topic without supporting facts and reasons. Poor organization of the information and limited level of detail. |
|
II. Consideration for the impact of leadership, information technology, or business on institutional constituents. |
Demonstrates an extensive understanding of the topic’s relationship to leadership, information technology, or business. |
Demonstrates a good understanding of the topic’s relationship to leadership, information technology, or business. |
Demonstrates a fair understanding of the topic’s relationship to leadership, information technology, or business. |
Demonstrates a minimal understanding of the topic’s relationship to leadership, information technology, or business. |
|
III. Effective analytical and communication skills |
Demonstrates a professional level of skills associated with formatting, grammar, spelling, syntax, and use of numbers. |
Demonstrates acceptable skills associated with formatting, grammar, spelling, syntax, and use of numbers. |
Needs minor improvement in skills associated with formatting, grammar, spelling, syntax, and use of numbers. |
Needs significant improvement in skills associated formatting, grammar, spelling, syntax, and use of numbers. |
|
IV. Knowledge of genres, paradigms, theories, literature or trends in business, criminal justice, education, English, health sciences, history, information technology, math, nursing, psychology, religion, or student personnel services. |
Subject is identified, realistic, and grounded in a recognized genre, paradigm, theory, literature, or trend. |
Subject is identified and is realistic, but it lacks grounding in a recognized genre, paradigm, theory, literature, or trend. |
Subject is identified but is not realistic or grounded in a recognized genre, paradigm, theory, literature, or trend. |
Subject area is not established. |
|
V. Required Components of the assignment as listed in the assignment directions. |
All required parts of the assignment as listed in the assignment directions are included. |
Minor information is missing from the required components of the assignment as listed in the assignment directions. |
Significant information is missing from the required components of the assignment as listed in the assignment directions. |
The assignment lacks the detail needed to meet the requirements for the components of the assignment as listed in the assignment directions. |
1.
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7th Edition APA Changes and UC Best Practice
Discrepancy APA Guidance UC Best Practice Keywords in Abstract 2.10: Used for indexing in
databases and help readers find work during a search.
No keywords are to be included in the abstract for consistency.
Page Numbers for Paraphrases 8.23: You may include a page number in addition to the author and year for a paraphrase when it would help readers locate the relevant passage within a long or complex work (e.g., a book).
Do not include page numbers unless a direct quote is used. This will make it easier to read, and page numbers will indicate a direct quote.
Dates in in-text Citations 8.16: Year can be omitted from citation only when multiple narrative citations to a work appear within a single paragraph.
Adhere to APA guidelines.
Hyperlinks in References 9.35: Include DOIs and URLs as hyperlinks. Not necessary to include “Retrieved” or “Accessed” from. May be blue, underlined text or plain text not underlined.
Include DOIs and URLs as hyperlinks. Not necessary to include “Retrieved” or “Accessed from”. Use black font with no underline to be consistent with other text.
Headings
2.21: Double-space headings. Not necessary to add blank lines before or after headings, even if heading falls at the end of a page.
Headings should appear as they are in the UC dissertation templates.
Spacing Within Document 2.21: Double-space title page, abstract, text, headings, block quotations, reference list, between paragraphs, table and figure notes, and appendices. Add additional double space after title on title page.
Adhere to APA guidelines.
Publisher Location in References
9.29: Do not include publisher location in the reference.
Adhere to APA guidelines.
Multiple Authors in References 9.8: Provide surnames and initials for up to and including 20 authors with “&” before final author. For 21 or more authors, include the first 19 authors’ names with … before 19th author.
Adhere to APA guidelines.
Color in Figures 7.26: Avoid use of color except when it is necessary for understanding the material. If
All figures should be in grayscale.
2 V 5.1123
color is used, ensure figure can be understood when printed in grayscale.
Pronouns 5.5: If identified pronoun is not known or the gender of a generic or hypothetical person is irrelevant within the context, use “they”, “them”,” their”, etc. 4.19: Use “who” when referring to human beings. Use “that” or “which” when referring to nonhuman animals and inanimate objects.
Adhere to APA guidelines.
Numbering of Tables 7.10: Number tables in text using Arabic numerals, Table 1, Table 2, etc. 2.14: Number tables in the appendix. Give each one a number preceded by the letter of the appendix in which it appears (e.g., Table A1 for the first table in Appendix A, Table A2 for the second table in Appendix A.) If an appendix consists of one table or figure only, the table is referred to as Appendix X. (e.g., Appendix B rather than Table B1).
Adhere to APA guidelines. Refer to examples in the dissertation template.
Placement of Tables and Figures
7.6: Embed within text or place on separate pages after the reference list. 2:14: Place in Appendix.
Tables showing statistical significance should be included in Chapter Four, if they add to the presentation of the results. All other tables should be placed in an appendix.
Paragraph Length 4.6: There is no minimum or maximum paragraph length in APA Style.
Include at least three complete sentences in each paragraph. Sentences should develop the idea, provide support and evidence, and transition to the next paragraph.
Stats Reporting Statistics reporting should include assumptions. Examples are provided in the Quantitative Dissertation Template.
,
ABBREVIATED TITLE HERE 1
ABBREVIATED TITLE HERE 32
For the header, Type: your abbreviated title in all capital letters. (No more than 50 characters, including spaces). The page number is also in the header, flush right starting with 1.
Be sure your font in the header is size 12 Times New Roman Font.
The entire document should be double spaced with Times 12 Font.
Your Approved Dissertation Title Here in Upper and Lowercase Letters
First and Last Name
Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
[insert degree]
University of the Cumberlands
Month and Year of Graduation
Type your dissertation approved title on line 5.
Month and Year only should be typed on line 8.
No comma is used between the two.
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
Type University of the Cumberlands on line 7.
Degrees:
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Philosophy Information Technology
Doctor of Philosophy Business
Doctor of Philosophy Leadership
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
Approval for Recommendation
This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the faculty and administration of the University of the Cumberlands.
Include this page as you submit the various chapters in each course.
You will not have the actual names of committee members two and three until you select your committee in DSRT 930.
Include a copy of the signed form in the final dissertation.
Dissertation Chair:
__________________________
First Name Last Name, PhD, EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Dissertation Evaluators:
Two double spaces should be included after this heading.
__________________________
First Name Last Name, PhD, EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
__________________________
First Name Last Name, PhD, EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments is where you thank those who have helped you achieve this goal. There are many to whom a debt of gratitude is owed for their assistance in conducting this research…. (It is appropriate to thank key faculty, friends, and family members, as well as ministers and God. It is advisable to limit the comments to one page)
Abstract
The abstract should not include keywords.
The word “Abstract” should be centered and typed in 12-point Times New Roman.
The abstract begins with a restatement of the study purpose sentence from Chapter One. The abstract is one paragraph without indentation that contains a comprehensive summary of the paper's contents. The abstract should be no longer than 250 words and include one or two sentences covering the critical areas of the literature review, problem, research questions, methods used, study results, and implications of the research. It is helpful to think of writing the abstract in six parts, although it is one paragraph. The six parts of a quality abstract should include a discussion on the methodology, background, purpose, a description of the participants, the results, and any implications of the study. For example, identify whether you used a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed design. Also, include the research design stated in Chapter Three's research design section. For example, “This quantitative data analytics study….” The background portion should concisely and precisely describe your research background in Chapter One. When providing details about the purpose of the study, begin by identifying the problem. For example, it would be best to begin by stating the question you sought to investigate and your hypothesis in many cases. Then describe the participants by stating how many participants took part and how they were selected. For example: "In this study, 215 undergraduate student participants were randomly assigned to (the experimental condition) or (the control condition)." For the results, this portion of the abstract is essentially a brief preview of the results of your paper. Although APA does allow statistical results in the abstract now, for brevity, do not include actual statistics from your analysis in Chapter Four, only the narrative. Finally, provide any conclusions or implications of the study. For example, what might your results indicate, and what directions does it point to for future research?
Table of Contents
Background and Problem Statement 10
Significance of the Project 11
Main Heading (Level 2 heading) 18
Subheading (Level 3 Heading) 18
Sampling Procedures and Data Collection Sources 20
Participants and Research Setting 26
Analyses of Research Questions 26
Summary, Discussion, and Implications 28
Practical Assessment of Project Analysis 28
Implications for Future Study 30
List of Tables
Table 1: Name of the Table…………………………………………………………………1
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if tables and figures are necessary. Tables and figures should not be used to increase page count. Tables must be APA formatted, and not copied from Excel, or other non-APA sources. Only Tables within the chapters should be included here. Tables in the Appendix are not listed here. See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
7.10 Table Numbers
Number all tables that are part of the main text (i.e., not part of an appendix or supplemental materials) using Arabic numerals—for example, Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3. Assign the numbers in the order in which each table is first mentioned in the text, regardless of whether a more detailed discussion of the table occurs elsewhere in the paper. Write the word “Table” and the number in bold and flush left (i.e., not indented or centered). Tables that appear in appendices follow a different numbering scheme (see Section 2.14).
Figure 1: Name of the Figure …………………………………………………………………1
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if tables and figures are necessary. Tables and figures should not be used to increase page count. Only Figures within the chapters should be included here. Figures in the Appendix are not listed here. See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
Figures should be in grayscale only.
Chapter One
· Introduction is the title of the Chapter and no additional information is needed under Introduction.
· Keep your tenses the same. Your literature review already occurred, so it should be past tense.
· Do not use I, we, or our.
· Use statements such as “the current research will…” or “the research seeks…” etc. (Avoid “the researcher”)
· Cite sources for data and other information used. Some people think that references only pertain to Chapter Two.
Introduction
Overview
Indent each new paragraph. Write an overview of your study here. You should provide the reader with an overview of what will be detailed in the study and Chapter One (thesis statement and thesis map). This statement will let the reader know what "universe" you are exploring. For example, “What is your topic?”…“How is your approach different from other scholars?”…” What are the significance and implications of your topic?”
As you write Chapters One and Three, remember that Verb tense is an important consideration. For the proposal (IRB), the researcher uses future tense (e.g., “The purpose of this study is to…”), whereas, in the dissertation, the chapters are revised to reflect past tense (e.g., “The purpose of this study was to…”). Making mistakes in the tense early on in your writing is a nightmare to go back and correct later on in preparation for committee review and Quality Control (QC), so take your time to ensure a high-quality scholarly voice is utilized and your tense is correct the first time.
Background and Problem Statement
Indent each new paragraph. Write your background and problem statement here. The background section should lead naturally and logically from the overview section. It should tell the reader what precipitated your interest in the study. A historical description of the problem or situation led to the issue at hand. For example, if you are studying the subject of teen pregnancies, it would be good to cite some specific locations (towns, counties, states) and numbers of cases, especially depicted in trends, that caused you to "sense" a need for further study.
For the Problem Statement, spell out the issues that will continue to befall someone, a particular community, or society, if research is not conducted. It is similar to the background. A well-written problem statement begins with the big picture of the issue ( macro) and works to the small, narrower, and more specific problem ( micro). It communicates the significance,
magnitude, and importance of the problem and transitions into the Purpose of the Study
with a declarative statement such as “It is not known if and to what degree/extent…” or “It is not known how/why and…”
Remember that a quality problem statement states the specific problem proposed for research by presenting a clear declarative statement that begins with “It is not known if and to what degree/extent…”
Purpose of the Project
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The Purpose of the Project should start with a clear declarative sentence that specifies the problem presented for research. As with any research, the results are hoped to edify a particular community, state, institution, or society. Include the type of study in this section (quantitative) and the research design selected from Appendix G of the Doctoral Research Handbook. The Purpose of the Project is not a long section. Most of the sections in this chapter are relatively short compared to Chapters Two and Three. Discuss the link to the degree discipline in the purpose and significance of the study.
Significance of the Project
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In this section, you will connect the study's significance to organizations interested in this study, and you must connect to leadership or policy and how the study could impact decision-making or improvement of current practices.
Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section should start with a brief overview of the focus of the study and the rationale that led to the research questions. The research questions should be numbered and listed. This paragraph should end with a transitioning statement linking to the research questions. For example, Three research questions guided this particular research, or, The research addressed the following questions:
1. To what extent did the ……..
2. What differences exist between…….
3. What is the relationship between….
Also, include a numbered list with the null and alternate hypotheses. Here is an example…
The following null and alternate hypotheses represent the correlating research questions for the study.
H01.
Ha1.
H02.
Ha2.
H03.
Ha3.
Note that the symbol for null hypotheses is the number zero, not the letter O. Also, use the subscript function in Microsoft Word for the null and alternate hypotheses symbols. See Table 6.5 in the APA Manual for further examples of statistical symbols.
When putting this section together, it should appear similar to the following example.
This research includes two main objectives: determining whether term length impacted student outcomes and identifying whether particular demographic or subject matter factors influenced success rates. To accomplish these goals, the study will address the following questions. Furthermore, the null and alternate hypotheses are provided for each research question.
1. Is there a statistically significant difference in course completion rates between students in 8-week and 16-week terms?
H01. There will be no difference in successful course completion between students in 8-week and 16-week terms.
Ha1. There is a difference in successful course completion between students in 8-week and 16-week terms.
2. Is there a statistically significant difference in course grades between students in 8-week and 16-week terms?
H02. There will be no difference in course grades between students in 8-week and 16- week terms.
Ha2. There is a difference in course grades between students in 8-week and 16-week terms.
3. Is there a statistically significant difference in course completion rates between students in 8-week technical and non-technical courses?
H03. There will be no difference in completion rates between students in 8-week technical and non-technical courses.
Ha3. There is a difference in completion rates between students in 8-week technical and non-technical courses.
4. Is there a statistically significant difference in course completion rates for students in 8-week classes based on select demographic variables (sex, age, prior academic experience, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, low-income status, full- or part-time status)?
H04. There will be no difference in completion rates between students in 8-week courses based on demographic factors (sex, age, prior academic experience, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, low-income status, full- or part-time status).
Ha4. There is a difference in completion rates between students in 8-week courses based on demographic factors (sex, age, prior academic experience, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, low-income status, full- or part-time status).
Provide a closing paragraph summarizing your research questions section and introduce the reader to the next section of this chapter.
Theoretical Framework
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The theoretical framework is presented in the early section of a dissertation and provides the rationale for conducting your research to investigate a particular research problem. Please note that using a conceptual framework over a theoretical framework requires the program director's approval per the UC Doctoral Research Handbook.
Consider the theoretical framework as a conceptual model that establishes a sense
of structure that guides your research. It provides the background that supports your investigation and offers the reader a justification for your study of a particular research problem. It includes the variables you intend to measure and the relationships you seek to understand. Essentially, this is where you describe a "theory" and build your case for investigating that theory. The theoretical framework is your presentation of a theory that explains a particular problem.
The theoretical framework is developed from and connected to your review of the knowledge on the topic (the literature review). This knowledge is likely how you initially formulated your research problem. You reviewed the literature and found gaps in the explanation of some phenomena. The theoretical framework allows you to present the research problem in light of a literature summary.
Your description of the variables of interest in the context of the literature review allows the reader to understand the theorized relationships. You should begin by describing what is known about your variables, what is known about their relationship, and what can be explained thus far. You will investigate other researchers' theories behind these relationships and identify a theory (or combination of theories) that explains your major research problem. Essentially, your goal is to convey to the reader why you think your variables are related, so including previous research and theories supporting your belief are essential to defend your rationale. You apply the theory to your problem and state your hypotheses or predictions regarding potential relationships. You tell the reader what you expect to find in your research.
Limitations of the Project
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Despite the researcher's best efforts, the limitations will affect the study results. Inherent limitations due to extraneous variables not addressed in the study are listed here. It is recommended to identify and discuss 5-10 limitations of the study.
Provide a closing paragraph summarizing your limitations section and introducing the reader to the next section.
Assumptions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The study was constructed with the following assumptions: Provide a list of assumptions related to your study here. Again, 5-10 assumptions are recommended for your study.
Provide a closing paragraph summarizing your limitations section and introducing the reader to the next section.
For definitions, state the term in italics followed by a colon (the colon should not be in italics). The actual definition should be without italics.
All definitions should include an in-text citation for the reference source.
Definitions
Begin this section with an introductory sentence….for example; the following terms and definitions are essential to understanding and following the research in this study.
Transformational leadership: The………(in-text citation)
Definitions should be listed in alphabetical order. The scholarship of peer-reviewed literature must cite all definitions. Including at least 15 to 20 definitions specific to your research is recommended to assist the reader in understanding the intent of your study. Look for keywords in your research questions and your title to develop ideas for definitions. Do not cite dictionaries or encyclopedias for your terms.
Remember, When quoting directly, always provide the author, year, and page number of the quotation (in both parenthetical and narrative in-text citations). Follow these guidelines when providing a page number:
· For a single page, use the abbreviation “p.” (e.g., p. 25, p. 41, p. 221).
· For multiple pages, use the abbreviation “pp.” and separate the page range with an end dash (e.g., pp. 34–36).
· If pages are discontinuous, use a comma between the page numbers (e.g., pp. 67, 72).
If the work does not have page numbers, provide another way for the reader to locate the quotation.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your summary of chapter one here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Two. Do not write in future tense. Also, provide an overview of the upcoming chapters to foreshadow for the reader how the research is organized and presented.
Chapter Two
Review of Literature
Introduction
Indent your introduction. Begin by Introducing your thesis map for your dissertation topic and the literature review you will cover. Start writing with a summary of the purpose statement that leads to a brief explanation of the organization of the literature review. Do not cut and paste the Purpose Statement section from Chapter One.
Present historical research and recent research related to the topic of study primarily within the last 5 years. Some seminal research studies may be included. Each assertion should include appropriate scholarly source citations. Use multiple citations from diverse literature to weave concepts persuasively and coherently together. Ensure the discussion has depth and presents a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature that provides a context for the dissertation study. Ensure the discussion is comprehensive, organized, and flows logically. Organize theory around major themes on your topic and discuss how they relate to your theory. The theoretical basis should be referenced in each topic area of the article discussed. The literature review should synthesize the findings related to the doctoral research topic. Please review Table 4.1 of the APA handbook concerning the recommended verb tenses in APA-style papers. In almost all instances, you should be writing in past tense and be sure to avoid future tense (i.e., the research will…).
Main Heading (Level 2 heading)
Your literature review will likely have many level 2 headings. If you need to add subheadings within a main heading, follow the level 3 heading.
Subheading (Level 3 Heading)
The s ubheading should be flush left, Bold italic, Title Case Heading (level 3 heading) . You should not have one subheading within a main heading. There should be a minimum of two if subheadings are needed.
Level 4 Subheading. The Level 4 Subheading should be indented, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 4 subheading within a level 3 subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Level 5 Subheading. The Level 5 Subheading should be indented, italics, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 5 subheading within a level 4 heading subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Summary
The summary is a level 2 heading. Indent the paragraph and make sure you write one to two paragraphs. Your literature should support your study and logically lead the reader to this summary, where you provide a gap in the literature and a need for your research here.
Your final summary paragraph provides how you will address the gap in the literature. You will end the paragraph by transitioning to Chapter Three. You should not write in future tense.
Chapter Three
Procedures and Methodology
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
Research Paradigm
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In the Research Paradigm section, you must state if your research is qualitative or quantitative. The quantitative method is based on deductive scientific realism (a big assumption that looks for pieces of evidence to test it while the qualitative approach lends itself to social constructivism.
Research Project Design
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Please review the quantitative designs for UC in Appendix G of the Doctoral Research Handbook. In the Research Design section, you must state the dependent and independent variables you are studying. This section should flow from the statements in the previous section (paradigm). Either identify the study as action research, data analytics, design science, or program evaluation, depending on the variables and the research questions, after stating the study design as a clear declarative sentence. Proceed to cite a source that explains your research design and then explain how this was more appropriate than the other possible design options listed in Appendix G of the Doctoral Research Handbook. Find sources for each design option, state what they are, and explain why your design choice was more appropriate.
Sampling Procedures and Data Collection Sources
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Describe the target population from which the sample will be drawn, the sampling method for the study, and the minimum sample size. If utilizing an Action Research design, you will need to conduct a priori power analysis to determine the minimum sample size (medium effect).
Also, this section should reference your Informed Consent and IRB approval placed in the Appendices. Furthermore, describe the data to be gathered. Reference any permission for data or survey usage. Additionally, include the instrument's validity and reliability if using a data collection instrument. Also, expand this section to include details on the sampling procedures and data collection so that the reader can replicate these procedures if they want to replicate the study.
Moreover, use the phrase “target population” and discuss the actual population. Most of the time, “target population” and “population” are synonymous. However, adding the word target emphasizes that sometimes we miss the mark in sampling and do not always hit the mark: samples can be unrepresentative of the population you originally intended to sample. For example, you might want to survey all the hospitalized adults in the United States (the target population), but budget constraints limit your survey to hospital patients in just four cities in the U.S. The sampled and targeted populations in this scenario are likely quite different.
Using sub-groups in your sample population is also known as stratified random sampling. Stratified random sampling is a method of sampling that involves the division of a population into smaller sub-groups known as strata. In stratified random sampling or stratification, the strata are formed based on members' shared attributes or characteristics, such as income or educational attainment. If this is the case, you will also want to include a citation for stratified random sampling and how it relates to your research.
A G*Power statistical analysis is required for the minimum sample size per the Doctoral Research Handbook Appendix F (see link for G*Power https://www.psychologie.hhu.de/arbeitsgruppen/allgemeine-psychologie-und-arbeitspsychologie/gpower). A power analysis is a calculation used to estimate the smallest sample size needed for an experiment, given a required significance level, statistical power, and effect size. It helps to determine if a result from an experiment or survey is due to chance or if it is genuine and significant. Also, when you use G*Power for your research, include the appropriate references in the narrative and the reference section of your dissertation (see the example of references in the link provided). Here is an example of a narrative for a G*Power analysis.
“An a priori power analysis was conducted using G*Power version 3.1.9.7 (Faul et al., 2007) to determine the minimum sample size required to test the study hypothesis. Results indicated the required sample size to achieve 80% power for detecting a medium effect, at a significance criterion of α = .05, was N = # for [insert statistical test you are using to test your hypothesis]. Thus, the obtained sample size of N = # is adequate to test the study hypothesis."
Additional G*Power Analysis Tips to Consider.
· If you have multiple hypotheses requiring different data analysis strategies (e.g., Hypothesis 1 is to be tested using correlation; Hypothesis 2 is to be tested using a multiple regression), you may need to perform a separate power analysis for each hypothesis. It is recommended to report the results of each power analysis and select the larger sample size needed from among them as a basis for recruitment.
· For analysis that compares groups, be sure to include the number of participants required per group (e.g., "G*Power suggests we would need # participants per group (N = #) in an independent sample t-test").
In your research proposal/ethics application, you may want to increase your proposed
sample size to account for potential attrition. Try to include a reference to justify this increased sample size. E.g., "Accounting for a potential attrition rate of 20% based on previous research [e.g., previous research that has used this intervention / investigated this topic] (see reference), additional # participants will be recruited"].
Statistical Tests
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. If this section is only used if applicable to your research. Align data analysis/statistical choices for each research question. If your study is quantitative, ensure the statistical tests match Chapter Four. State the statistical tests used and cite a reference related to the tests, such as the statistical textbook by Spatz. Discuss why the test is appropriate for the data being analyzed.
Discuss the validity of your data. External validity can include testing reactivity, interaction effects of selection and experimental variables, specificity of variables, reactive effects of experimental arrangements, and multiple-treatment interference, as appropriate to the study. As appropriate, internal validity can include history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, statistical regression, experimental mortality, and selection-maturation interaction. Discuss how and why results will be interpreted, including essential parameter estimations, confidence intervals and/or probability values, odds ratios, test(s) power, effect size, etc.
Overall the statistical tests section of a dissertation should discuss the specific statistical analyses performed to answer the research questions or test the hypotheses. Here are some key elements that should be included:
1. Purpose and rationale- Start with a brief explanation of the purpose of the statistical tests, including why they were chosen and how they relate to the research questions or hypotheses.
2. Assumptions- In order to correctly interpret the results of statistical tests, it is necessary to consider the assumptions that underlie them, including normality, homogeneity of variance, independence, and linearity. Explain how you assessed these assumptions and what steps you took to address violations, if any.
3. Data preparation- Describe how you prepared your data for analysis, including any transformations or recoding that was done. Discuss any missing data and how it was handled.
4. Analysis methods- Explain the statistical tests used and why they were appropriate for your research questions or hypotheses. This explanation may include descriptive or inferential statistics (such as t-tests, ANOVA, regression analysis, or chi-square tests).
5. Results- Present your results in a clear and organized manner, using tables and graphs as appropriate. Include descriptive statistics (such as means, standard deviations, and frequencies) and inferential statistics (such as p-values, effect sizes, and confidence intervals) to support your conclusions.
6. Interpretation: Discuss the meaning and implications of your results in the context of your research questions or hypotheses. Describe any patterns or trends that emerged, and consider alternative explanations or limitations of your findings.
7. Conclusion: Summarize your main findings and their significance, highlighting any contributions to the literature or practical implications of your research. Also, discuss any future research directions that could build on your work.
Overall, the statistical tests section should demonstrate that you have chosen appropriate methods for your research questions, followed the best data preparation and analysis practices, and drawn sound conclusions from your results. It should also be written clearly and concisely, with appropriate references to the relevant literature and statistical software used (JASP, Exel, or SPSS).
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Summarize your methodology and provide a transition to Chapter Four. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Four
Research Findings
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
Participants and Research Setting
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section is only required if applicable. Include the number of participants ( N =) and provide specifics about the sample population. Please note that if you include subpopulations, those are signified with a lowercase ( n =), whereas capital ( N =) is for the total number of participants.
Do not include the names of any schools, businesses, or institutions for confidentiality reasons. The use of an alternative format to identify the organization. Options such as the general geographical location (Industry in the Southeast, Organization A, Organization B, or other appropriate alternative formats should be used.
Project Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your following sentence here.
Analyses of Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your following sentence here. You should provide your reader with at least a three-sentence paragraph that introduces the reader to this section and the following subsections.
Research Question One
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next sentence here. List and number research questions one at a time. You should address each question with its own level three heading. The results must be presented without implication, speculation, assessment, evaluation, or interpretation. Use italics for letters used as statistical symbols or algebraic variables (e.g., contained 587 t-test p values; R2 = .12). Report exact p values to two or three decimals (e.g., p = .006, p = .03). However, report p values less than .001 as “ p < .001.”
Also, be sure to state whether the null hypotheses were rejected or failed to be rejected. An example of a null that failed to be rejected could be worded like the following: the results of the data analysis failed to reject the null hypothesis in determining if there was a relationship between age and purchase intentions. For an example of a null that was rejected, it could be worded like the following: as a result of the data analysis, the null hypothesis was rejected for research question one in determining if there was a relationship between perceived value and purchase intentions.
Research Question Two
Indent each new paragraph. Write your following sentence here. The following information is considered helpful to ensure you follow APA formatting for numbers, tables, and figures. Consult the Numbers and Statistics Guide from American Psychological Association for additional guidance. Consult the Tables and Figures section from APA Style for guidelines and examples of tables and figures.
Supplementary Findings
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Again, the results must be presented without implication, speculation, assessment, evaluation, or interpretation; if you do not have supplementary findings, delete this section.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Summarize your results and provide a transition to Chapter Five.
Chapter Five
In the Practical Assessment of Research Question section, focus in this section on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic.
Discuss the link to leadership.
Summary, Discussion, and Implications
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
Practical Assessment of Project Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The Practical Assessment of Research Question section focuses on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic. Make sure to include any unusual findings as well (i.e., results that you did not expect to be significant but were, or findings that may have surprised you based on previous research findings). Introduce the reader to this section, then address each research question separately (see below). You will have as many level three headings as you do research questions (i.e., if you have two research questions, you will have two level 3 headings. If you have four research questions, you will have 4 level 3 headings, etc.). Finally, do not repeat any statistical findings in the level 3 headings below; only report their significance. No statistical narratives should be entered into the Practical Assessment of Research Questions.
Research Question One
Indent each new paragraph. Write your following sentence here. You should address each research question with its own level three heading (i.e., Research Question One ) and let the reader know how your results were different or similar to the results you found in the lit review studies in Chapter Two. You should have many citations in this section as you discuss each of your research questions. For example, the best practice is to have at least three or more recent citations from Chapter Two (5 years old or less) per research question needed to close the literature gap from Chapter Two. Please review Chapter Two to ensure that you have a minimum of 3 citations from Chapter Two that assists in closing the literature gap.
Research Question Two
Indent each new paragraph. Write your following sentence here. Avoid restating the statistical findings and reporting in Chapter Four here. You should not repeat the statistical results but note the significance and how those were similar or different from the studies you cited in Chapter Two.
Supplementary Findings
If you had supplementary findings in Chapter Four, you would also need to provide a practical assessment of the findings here as you have for all the other individual research questions. Be sure to state your findings by significance (do not use statistical reporting) and how your findings are similar or different from those noted in Chapter Two's lit review. This practical assessment of the research findings will assist you in closing the research loop for your supplementary findings as you have for the other individual research questions.
Limitations of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Do not copy and paste the limitations stated in Chapter One. Think of this subsection as the "humble pie” subsection. In your Limitations section in Chapter One, you addressed the study's potential limitations. Begin by looking at potential limitations as you initially proposed, and then discuss those that may have affected your findings one way or another. In many cases, the potential limitations referenced in Chapter One do not come into play here.
However, limitations can typically originate in one of two sources: the study's design and the study's problems during implementation. Design issues involve sampling, assessment, procedures, and choice of research design (i.e., poor match). Furthermore, issues of implementation must be addressed (i.e., low sample, measurement issues, heterogeneous groups).
When developing this section, consider limitations in four significant areas internal validity, external validity, measurement, and statistical analysis. Concerning internal validity, unless the study is a "true experiment," one cannot claim that the IV "caused" changes in the DV. Likewise, the extent to which findings can be generalized must be discussed for external validity. Concerning measurement limitations, discuss issues of reliability and validity of assessment instruments. Finally, regarding statistical analysis limitations, discuss issues of effect size and statistical test chosen.
Implications for Future Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The recommendations may be directed at the participants, community, state, nation, or internationally. Furthermore, discuss findings in light of questions or issues that suggest future research directions. Extend the study to other populations. For example, think of other IVs and DVs that should be explored in the field and how to assess those additional variables. The Implications for Future Study is the portion of the paper where researchers are allowed to dream and set the stage for similar studies in the future by thinking of ways to extend your study to other questions that may add to the understanding of the issues.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
References
Consult the References section on APA Style for more information about citing references.
All citations and references must match throughout the dissertation. Follow APA guidelines on formatting.
Only include sources that you cited in your text in your reference list.
All live links should be in black font rather than blue.
References with hyperlinks such as to retrieval sources or DOIs, should include the “live” link to the source.
References are double spaced with appropriate indent for second and subsequent lines.
Appendix A
Appendices: This section contains any tables, figures and possible data sources that were not appropriate in the chapters of your dissertation, as well as copies of consent forms and IRB
Tables
2.14 Appendices: If an appendix consists of a table or figure only, then the appendix label takes the place of the table or figure number, and the appendix title takes the place of the table or figure title. Thus, if Appendix B is a table-only appendix, the table is referred to as Appendix B rather than as Table B1. Likewise, if Appendix C is a figure-only appendix, the figure is referred to as Appendix C rather than as Figure C1. If multiple tables and/or figures (but no text) are combined into one appendix, label and title the appendix and also number and title the tables and/or figures within the appendix (e.g., Tables D1 and D2 are two tables in Appendix D).
Appendix B
Figures
Appendix C
Consent Forms
Include a copy of the letter/form used to obtain consent from participants in the study.
Do not include consent forms from organizations that provided permission to gather data.
Appendix D
IRB Approval
Appendix E
G*Power Analysis
G*Power Analysis for t-test
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QUALITATIVE DISSERTATION TEMPLATE 1
For the header, Type: your abbreviated title in all capital letters. (No more than 50 characters, including spaces). The page number is also in the header, flush right starting with 1.
Be sure your font in the header is size 12 Times New Roman Font.
The entire document should be double spaced with Times New Roman 12-Point Font.
Type your approved dissertation title on line 5.
Your Approved Dissertation Title Here in Upper and Lowercase Letters
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
First and Last Name
Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Degrees:
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Philosophy Information Technology
Doctor of Philosophy Business
Doctor of Philosophy Leadership
Requirements for the Degree of
[insert degree]
Type University of the Cumberlands on line 7.
University of the Cumberlands
Month and Year of Graduation
Month and Year only should be typed on line 8.
No comma is used between the two.
Approval for Recommendation
Two double spaces should be included after this heading.
This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the faculty and administration of the University of the Cumberlands.
Include this page as you submit the various chapters in each course.
You will not have the actual names of committee members two and three until you select your committee in DSRT 930.
Dissertation Chair:
____________________________
First Name Last Name, Ph.D., EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Dissertation Evaluators:
____________________________
First Name Last Name, Ph.D., EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
____________________________
First Name Last Name, Ph.D., EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Acknowledgments
The Acknowledgment is where you thank those who have helped you achieve this goal. There are many to whom a debt of gratitude is owed for their assistance in conducting this research…. (It is appropriate to thank key faculty, friends, and family members, as well as ministers and God. It is advisable to limit the comments to one page.)
Abstract
The word “Abstract” should be centered and typed in 12-point Times New Roman.
The abstract begins with a restatement of the study purpose sentence from Chapter One. The abstract is one paragraph without indentation that contains a comprehensive summary of the paper's contents. The abstract should be no longer than 250 words and include one or two sentences covering the key areas of the literature review, problem, research questions, methods used, study results, and implications of the research.
The abstract should not include keywords.
Table of Contents
Background and Problem Statement 10
Main Heading (Level 2 Heading) 16
Subheading (Level 3 Heading) 17
Research Method and Paradigmatic Perspective 18
Qualitative Research Approach 18
Sampling Procedures (and or) Data Collection Sources Interviews, Surveys/Questionnaires, Document Analysis, Focus Groups, Observations 20
Participants and Research Setting 22
Analyses of Research Questions 23
Summary, Discussion, and Implications 25
Practical Assessment of Study Analysis 25
Implications for Future Study 27
List of Tables
Table 1: Name of the Table…………………………………………………………………1
7.10 Table Numbers
Number all tables that are part of the main text (i.e., not part of an appendix or supplemental materials) using Arabic numerals—for example, Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3. Assign the numbers in the order in which each table is first mentioned in the text, regardless of whether a more detailed discussion of the table occurs elsewhere in the paper. Write the word “Table” and the number in bold and flush left (i.e., not indented or centered). Tables that appear in appendices follow a different numbering scheme (see Section 2.14).
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if tables are necessary. Tables should not be used to increase page count. Tables must be APA formatted, and not copied from Excel, or other non-APA sources. Only Tables within the chapters should be included here. Tables in the Appendix are not listed here.
See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
List of Figures
Figure 1: Name of the Figure …………………………………………………………………1
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if tables and figures are necessary. Tables and figures should not be used to increase page count. Only Figures within the chapters should be included here. Figures in the Appendix are not listed here.
See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
Figures should be in grayscale only.
Chapter One
Paragraphs throughout
your dissertation should be a
minimum of three
complete sentences.
Headings throughout your document should appear as they appear in this template.
Introduction
Overview
Indent each new paragraph. Write an overview to your study here. You should provide the reader with an overview of what will be detailed in the study and Chapter One (thesis statement and thesis map). This statement will allow the reader to know what "universe" you are exploring. What is your topic? How is your approach different from other scholars? What are the significance and implications of your topic? In the final paragraph, it is helpful to preview the remaining four chapters of the dissertation (keep in mind, per APA, do not use “will”; simply state “Chapter Two discusses the literature review” rather than “will discuss”).
Background and Problem Statement
Indent each new paragraph. Write your background and problem statement here. The background section should lead naturally and logically from the overview section. It should tell the reader what precipitated your interest in the study. A historical description of the problem or situation that led to the issue at hand. For example, if you are studying the subject of teen pregnancies, it would be good to cite some specific locations (towns, counties, states) and numbers of cases, especially depicted in trends, that caused you to "sense" a need for further study. Think of this section as a highly condensed Chapter Two whereby you give the historical literature and give insight into a gap in the literature that sets up the purpose of your study.
Discuss the link to leadership in the purpose and significance of the study.
Purpose of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Clarify qualitative methodology (i.e., exploratory (sometimes referred to as Descriptive), Case Study, Narrative Inquiry, Phenomenology (Descriptive or Hermeneutic), or Grounded Theory. Next, include a clear declarative sentence specifying the problem presented for research. Review your research questions for keywords that might be helpful to include in your purpose statement. You may also find it helpful to include Chapter Two citations supporting the purpose statement. As with any research, the results are hoped to edify someone, a particular community, state or institution, or society. The Purpose of the Study is not a long section. Most of the sections in this chapter are relatively short compared to Chapters Two and Three. Discuss the link to the degree discipline in the purpose and significance of the study. Finally, keep in mind you are writing this before you have collected data, but you will defend it afterward; therefore, save time by ensuring all verbs are in the past tense (i.e.,”the research aims” should be ”the study aimed”).
Significance of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In this section, you will connect the study's significance to organizations interested in this study, and you must connect to your academic discipline or policy and how the study could impact decision-making or improvement of current practices. Finally, you will defend how the qualitative research methodology chosen adds to the significance of the study.
Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The methodology and research design should be introduced before RQs are listed. For example….The following research questions guided this qualitative phenomenological study.
1.
2.
3.
Also, provide a closing paragraph summarizing your research questions section and introduce the reader to the next section ( sometimes students include “I” or “the researcher”; the doctoral research handbook does not allow for the use of first person, and APA does not allow for the use of third person; therefore, state “the study.” This formatting should be applied to the entire dissertation)
Here is an example…..To understand the influences of culture on the hiring of Kentucky superintendents, researchers need to recognize the similarities and differences between the perceived leadership behavior styles, the demographics of the community, and the individual's career pathway. The following section provides an overview of the study's theoretical framework.
Theoretical Framework
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The theoretical framework is presented in the early section of a dissertation and provides the rationale for conducting your research to investigate a particular research problem. Consider the theoretical framework as a conceptual model that establishes a sense of structure that guides your research. It provides the background that supports your investigation and offers the reader a justification for your study of a particular research problem. It includes the relationships you seek to understand. Essentially, this is where you describe a "theory" and build your case for investigating that theory. The theoretical framework is your presentation of a theory that explains a particular problem.
The theoretical framework is developed from and connected to your review of the knowledge on the topic (the literature review). This knowledge is likely how you initially formulated your research problem. You reviewed the literature and found gaps in the explanation of some phenomena. The theoretical framework allows you to present the research problem in light of the literature summary.
Your description of the relationships of interest in the context of the literature review allows the reader to understand the theorized relationships. It would be best if you began by describing what is known about your topics, what is known about their relationship, and what can be explained thus far. You will investigate other researchers' theories behind these relationships and identify a theory (or combination of theories) that explains your major research problem. Essentially, the theoretical framework section aims to convey to the reader why you think your variables are related; therefore, including previous research and theories supporting your belief is essential to defend your rationale. If conducting a grounded theory dissertation, you will need at least an additional paragraph to establish the background behind the theory proposed in your study (often, this is added when Chapter Four is completed).
Limitations of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Despite best efforts, these limitations may have affected the study results. Inherent limitations due to extraneous variables not addressed in the study are listed here. Identifying and discussing 5-10 limitations of the study is recommended.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Provide a closing paragraph summarizing the limitations section and introducing the reader to the next section.
Here is an example…..
These limitations of the current study represent the characteristics of design and methodology that potentially influenced the interpretations of the findings. Although study limitations represent constraints placed on the ability to generalize the study results, it was necessary to acknowledge these limitations to correctly assess the methodology chosen for the study. Chapter Five further delineates the impact of the limitations.
Assumptions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The study was constructed with the following assumptions: Provide a list of assumptions related to your study here. Again, 5-10 assumptions are recommended for your study.
Provide a closing paragraph here that summarizes your assumptions section and introduces the reader to the next section.
Here is an example…..These underlying assumptions were explicit considerations of consistently applied beliefs that served as the foundation that guided the research. These assumptions were believed to be true based on the presupposition without distinguishing the facts. Although these assumptions are beyond the control of the research, they are necessary presumptions that must be acknowledged to conduct the study.
Definitions
Begin this section with an introductory sentence….for example, the following terms and definitions are essential to understanding and following the research in this study.
For definitions, state the term in italics followed by a colon. The actual definition should be without italics.
All definitions should include an in-text citation for the reference source.
Transformational leadership: The………(in-text citation)
Definitions should be listed in alphabetical order. All definitions must be cited by the scholarship. It is recommended to include at least 15 to 20 definitions specific to your research to assist the reader in understanding the intent of your study. Look for keywords in your research questions and your title to start with to develop ideas for definitions. Do not cite dictionaries or encyclopedias for your terms.
Remember, When quoting directly, always provide the quotation's author, year, and page number (in both parenthetical and narrative in-text citations). Follow these guidelines when providing a page number:
· Use the abbreviation “p.” (e.g., p. 25, p. S41, p. e221) for a single page.
· For multiple pages, use the abbreviation “pp.” and separate the page range with an en dash (e.g., pp. 34–36).
· If pages are discontinuous, use a comma between the page numbers (e.g., pp. 67, 72).
If the work does not have page numbers, provide another way for the reader to locate the quotation.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your summary of chapter one here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Two. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Two
A qualitative dissertation should be a minimum of 45,000 words. If each chapter is divided evening that would be 9,000 words per chapter. The literature review should be a minimum of 9,000 words that synthesized literature but will normally require many more pages and closer to 10,000 to 15,000 words.
Review of Literature
Introduction
Indent your introduction. Begin by Introducing your thesis map for your dissertation topic and the literature review you will cover. Start writing with a summary of the purpose statement that leads to a brief explanation of the organization of the literature review. Do not cut and paste the Purpose Statement section from Chapter One. Sometimes students want to include qualitative research literature in the literature review; please save these citations for Chapter Three.
Present historical research and recent research related to the topic of study, primarily within the last five years. Some seminal research studies may be included. Each assertion should include appropriate scholarly source citations. Use multiple citations from diverse literature to weave concepts persuasively and coherently together. Ensure the discussion has depth and presents a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature, providing context for the dissertation study. Ensure the discussion is comprehensive, organized, and flows logically. Organize theory around major themes on your topic and discuss how they relate to your theory. The theoretical basis should be referenced in each topic area of the article discussed. The literature review should synthesize the findings related to the doctoral research topic. Finally, all verbs in the dissertation should be past or present perfect tense (i.e., asserts should be asserted). Remember, if you are quoting a 2022 study, they are not currently stating anything; they stated this in 2022.
Main Heading (Level 2 Heading)
Your literature review will likely have many level 2 headings. If you need to add subheadings within a main heading, follow the level 3 heading.
Subheading (Level 3 Heading)
The s ubheading should be flush left, Bold italic, Title Case Heading (level 3 heading) . You should not have one subheading within a main heading. There should be a minimum of two if subheadings are needed.
Level 4 Subheading. The Level 4 Subheading should be indented, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 4 subheading within a level 3 subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Level 5 Subheading. The Level 5 Subheading should be indented, italics, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 5 subheading within a level 4 heading subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Summary
The summary is a level 2 heading. Indent the paragraph and make sure you write one to two paragraphs. Your literature should build support for your literature and logically lead the reader to this summary, where you provide a gap in the literature and a need for your research here.
Your final summary paragraph provides how you will address the gap in the literature. You will end the paragraph by transitioning to Chapter Three. You should not write in future tense.
Chapter Three
Procedures and Methodology
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Circle back to Chapter One, where you discuss theories from the theoretical framework and how they are connected to the literature in Chapter Two. Then, transition to the methodology listed here in Chapter Three.
Research Method and Paradigmatic Perspective
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section should provide an overview of why qualitative research is best suited for the study described in Chapter One. Qualitative research is built on an inductive approach designed to examine phenomena. Citing from Creswell or other qualified qualitative research authors helps defend the research method.
Qualitative Research Approach
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In the previous section, you discussed why qualitative research was selected in a general nature. In this section, you will select one of the qualitative research methodologies listed in the Appendixes of the University of the Cumberlands Doctoral Research Handbook. You will first introduce the selected approach and defend its selection against other qualitative research approaches. Next, you should include citations from Creswell or other qualified qualitative research authors to explain how the qualitative research approach you selected is directly applied to fidelity in this study.
It is encouraged (per the doctoral research handbook) to include the qualitative research quality criteria (Credibility, Dependability, Transferability, Confirmability) using citations from Creswell or other qualified qualitative research sources.
Furthermore, in the Qualitative Research Approach section, due to the “human instrument” aspect of qualitative research, the role of the researcher and researcher positionality are related but distinct concepts in qualitative research. The role of the researcher refers to the specific tasks, responsibilities, and activities that the researcher undertakes during the research process. The role of the researcher can include information concerning the study's design, collecting data, analyzing data, and reporting findings. The researcher's role can vary depending on the nature of the study and the research methodology being used.
Researcher positionality, on the other hand, refers to the researcher's subjective position concerning the research topic, participants, and data. The Research Positionality includes the researcher's personal characteristics, experiences, and values that may influence their interpretation of the data and their relationship with participants. Positionality is often seen as a critical aspect of reflexivity in qualitative research, as it acknowledges the potential for the researcher to bring their own biases and assumptions to the research process.
In other words, the role of the researcher refers to the researcher's specific actions and responsibilities in conducting the research, while researcher positionality refers to the researcher's subjective position and potential biases in relation to the research topic and participants. Both of these concepts are important to consider in qualitative research to ensure the research process's transparency and rigor. The Role of the Researcher or Researcher Positionality, if appropriate to include based on the research approach, can be included in the Qualitative Research Approach section or can be included as a Level III subheading within this section (i.e., “Role of the Researcher” or “Researcher Positionality” as a Level III subheading, depending on which is more appropriate for your research approach).
Sampling Procedures (and or) Data Collection Sources Interviews, Surveys/Questionnaires, Document Analysis, Focus Groups, Observations
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. All of these headings may not be necessary based on your research design. Select only those that apply to your qualitative research approach. It is often more ready-friendly to separate Sampling Procedures and the Data Collection Source.
In the sampling procedures, reference Informed Consent and IRB approval and place both in Appendices. Describe the sampling strategy employed (i.e., snowball). Then, discuss the qualities of the participants who sought to participate in the study and the rationale for selecting those participant qualities. You will discuss demographic information in Chapter Four.
In the data collection sources, delete extraneous instruments and only include the one(s) selected for use in this study. Introduce the instrument used for data collection. Then, justify its applicability to the research questions listed in Chapter One. Next, describe the field testing, expert review panel, etc., who provided validity and reliability to the instrument; this is often best accomplished by adding a level 3 heading, “ Expert Review or Validity & Reliability .”
Data Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Often this section is “short-changed” and leads to many revisions in quality review. The centerpiece of qualitative research is the data analysis, theming, coding, and presentation. It may be helpful to organize this section with APA level III headings.
This section should open with a discussion of the chosen data analysis method (i.e., Thematic Coding Analysis). Then, defend the data analysis’s alignment to Chapter One’s research questions using citations from qualified qualitative research sources. If software is used in the process, discuss the software.
Additionally, discuss how data saturation was reached and its applicability to this study.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Four. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Four
Research Findings
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Recap the methodology from Chapter Three and provide an overview of how Chapter Four is organized.
Participants and Research Setting
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Begin this section by describing how the study reached saturation through the number of participants.
Typically, you must include a paragraph describing the demographic information for each participant in your study. See this example using an APA level 3 heading (see following example).
Institution #12 – President #12
Institution #12 was founded in the late 1800s with Christian principles and is committed to student’s future successes and contributions to Appalachia. The institution supports and respects the worth of all humans. Ninety-nine percent of freshmen students receive financial aid, and 38% are first-generation students. Sixty-three percent of undergraduate students are awarded federal, state, local, or institutional grant aid. Institution #12 is designated by IPEDS as “town: remote” and classified with the Carnegie Classification as a major graduate, medium-sized institution with high residency. The institution offers both distance education courses and programs. The institution has roots in the Baptist faith and is religiously affiliated for purposes of institutional control. As an independent, non-profit institution, #12 receives no federal, state, or local appropriations. President #12 was a white male in his fifties who had been serving in his present role as president since 2016 after serving as chief academic officer at a private, faith-based institution in Idaho (Hudson, 2021).
Study Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section should circle back to the Data Analysis section from Chapter Three, where you provide an overview of the coding. Then, briefly introduce the themes of your study and their alignment with each of your respective research questions.
Analyses of Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. List research questions one at a time. You should address each question with its own level three heading. Often, you will want level IV and V headings to introduce themes and sub-themes within each research question (see below).
Research Question One
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. It is best practice to begin this section by restating the research question. For example:
Research question one asked, what meaning do TRiO Student Support Services students attribute to their success in college? Then, introduce your themes and their corresponding data using Level IV and V headings (see example below).
Theme One: Social Responsibility. Begin texts and quotes here. Recall that APA requires quotes over 40 words to be a block quote. For more information on how to appropriately format quotations from research participants, please see 8.36 of the APA Publication Manual, Seventh Edition ( https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/quoting-participants)
Subtheme One: Social Responsibility Among Culture . Begin texts and quotes here. Recall that APA requires quotes 40 words or more to be a block quote.
Research Question Two
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Follow the same guidelines as above to begin this section.
Supplementary Findings
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. If you do not have supplementary findings, this heading should be deleted.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Five. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Five
In the Practical Assessment of Research Question section, focus in this section on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic.
Discuss the link to leadership.
Summary, Discussion, and Implications
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Provide a
summary of the writing discussed in Chapters One through Four.
Practical Assessment of Study Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The Practical Assessment of Study Analysis section focuses on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic. Make sure to include any unusual findings as well (i.e., results that you did not expect to be significant but were, or findings that may have surprised you based on previous research findings). Introduce the reader to this section, then address each research question separately (see below). You will have as many level three headings as you do research questions (i.e., if you have two research questions, you will have two level 3 headings. If you have four research questions, you will have 4 level 3 headings, etc.) When discussing your themes, you will also be using level IV and level V headings as needed.
Research Question One
Be sure to state your findings by the analysis method utilized in Chapter Four and discuss how your findings were similar or different from those noted in Chapter Two's lit review. This practical assessment of the findings will assist you in closing the research gap for each research question under its level three heading. It is best practice to begin this section by restating the research question. For example:
Research question one asked, what meaning do TRiO Student Support Services students attribute to their success in college? Then continue with the introductory paragraph as you present your practical assessment of the study analysis and complete the research loop for each research question.
Research Question Two
Follow the same guidelines as above. If you have additional research questions, add as many level three headings as you have research questions to address and complete the research loop for each research question.
Supplementary Findings
If you did not have any supplementary findings in Chapter Four, this heading would be deleted. If you did have supplementary findings in Chapter Four, you would also need to provide a practical assessment of the findings here as you have for all the other individual research questions. Be sure to state your findings by the analysis method utilized in Chapter Four and discuss how your findings were similar or different from those noted in Chapter Two's lit review. This practical assessment of the findings will assist you in closing the research loop for your supplementary findings as you have for the other individual research questions.
Limitations of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Do not copy and paste the limitations stated in Chapter One. Think of this subsection as the "humble pie” subsection. In your Limitations section in Chapter One, you addressed the study's potential limitations. Begin by looking at potential limitations as you initially proposed, and then discuss those that may have affected your findings. In many cases, the potential limitations referenced in Chapter One do not come into play here.
However, limitations can typically originate in one of two sources: the study's design and problems during implementation. Design issues involve sampling, assessment, procedures, and choice of research design (i.e., poor match). Furthermore, issues of implementation must be addressed (i.e., low sample, measurement issues, heterogeneous groups).
Implications for Future Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The recommendations may be directed at the participants, community, state, nation, or internationally. Furthermore, discuss findings in light of questions or issues that suggest future research directions. Extend the study to other populations. For example, consider other variables that should be explored in the field and how to assess those additional variables. The Implications for Future Study is the portion of the study where researchers are allowed to dream and set the stage for similar studies by thinking of ways to extend their study to other questions that may add to the understanding of the issues.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
References
Consult the Reference Section on APA Style for more information about citing references.
References are double spaced with appropriate indent for second and subsequent lines.
All citations and references must match throughout the dissertation. Follow APA guidelines on formatting.
Only include sources that you cited in your text in your reference list.
All live links should be in black font rather than blue. No underline is needed.
References with hyperlinks to retrieval sources or DOIs, should include the “live” link to the source.
Appendix A
Appendices: This section contains any tables, figures and possible data sources that were not appropriate in the chapters of your dissertation, as well as copies of consent forms and IRB approval letter.
Tables
2.14 Appendices: If an appendix consists of a table or figure only, then the appendix label takes the place of the table or figure number, and the appendix title takes the place of the table or figure title. Thus, if Appendix B is a table-only appendix, the table is referred to as Appendix B rather than as Table B1. Likewise, if Appendix C is a figure-only appendix, the figure is referred to as Appendix C rather than as Figure C1. If multiple tables and/or figures (but no text) are combined into one appendix, label and title the appendix and also number and title the tables and/or figures within the appendix (e.g., Tables D1 and D2 are two tables in Appendix D).
Appendix B
Figures
Appendix C
Consent Forms
Include a copy of the letter/form used to obtain consent from participants in the study.
Do not include consent forms from organizations that provided permission to gather data.
Appendix D
IRB Approval
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,
ABBREVIATED TITLE HERE 1
ABBREVIATED TITLE HERE 31
The entire document should be double spaced with Times New Roman 12-Point Font
For the header, Type: your abbreviated title in all capital letters. (No more than 50 characters, including spaces). The page number is also in the header, flush right starting with 1.
Be sure your font in the headerTimes New Roman 12-Point Font.
Type your dissertation approved title on line 5.
Your Approved Dissertation Title Here in Upper and Lowercase Letters
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
First and Last Name
Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School
Degrees:
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Philosophy Information Technology
Doctor of Philosophy Business
Doctor of Philosophy Leadership
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
[insert degree]
Type University of the Cumberlands on line 7.
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
University of the Cumberlands
Month and Year of Graduation
Month and Year only should be typed on line 8.
No comma is used between the two.
Approval for Recommendation
Two double spaces should be included after this heading.
This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the faculty and administration of the University of the Cumberlands.
Include this page as you submit the various chapters in each course.
You will not have the actual names of committee members two and three until you select your committee in DSRT 930.
Dissertation Chair:
__________________________
First Name Last Name, PhD, EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Dissertation Evaluators:
__________________________
First Name Last Name, PhD, EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
__________________________
First Name Last Name, PhD, EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments is where you thank those who have helped you achieve this goal. There are many to whom a debt of gratitude is owed for their assistance in conducting this research…. (It is appropriate to thank key faculty, friends, and family members, as well as ministers and God. It is advisable to limit the comments to one page.)
Abstract
The word “Abstract” should be centered and typed in Times New Roman 12-Point Font.
The abstract begins with a restatement of the study purpose sentence from Chapter One. The abstract is one paragraph without indentation that contains a comprehensive summary of the paper's contents. The abstract should be no longer than 250 words and include one or two sentences covering the key areas of the literature review, problem, research questions, methods used, study results, and implications of the research.
The abstract should not include keywords.
Table of Contents
Background and Problem Statement 9
Main Heading (Level 2 heading) 13
Subheading (Level 3 Heading) 13
Sampling Procedures and Data Collection Sources 15
Participants and Research Setting 20
Analyses of Research Questions 20
Summary, Discussion, and Implications 22
Practical Assessment of Research Questions 22
Implications for Future Study 24
List of Tables
Table 1: Name of the Table…………………………………………………………………1
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if tables and figures are necessary. Tables and figures should not be used to increase page count. Tables must be APA formatted, and not copied from Excel, or other non-APA sources. Only Tables within the chapters should be included here. Tables in the Appendix are not listed here. See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
7.10 Table Numbers
Number all tables that are part of the main text (i.e., not part of an appendix or supplemental materials) using Arabic numerals—for example, Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3. Assign the numbers in the order in which each table is first mentioned in the text, regardless of whether a more detailed discussion of the table occurs elsewhere in the paper. Write the word “Table” and the number in bold and flush left (i.e., not indented or centered). Tables that appear in appendices follow a different numbering scheme (see Section 2.14).
List of Figures
Figure 1: Name of the Figure …………………………………………………………………1
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if figures are necessary. Figures should not be used to increase page count. Only Figures within the chapters should be included here. Figures in the Appendix are not listed here.
See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
Figures should be in grayscale only.
Chapter One
· Introduction is the title of the Chapter and no additional information is needed under Introduction.
· Keep your tenses the same. Your literature review already occurred, so it should be past tense.
· Do not use I, we, or our.
· Use statements such as “the current research will…” or “the research seeks…” etc. (Avoid “the researcher”)
· Cite sources for data and other information used. Some people think that references only pertain to Chapter Two.
Introduction
Overview
Indent each new paragraph. Write an overview of your study here. You should provide the reader with an overview of what will be detailed in the study and Chapter One (thesis statement and thesis map). This statement will allow the reader to know what "universe" you are exploring. What is your topic? How is your approach different from other scholars? What is the significance and implications of your topic?
Background and Problem Statement
Indent each new paragraph. Write your background and problem statement here. The background section should lead naturally and logically from the overview section. It should tell the reader what precipitated your interest in the study. A historical description of the problem or situation that led to the issue at hand. For example, if you are studying the subject of teen pregnancies, it would be good to cite some specific locations (towns, counties, states) and numbers of cases, especially depicted in trends, that caused you to "sense" a need for further study.
For the Problem Statement, spell out the issues that will continue to befall someone, a particular community, or society, if research is not conducted. It is similar to the background.
Purpose of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The Purpose of the Study should start with a clear declarative sentence that specifies the problem that is presented for research. As with any research, it is hoped that someone, a particular community, state or institution, or society will be edified by the results. Include the type of study in this section – quantitative, qualitative, etc. The Purpose of the Study is not a long section. Most of the sections in this chapter are relatively short compared to Chapters Two and Three. Discuss the link to the degree discipline in the purpose and significance of the study.
Significance of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In this section, you will make the connections of the significance of the study to organizations interested in this study, and you must make a connection to leadership or policy and how the study could impact decision-making or improvement of current practices.
Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section should start with a brief overview of the focus of the study and the rationale that leads to the research questions. The research questions should be numbered and listed. This paragraph should end with a transitioning statement linking to the research questions. For example, Three research questions guided this particular research, or, The research addressed the following questions:
1. To what extent did the ……..
2. What differences exist between…….
3. To what extent did the ……….
Also, include a numbered list with the null and alternate hypotheses. Here is an example…
The following null and alternate hypotheses are representative of the correlating research questions for the study.
H01.
Ha1.
H02.
Ha2.
H03.
Ha3.
Note that the symbol for null hypotheses is the number zero, not the letter O. Also, use the subscript function in Microsoft Word for the null and alternate hypotheses symbols. See Table 6.5 in the APA Manual for further examples of statistical symbols.
When putting this section together, it should appear similar to the following example.
This research includes two main objectives: determining whether term length impacted student outcomes and identifying whether particular demographic or subject matter factors influenced success rates. To accomplish these goals, the study will address the following questions. Furthermore, the null and alternate hypotheses are provided for each research question.
1. Is there a statistically significant difference in course completion rates between students in 8-week and 16-week terms?
H01. There will be no difference in successful course completion between students in 8-week and 16-week terms.
Ha1. There is a difference in successful course completion between students in 8-week and 16-week terms.
2. Is there a statistically significant difference in course grades between students in 8-week and 16-week terms?
H02. There will be no difference in course grades between students in 8-week and 16- week terms.
Ha2. There is a difference in course grades between students in 8-week and 16-week terms.
3. Is there a statistically significant difference in course completion rates between students in 8-week technical and non-technical courses?
H03. There will be no difference in completion rates between students in 8-week technical and non-technical courses.
Ha3. There is a difference in completion rates between students in 8-week technical and non-technical courses.
4. Is there a statistically significant difference in course completion rates for students in 8-week classes based on select demographic variables (sex, age, prior academic experience, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, low-income status, full- or part-time status)?
H04. There will be no difference in completion rates between students in 8-week courses based on demographic factors (sex, age, prior academic experience, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, low-income status, full- or part-time status).
Ha4. There is a difference in completion rates between students in 8-week courses based on demographic factors (sex, age, prior academic experience, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, low-income status, full- or part-time status).
Theoretical Framework
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The theoretical framework is presented in the early section of a dissertation and provides the rationale for conducting your research to investigate a particular research problem. Consider the theoretical framework as a conceptual model that establishes a sense of structure that guides your research. It provides the background that supports your investigation and offers the reader a justification for your study of a particular research problem. It includes the variables you intend to measure and the relationships you seek to understand. Essentially, this is where you describe a "theory" and build your case for investigating that theory. The theoretical framework is your presentation of a theory that explains a particular problem.
The theoretical framework is developed from and connected to your review of the knowledge on the topic (the literature review). This knowledge is likely how you initially formulated your research problem. You reviewed the literature and found gaps in the explanation of some phenomena. The theoretical framework allows you to present the research problem in light of a summary of the literature.
Your description of the variables of interest in the context of the literature review allows the reader to understand the theorized relationships. You should begin by describing what is known about your variables, what is known about their relationship, and what can be explained thus far. You will investigate other researchers' theories behind these relationships and identify a theory (or combination of theories) that explains your major research problem. Essentially, your goal is to convey to the reader why you think your variables are related. Therefore, including previous research and theories supporting your belief is essential to defend your rationale. You apply the theory to your problem and state your hypotheses or predictions regarding potential relationships. You tell the reader what you expect to find in your research.
Limitations of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Despite the researcher's best efforts, the limitations will affect the study results. Inherent limitations due to extraneous variables not addressed in the study are listed here. Identifying and discussing 5-10 limitations of the study is recommended.
Assumptions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The study was constructed with the following assumptions: Provide a list of assumptions related to your study here. Again, 5-10 assumptions are recommended for your study.
For definitions, state the term in italics followed by a colon (the colon should not be in italics). The actual definition should be without italics.
All definitions should include an in-text citation for the reference source.
Definitions
Transformational leadership: The………(in-text citation)
Definitions should be listed in alphabetical order. The scholarship must cite all definitions. It is recommended to include at least 15 to 20 definitions specific to your research to assist the reader in understanding the intent of your study. Look for keywords in your research questions and your title to start with to develop ideas for definitions. Do not cite dictionaries or encyclopedias for your terms.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your summary of chapter one here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Two. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Two
Review of Literature
Introduction
Indent your introduction. Begin by Introducing your thesis map for your dissertation topic and the literature review you will cover. Start writing with a summary of the purpose statement that leads to a brief explanation of the organization of the literature review. Do not cut and paste the Purpose Statement section from Chapter One.
Present historical research and recent research related to the topic of study primarily within the last 5 years. Some seminal research studies may be included. Each assertion should include appropriate scholarly source citations. Use multiple citations from diverse literature to weave concepts persuasively and coherently together. Ensure the discussion has depth and presents a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature, providing context for the dissertation study. Ensure the discussion is comprehensive, organized, and flows logically. Organize theory around major themes on your topic and discuss how they relate to your theory. The theoretical basis should be referenced in each topic area of the article discussed. The literature review should synthesize the findings related to the doctoral research topic.
Main Heading (Level 2 heading)
Your literature review will likely have many level 2 headings. If you need to add subheadings within a main heading, follow the level 3 heading.
Subheading (Level 3 Heading)
The s ubheading should be flush left, Bold italic, Title Case Heading (level 3 heading) . You should not have one subheading within a main heading. There should be a minimum of two if subheadings are needed.
Level 4 Subheading. The Level 4 Subheading should be indented, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 4 subheading within a level 3 subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Level 5 Subheading. The Level 5 Subheading should be indented, italics, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 5 subheading within a level 4 heading subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Summary
The summary is a level 2 heading. Indent the paragraph and make sure you write one to two paragraphs. Your literature should build support for your literature and logically lead the reader to this summary, where you provide a gap in the literature and a need for your research here.
Your final summary paragraph provides how you will address the gap in the literature. You will end the paragraph by transitioning to Chapter Three. You should not write in future tense.
Chapter Three
Procedures and Methodology
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
Research Paradigm
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In the Research Paradigm section, you must state if your research is qualitative or quantitative. The quantitative method is based on deductive scientific realism (a big assumption that looks for pieces of evidence to test it while the qualitative approach lends itself to social constructivism.
Research Design
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Please review the quantitative designs for UC in Appendix F of the Doctoral Research Handbook. In the Research Design section, you must state the dependent and independent variables you are studying. This section should flow from the statements in the previous section (paradigm). Either identify the study as theoretical, exploratory, experimental, causal-comparative, or correlational depending on the variables and the research questions. You will also identify the dependent and independent variables.
Sampling Procedures and Data Collection Sources
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Describe the target population from which the sample will be drawn, the sampling method for the study, and the minimum sample size. You will need to justify your sample size. The study results will only generalize back to the population from which the sample is drawn. Reference the Informed Consent and IRB approval placed in Appendices. Describe the data to be gathered. Reference any permission for data or survey usage. Additionally, if you are using a survey instrument, include the validity and reliability of the instrument.
A G*Power statistical analysis is required for the minimum sample size per the Doctoral Research Handbook Appendix F (see link for G*Power https://www.psychologie.hhu.de/arbeitsgruppen/allgemeine-psychologie-und-arbeitspsychologie/gpower). A power analysis is a calculation used to estimate the smallest sample size needed for an experiment, given a required significance level, statistical power, and effect size. It helps to determine if a result from an experiment or survey is due to chance or if it is genuine and significant. Also, when you use G*Power for your research, include the appropriate references in the narrative and the reference section of your dissertation (see the example of references in the link provided). Here is an example of a narrative for a G*Power analysis.
“An a priori power analysis was conducted using G*Power version 3.1.9.7 (Faul et al., 2007) to determine the minimum sample size required to test the study hypothesis. Results indicated the required sample size to achieve 80% power for detecting a medium effect (0.15), at a significance criterion of α = .05, was N = # for [insert statistical test you are using to test your hypothesis] (see Appendix E). Thus, the obtained sample size of N = # is adequate to test the study hypothesis."
Additional G*Power Analysis Tips to Consider.
· If you have multiple hypotheses requiring different data analysis strategies (e.g., Hypothesis 1 is to be tested using correlation; Hypothesis 2 is to be tested using a multiple regression), you may need to perform a separate power analysis for each hypothesis. It is recommended to report the results of each power analysis and select the larger sample size needed from among them as a basis for recruitment.
· For analysis that compares groups, be sure to include the number of participants required per group (e.g., "G*Power suggests we would need # participants per group (N = #) in an independent sample t-test").
Additional G*Power resources and examples are located in the IRB and Research Organization
· In your research proposal/ethics application, you may want to increase your proposed sample size to account for potential attrition. Try to include a reference to justify this increased sample size. E.g., "Accounting for a potential attrition rate of 20% based on previous research [e.g., previous research that has used this intervention / investigated this topic] (see reference), additional # participants will be recruited"].
Statistical Tests
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Align data analysis/statistical choices for each research question. If your study is quantitative, make sure the statistical tests match Chapter Four. State the statistical tests used and cite a reference related to the tests, such as the statistical textbook by Spatz. Discuss why the test is appropriate for the data being analyzed.
Discuss the validity of your data. External validity can include testing reactivity, interaction effects of selection and experimental variables, specificity of variables, reactive effects of experimental arrangements, and multiple-treatment interference, as appropriate to the study. As appropriate, internal validity can include history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, statistical regression, experimental mortality, and selection-maturation interaction. Discuss how and why results will be interpreted, including essential parameter estimations, confidence intervals and/or probability values, odds ratios, power of the test(s), effect size, etc.
Overall the statistical tests section of a dissertation should discuss the specific statistical analyses performed to answer the research questions or test the hypotheses. Here are some key elements that should be included:
1. Purpose and rationale- Start with a brief explanation of the purpose of the statistical tests, including why they were chosen and how they relate to the research questions or hypotheses.
2. Assumptions- In order to correctly interpret the results of statistical tests, it is necessary to consider the assumptions that underlie them, including normality, homogeneity of variance, independence, and linearity. Explain how you assessed these assumptions and what steps you took to address violations, if any.
3. Data preparation- Describe how you prepared your data for analysis, including any transformations or recoding that was done. Discuss any missing data and how it was handled.
4. Analysis methods- Explain the statistical tests used and why they were appropriate for your research questions or hypotheses. This explanation may include descriptive or inferential statistics (such as t-tests, ANOVA, regression analysis, or chi-square tests).
5. Results- Present your results in a clear and organized manner, using tables and graphs as appropriate. Include descriptive statistics (such as means, standard deviations, and frequencies) and inferential statistics (such as p-values, effect sizes, and confidence intervals) to support your conclusions.
6. Interpretation: Discuss the meaning and implications of your results in the context of your research questions or hypotheses. Describe any patterns or trends that emerged, and consider alternative explanations or limitations of your findings.
7. Conclusion: Summarize your main findings and their significance, highlighting any contributions to the literature or practical implications of your research. Also, discuss any future research directions that could build on your work.
Overall, the statistical tests section should demonstrate that you have chosen appropriate methods for your research questions, followed the best data preparation and analysis practices, and drawn sound conclusions from your results. It should also be written clearly and concisely, with appropriate references to the relevant literature and statistical software used (JASP, Exel, or SPSS).
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Summarize your methodology and provide a transition to Chapter Four. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Four
Research Findings
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
Participants and Research Setting
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Include the number of participants ( N =) and provide specifics about the surveyed sample population. Do not include the names of any schools, businesses, or institutions for confidentiality reasons. The use of an alternative format to identify the organization. Options such as the general geographical location (School district in the Southeast, Organization A, Organization B, or other appropriate alternative formats should be used.
Analyses of Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. List and number research questions one at a time. You should address each question with its own level three heading. The results must be presented without implication, speculation, assessment, evaluation, or interpretation.
Research Question One
Use italics for letters used as statistical symbols or algebraic variables (e.g., contained 587 t-test p values; R2 = .12). Report exact p values to two or three decimals (e.g., p = .006, p = .03). However, report p values less than .001 as “ p < .001.”
Also, be sure to state whether the null hypotheses were rejected or failed to be rejected. An example of a null that failed to be rejected could be worded like the following: the results of the data analysis failed to reject the null hypothesis in determining if there was a relationship between age and purchase intentions. An example of a rejected null could be worded like the following: as a result of the data analysis, the null hypothesis was rejected for research question one in determining if there was a relationship between perceived value and purchase intentions.
Research Question Two
Consult the Numbers and Statistics Guide from American Psychological Association for additional guidance. Consult the Tables and Figures section from APA Style for guidelines and examples of tables and figures.
Supplementary Findings
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Again, the results must be presented without implication, speculation, assessment, evaluation, or interpretation.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Summarize your results and provide a transition to Chapter Five.
Chapter Five
In the Practical Assessment of Research Question section, focus in this section on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic.
Discuss the link to leadership.
Summary, Discussion, and Implications
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
Practical Assessment of Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The Practical Assessment of Research Question section focuses on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic. Make sure to include any unusual findings as well (i.e., results that you did not expect to be significant but were, or findings that may have surprised you based on previous research findings). Introduce the reader to this section, then address each research question separately (see below). You will have as many level three headings as you do research questions (i.e., if you have two research questions, you will have two level 3 headings. If you have four research questions, you will have 4 level 3 headings, etc.). Finally, do not repeat any statistical findings in the level 3 headings below; only report their significance. No statistical narratives should be entered into the Practical Assessment of Research Questions.
Research Question One
You should address each research question with its own level three heading (i.e., Research Question One ) and let the reader know how your results were different or similar to the results you found in the lit review studies in Chapter Two. You should have many citations in this section as you discuss each of your research questions. For example, the best practice is to have at least three or more recent citations from Chapter Two (5 years old or less) per research question needed to close the literature gap from Chapter Two. Please review Chapter Two to ensure that you have a minimum of 3 citations from Chapter Two that assists in closing the literature gap.
Research Question Two
Avoid restating the statistical findings and reporting in Chapter Four here. You should not repeat the statistical results but instead, note the significance and how those were similar or different from the studies you cited in Chapter Two.
Supplementary Findings
If you had supplementary findings in Chapter Four, you would also need to provide a practical assessment of the findings here as you have for all the other individual research questions. Be sure to state your findings by significance (do not use statistical reporting) and how your findings are similar or different from those noted in Chapter Two's lit review. This practical assessment of the research findings will assist you in closing the research loop for your supplementary findings as you have for the other individual research questions.
Limitations of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Do not copy and paste the limitations stated in Chapter One. Think of this subsection as the "humble pie” subsection. In your Limitations section in Chapter One, you addressed the study's potential limitations. Begin by looking at potential limitations as you initially proposed, and then discuss those that may have affected your findings one way or another. In many cases, the potential limitations referenced in Chapter One do not come into play here.
However, limitations can typically originate in one of two sources: the study's design and problems during implementation. Design issues involve sampling, assessment, procedures, and choice of research design (i.e., poor match). Furthermore, issues of implementation must be addressed (i.e., low sample, measurement issues, heterogeneous groups).
When developing this section, consider limitations in four significant areas internal validity, external validity, measurement, and statistical analysis. Concerning internal validity, unless the study is a "true experiment," one cannot claim that the IV "caused" changes in the DV. Likewise, the extent to which findings can be generalized must be discussed for external validity. Concerning measurement limitations, discuss issues of reliability and validity of assessment instruments. Finally, regarding statistical analysis limitations, discuss the effect size and statistical test chosen.
Implications for Future Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The recommendations may be directed at the participants, community, state, nation, or internationally. Furthermore, discuss findings in light of questions or issues that suggest future research directions. Extend the study to other populations. For example, consider other IVs and DVs that ought to be explored in the field and how to assess those additional variables. The Implications for Future Study is the portion of the paper where researchers are allowed to dream and set the stage for similar studies in the future by thinking of ways to extend your study to other questions that may add to the understanding of the issues.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
References
Consult the Reference scetion on APA Style for more information about citing references.
All citations and references must match throughout the dissertation. Follow APA guidelines on formatting.
Only include sources that you cited in your text in your reference list.
All live links should be in black font rather than blue. No underline needed.
References are double spaced with appropriate indent for second and subsequent lines.
References with hyperlinks to retrieval sources or DOIs, should include the “live” link to the source.
Appendix A
Appendices: This section contains any tables, figures and possible data sources that were not appropriate in the chapters of your dissertation, as well as copies of consent forms and IRB Approval Letter.
Tables
2.14 Appendices: If an appendix consists of a table or figure only, then the appendix label takes the place of the table or figure number, and the appendix title takes the place of the table or figure title. Thus, if Appendix B is a table-only appendix, the table is referred to as Appendix B rather than as Table B1. Likewise, if Appendix C is a figure-only appendix, the figure is referred to as Appendix C rather than as Figure C1. If multiple tables and/or figures (but no text) are combined into one appendix, label and title the appendix and also number and title the tables and/or figures within the appendix (e.g., Tables D1 and D2 are two tables in Appendix D).
Appendix B
Figures
Appendix C
Consent Forms
Include a copy of the letter/form used to obtain consent from participants in the study.
Do not include consent forms from organizations that provided permission to gather data.
Appendix D
IRB Approval
Appendix E
Additional G*Power resources and examples are located in the IRB and Research Organization
G*Power Analysis
G*Power Analysis for t-test
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