The Dissertation Process - 1

FSE-ARC

Program ProfessorsNydia Cummings, PhD, Executive DirectorSoledad Argüelles-Borge, PhDCharlene Desir, EdDFawzy Ebrahim, PhDAlex Edmonds, PhDTom Kennedy, PhDJames Pann, PhDFSE-ARC

•Acts as liaison between students,chairs, and ARCJack Billings, EdDKatrina Pann, PhDLiz Romero, PhDDavid Weintraub, EdD•Reviews and helps resolve studentconcerns regarding dissertationcommittees and process•Assigns students to dissertationcommittees based on DissertationMatch results•Completes the reassignment ofstudents should the need ariseFSE-ARC

ARC Advising FrameworkProgram ProfessorDissertationServicesAssociateAD CommitteeChair & MemberAD CommitteeChair & MemberAD CommitteeChair & MemberAD CommitteeChair & MemberStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentStudentFSE-ARC

Obtaining a CommitteeYou will be invited to complete theDissertation Match.Your DSA will use the information fromthe Dissertation Match to assign you to acommittee chair and memberwho have expertise in the yourexpressed area of interest.FSE-ARC

Initial Contact WithCommittee Chair• Be prepared to share with chair a draft problemstatement.• Share current professional role and where studywill be conducted.• Discuss progress in Methods of Inquiry class.• Be candid about concerns relative to the upcomingprocess.• Engage in a positive ongoing relationship.FSEHARC

Dissertation Flow ChartEnroll inMethods ofInquiryDissertationMatchCommitteeAssignedInitialContactConceptPaperProposalIRBConductResearchAppliedDissertationReportFinalReviewFSE-ARC

Iterative Review Process1. Chair reviews the paper2. Student makes corrections3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as needed4. Chair sends the paper to the member5. Member reviews paper and sends it back to the chair6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until both are satisfied7. Both chair and member approve benchmarkFSE-ARC

Major DissertationBenchmarksI - Concept PaperII - ProposalIII - Applied DissertationFinal ReportFSE-ARC

Creating A Calendar PlanThe plan should include the following items with dates:1. Make first contact with committee chair2. Identify the problem3. Write the concept paper4. Expand the concept paper into a proposal5. Prepare Institutional Review Board paperwork6. Conduct the research7. Analyze the data8. Write the final applied dissertation report9. Submit the paper for final reviewFSE-ARC

ChapterbyChapterFSE-ARC

• Statement of the Problem should have• a brief description of proposed area of study,moving from broad to very focused.• evidence of the problem and its relevancefrom the literature and experience.• a list of deficiencies in the evidence—What elsedo we need to know?• a clear description of setting and student’s role.• a description of the audience who may benefitfrom the study.• a clear and representative picture of theproposed study.

• Definitions of Major Concepts and Terms• Purpose of the Study• Begins with “The purpose of this study is . . .”• Clearly identifies and defines centralconcepts of study, variables andrelationships, and participants and setting• Refers to the purpose of the study, not just achange or a wish of the student

• Notes theoretical or conceptual framework forthe study• Offers “state-of-knowledge” summaryregarding problem area• Covers all main concepts from problemstatement• Has a clear discussion of how further studiesshould extend, differ from, or replicate paststudies• Notes strengths and weaknesses of prior studies• Give a literature base for chosen methodology

• Research questions are• based on theory, literature, and experience• stated in the form of a question• specific, feasible, and have measurablevariables• notes participants and research site

• Separate each topic by heading• Use multiple citations to supportimportant points• Use direct quotes and secondarycitations sparingly• Use mostly peer-reviewed material fromwithin last 5 years (more recent fortechnology topics)

• Participants• Target population or sample defined• Population specified, including demographics• Sampling procedure identified• Instruments• Source or developers of instruments• Validity and reliability information• Relevant details, including number of items in scale,subscales• Use of established, published instruments whenpossible

• Procedures• Based on research questions and design• Presents specific procedures for coding data• Presents specific statistical analyses forquantitative research• Presents specific procedures for qualitativeresearch

• Data Analysis• Based on research questions and design• Explains specific procedures for coding data• For quantitative studies, indicates specificstatistical analyses• For qualitative studies, indicates specificprocedures

• Limitations› Well conceptualized and written--not just anafterthought› Internal validity (quasi- and experimentaldesigns) is noted› External validity/generalizability is noted

• Proposal is preapproved.• Student sends proposal to ARC for ProgramProfessor Review and for feedback on APA style.• ARC approves or communicates with committeefor revisions. Student makes revisions. Chairapproves proposal.

Institutional Review BoardIt is suggested that the student begin preparing the IRBdocuments when the chair states that the proposal is nearapproval. Doing this will save time.The chair must review all IRB documents before submission.Each submission must have the chair’s signature on the lastpage.After the applied dissertation committee has approved theproposal and the IRB package, the student electronicallysubmits, via ADRIANA, a copy of the approved proposaltogether with the completed IRB submission package to theARC for review..FSE-ARC

Applied Dissertation(Final Report) ComponentsWritten After the Research Has Been Done• Title Page• Approval Page• Acknowledgments (optional)• Abstract• Table of ContentsFSE-ARC

Applied DissertationComponents (cont.)• Chapter 1: Introduction• Chapter 2: Literature Review• Chapter 3: Methodology• Chapter 4: Results• Chapter 5: Discussion• References• AppendicesAddedchaptersFrom the proposal --with change to pasttense where requiredFSE-ARC

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Chapter 5• Introduction• Results are elaborated and interpreted• Conclusions and summaries are presented• Findings are linked to relevant research• Limitations of the study are presented• Recommendations are made for futureresearch

• Applied dissertation is preapproved• Student sends applied dissertation to ARC forProgram Professor Review and Format Review• ARC approves or asks for revisions. Studentmakes changes and resubmits to chair and ARCfor approval.

Contact your chair at least once amonth Make all developmental, formatting, orstyle changes required by chair Inform your chair of any job changes Be candid about your expectationsFSE-ARC

• Provide clear and detailed feedback on both contentand form• Review submissions within 10 business days• Provide suggestions to assist student with writing, APAstyle, and Fischler School style matters. Chair is not thestudent’s editor.• Assist student in gaining access to ARC and universityresources and procedures, such as the library, IRBdocuments, and format review.• Be the conduit between the student and committeememberFSE-ARC

The ARC Website• Become familiar with the ARC website• http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/• applied-research/arcThe website contains• academic resources• links to IRB and ADRIANA• contact informationBOOKMARK IT!FSE-ARC