Download Research Methodology: Comprehensive Guide for Qualitative & Quantitative Studies and more Study notes Literature in PDF only on Docsity!
TITLE IN ALL CAPS
by STUDENT NAME A Dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Fayetteville State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctorate of Education DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA Month/Year of Expected Graduation APPROVED BY:
Chair of Dissertation Advisory Committee
Dissertation Committee Member Dissertation Committee Member
iv ABSTRACT Name, Title, (under the direction of [dissertation chair’s name]) Text goes here. This is usually not completed until the dissertation is completed. Key search terms are placed at the end.
vi DEDICATION Text goes here.
vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................. v DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. vii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 2 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................... 2 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................ 2 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................... 3 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 4 Assumptions................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Definition of Terms (in alphabetical order) .................................................................... 5 Organization of the Study ............................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER II – LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................... 7 Topic One........................................................................................................................ 7 Sub-topic ..................................................................................................................... 7 Topic Two ....................................................................................................................... 8 Sub-topic ..................................................................................................................... 8
- Sub-topic of Sub-topic
- Summary
- CHAPTER III – METHODOLOGY
- Research Design and Rationale
- Qualitative Inquiry
- Study Participants
- Data Collection Procedures and Management
- Data Interpretation and Analysis
- Credibility and Trustworthiness
- Quantitative Inquiry
- Population
- Sampling and Sampling Procedures
- Data Collection Procedures and Management
- Instrumentation and Operationalization of Constructs
- Quantitative Data Analysis
- Validity and Reliability
- Risks..............................................................................................................................
- Ethics.............................................................................................................................
- Limitations of the Study..............................................................................................
- Delimitations of the Study
- Summary
- CHAPTER IV - FINDINGS
- Organization of the Chapter ix
- Qualitative Results
- Description of Study Participants
- Theme 1 : XXXXXXX
- Subtheme:
- Subtheme:
- Theme 2: XXXXXXX
- Subtheme...................................................................................................................
- Quantitative Results
- Data Collection
- Treatment or Intervention Fidelity
- Results
- Synthesis and Summary
- CHAPTER V – DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
- Overview of Study
- Discussion
- Discussion of Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
- Implications for Teachers, Educational Leaders, and Policymakers
- Suggestions for Future Research
- Concluding Thoughts
- REFERENCES
- APPENDICES
x LIST OF FIGURES No table of figures entries found.
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
Introduction Broadly describes your research focus and explains why the focus is worthy of study. This section identifies the problem and then discusses your proposed solution (i.e. the title/focus of your study). Then, it should clearly discuss the gap in the literature (a need or opportunity that has been identified by other scholars and researchers in the literature – not your personal opinion) and states how your study (your proposed solution) will further existing research. All statements of fact and statistics should be attributed to the appropriate source and be the most current (i.e. National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Education Progress, relevant state regulatory agencies, federal agencies such as the United States Census Bureau). The overwhelming majority of citations should be from within the last five years. The minimum length is anywhere from 1 ½ pages to four pages. Make sure each paragraph contains at least three sentences (topic sentence, supporting details, and conclusion) and make sure each paragraph properly transitions to the next. Also remember that there is only one space after every period. Make sure educational jargon is defined at the time it is introduced and that the word also appears in the Definition of Terms (i.e. achievement gap, students of color). Make sure all racial terms are capitalized (i.e. Black, White, African American). A note about citations. Single source citations can indicate a lack of rigor. Make sure you have at least two to three citations for your statements of fact. Make sure you have at least three or four for major points or to indicate an issue is a long-standing
concern. Moreover, do not reference “recent studies” with citations that are more than three years old. Statement of the Problem Using declarative statements, explain the problem and how and why it has developed over time. It should include the significance, magnitude, and importance of the problem to educational leadership, social justice, and transformative leadership (these are the tenets of FSU’s doctoral program). Previous studies in this area that indicate the gap, identify the gap, and justify your study should be included. Remember, the problem is not your opinion. The problem is identified and supported by other researchers and scholars. This means this section must contain citations. The recommended length can be anywhere from three paragraphs to three to four pages. Purpose of the Study This section discusses the purpose of your study and who the purpose will benefit (i.e. practitioners, policymakers, administrators, educator preparation programs, etc.). If this is a qualitative study, you should have language that is consistent with this: “The purpose/intent/objective of this qualitative [narrative, ethnography, case study, phenomenological] study is to (describe, understand, explore, deepen, develop) ___________ (the phenomena you are studying). Significance of the Study Identifies and describes why the study is important to the field of educational leadership/social justice/transformative leadership and states the practical implications of the potential results. It also discusses how the research may extend or contribute to
best for your topic and why it is central to understanding the phenomenon under study. Minimum length should be at least two pages. Research Questions Research questions are not the same as interview questions that you will ask. Research questions are developed from your framework and are greatly influenced by your Statement of the Problem. For example, if your framework is Bandura’s self- efficacy, then your research questions will center around the elements of Self-Efficacy Theory. If your framework is Critical Race Theory, your research questions will reflect the elements of CRT. For qualitative studies, there is generally a guiding question with related questions. While there is no set number of questions, four to five are relatively standard for qualitative studies. Note: research questions must not be formulated as yes or no questions. For quanitiatve inquiry you list them as RQ1, RQ2, RQ3, etc. Hypotheses are optional. Questions in Chapter 1 are optional but required in Chapter 3. It is suggested that the questions are complimentary such that they build on each other and provide understanding that is expansive in nature. For example, the quantitative component may present results that report on a condition or phenomena while the qualitative component would report out perspectives or experiences the research participants had as a result of living the phenomena in question. In short, the questions must be aligned, supportive, and natural extensions of the mixed inquiry.
Assumptions (optional as per committee’s discretion) This section is included if this is a qualitative study. It explains your interest in the topic and any bias you bring to the study. Including it is also an accepted strategy for validation of your study. Although is a highly personal part of your research any facts should be backed up with citations. Suggested minimum length is 1 to 1 ½ pages. Definition of Terms (in alphabetical order) All terms specifically relevant to the topic under study should be defined in text as they are used and in this section. Note that generally understood terms do not meet this threshold. Terms are defined according to how they are used in the literature, not how they are defined in dictionaries. For example, secondary education can mean 9th^ to 12th grade or 10th^ to 12th^ grade in the literature. You, as the researcher, get to decide but you must define it according to its specific use for your study and your use of terms must be consistent. Word : definition with citation at the end Word : definition with citation at the end. Word : definition with citation at the end. Word : definition with citation at the end. Word : definition with citation at the end. Word : definition with citation at the end. Organization of the Study Explain how the dissertation is organized in this section. Stay consistent with roman numerals for chapter headings (i.e. do not use Chapter One since our chapters are
CHAPTER II – LITERATURE REVIEW
The introductory paragraph to the literature review restates the purpose of your study. Next, it explains what you are reviewing and its significance to your topic. The literature review should cover some or all of the following (again, check with your chair first): (1) overview or historical background of your problem, (2) analyzes and synthesizes literature related to the foundation, theories, and existing knowledge (this must include research studies with findings – not just journal articles) related to your problem and purpose, (3) analyzes and synthesizes the literature related to the justification of your study. Before you begin your literature review, develop your list of headings and sub- headings and get them approved. For suggestions, look at other dissertations on your topic to see what areas they covered. Getting approval up front will ensure you are moving in the right direction. You should be reviewing the most recent literature available and that must include other dissertations. You can group the literature according to theoretical perspectives, time periods, reform efforts, or methodology (quantitative or qualitative). Unless specifically requested by your chair, your literature review does not have to include your theoretical or conceptual framework. Literature reviews that are less than 20 pages can signal that you do not have a complete grasp of your topic and the related literature. Be careful that your review does not read like a book report. Topic One Sub-topic This is level three heading
Topic Two Sub-topic This is level three Sub-topic of Sub-topic. This is level four heading Summary Use one or two paragraphs to summarize the findings from the literature review.
used in the previous section on research design. Here again, familiarize yourself with the epistemology, ontology, and axiology perspectives. This will give your methodology depth. You should have at minimum three pages. Creswell (2013) explicates the characteristics of the five most common qualitative approaches on pages 104-105. See sample language below. Samples (1) If I could discover the meaning of one person’s or a group of person’s lived experiences, I would ask him/her about xxx = narrative; (2) If I could discover the shared lived experiences of one quality or phenomenon in others, I would want to know xxx = phenomenology; (3) If I could discover what actually occurred and was experienced in a single lived event, that event would be xxx = case study. Qualitative Research Design The research design is the one of the most important decisions you make. It is directly influenced by your research questions. Since this is a qualitative template, discuss specific features that illustrate its suitability. These should include philosophical assumptions such as epistemology, ontology, and axiology. Make sure to address at least three features and make sure you are citing at least five different researchers. The recommended minimum length for this section is 1 ½ to 2 ½ pages. Study Participants Describe the criteria you will establish or established for your participants and justify with citations from the literature. For example, if you plan to interview teachers, explain the level (elementary, middle school, secondary), whether not they needed to
have a specific length of time in the classroom, the gender if it is pertinent, etc. If you plan to use or used pseudonyms, state that here. The second part to this section is where you discuss your sampling procedures. Make sure you are not using quantitative terms (i.e. surveys, instrument). Instead, you should be using qualitative terms (i.e. interviews, recruitment strategies) for qualitative studies. Do not forget to state that before your study commences, you will secure the proper approvals from the relevant entities (e.g. Institutional Review Board, school district, etc.). For your dissertation, demographic data is best illustrated in a table. Minimum length is one page. Data Collection Procedures and Management Describe step by step how you intend to collect your data (for quantitative studies this includes where and how you will collect your data). If data is collected in parallel, be sure to state and explain. Keep in mind that you want to be specific in case other researchers want to replicate the steps. Again, use quantitative terms for quantitative studies and qualitative terms for qualitative studies. For example, typical collection procedures for qualitative studies are observations, field notes, interviews, and review of documents. However, there are different types of observations and different types of interviews. Know the terms/differences and state specifically which ones you will employ. For data management, state how data will be kept, where it will be kept, and how long it will be stored.
