Today I will talk
about the prospectus, this is the first official document related to your
dissertation (the premise is not officially submitted). This paper will go into
more depth on your project; it is usually 10-12 pages long. In it, you explore
more of the literature (clearly showing there is a gap in the literature) and
fleshing out your research method. It is important to remember that you are
building a case in your writing, you want to clearly show that there is a need
for your study (answering the "so what" question, which is your gap
in the literature). Then, you want to show clearly how your study will fill
this gap. Make sure that everything in
your paper is aligned- your literature, research questions, hypotheses and
method all address the same issues and are consistent. Your analyses should be
consistent with your hypotheses and research questions.
You will want to
consider the social change implications of your study, don’t overstate this,
you will not change the world. You are adding a little more to the literature,
hopefully clarifying your small piece of the puzzle.
There is a
dissertation prospectus guide in the Research Center, available at: http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu.
This document also has a prospectus example of what is required. It is also a
good idea to take a look at the prospectus rubric available in the research
center. These documents will let you know how the faculty will be evaluating your
paper.
If you are planning
to use a vulnerable population (e.g., your subordinates, children, elderly,
prisoners, people who are ill, etc.) or if you are thinking about having people
participate in some sort of activity or program (e.g., a new relaxation
technique; something they would not normally do) then you may have ethical
issues to consider. First, go to the Walden's IRB (Institution Review Board
/ethics board) website http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/Application-and-General-Materials.htm,
there you will find several information sheets on these issues. Think the
issues through and talk them over with your chair. It is probably a good idea
to write up your method in an email to the IRB (IRB@waldenu.edu), and ask for
their opinion and if they foresee any problems. They are very open to this
early planning and can save you much pain and disappointment later.
Often, by the time
you are writing your prospectus you have a chair of your committee, and you
will be in his or her dissertation class. Beware of the tendency to think of
your dissertation as MINE. It is not your paper, it is a paper written
by you at the advice of your committee. You will be asked to write many
revisions. No, it does not mean that you are a bad writer; you are learning to
write in a very technical manner that requires precise clarity. Your committee
(and particularly your chair) is there to guide you and get you and your paper
through the many obstacles ahead. Patience, persistence, and meticulousness
will save you a great deal of pain in the future!
Once your chair has
approved your prospectus draft, your chair will send it to your committee
member (note, you should always have the chair submit your paper to other
faculty). He or she will probably want revisions. Once those are completed and
everyone is happy with the draft, the committee member and chair complete the
prospectus rubric. Your chair will submit the prospectus and rubric to the
Research Center, who will in turn send it on to your program director for
approval.
This last step, that
your prospectus will be sent to your program director by the research center,
is an important one to consider. He or she will double-check your entire paper,
of special concern will be if everything in your paper is consistent and
aligned (research questions fit with method, analyses, etc.). They will also make
sure that your topic fits within your program. Why is this important? Because
if you are a health psych student proposing to examine a clinical psych issue, areas
that you have not been trained in during your Walden health psych program it may
not be approved. If you have expertise outside of your Walden program, perhaps
you are a licensed counselor or a mental health nurse, have your chair mention
that in the email to the research center.
Next time, we start
on the actual dissertation with a side visit to organization: record keeping
and references, so you can find things in the future.
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