The first page of your prospectus is your cover page. Center the word
Prospectus, under this and give your title. Your title should be no more than
12 words (per APA) and should include the topic, the variables and relationship
between them, and the most critical keywords. Also on the cover page, include
your name, any other required information, double-spaced and centered under the
title.
The next page begins with your problem statement. It should include a
logical argument showing an identified gap in the research literature, which
has relevance to the discipline and area of practice. You should briefly review
the literature in this section and demonstrate this is a true gap. Provide
three to five key recent citations that highlight the relevance and currency of
the problem.
Next, describe the overall purpose or intention of your study. In
quantitative studies, state what needs to be studied by describing two or more
factors (variables) and a conjectured relationship among them related to the
identified gap or problem. In qualitative studies, describe the need for
increased understanding about the issue to be studied, based on the identified
gap or problem. In mixed-methods studies, with both quantitative and
qualitative aspects, clarify how the two approaches will be used together to
inform the study.
When your reader finishes this section, he or she should understand why
you are doing the study, and the gap your study will address. Have someone
unfamiliar with the topic area read the section and see if he or she
understands it. Spell check and grammar check!
Next time, we will work on the significance of your study. Do you have
an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post?
Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas!
leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu
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