Navigating The Dissertation
  • I: From Start to Proposal Defense
    • 1: Types >
      • Introduction for Types of Dissertations
      • Overview of the Dissertation
      • Self-Assessment Exercise
      • What is a Dissertation Committee
      • Different Types of Dissertations
    • 2: Overview >
      • Introduction for Overview of the Dissertation Process
      • Responsibilities: the Chair, the Team and You
      • Sorting Exercise
      • Stages of a Dissertation
      • Managing Your Time
      • Create Your Own Timeline
      • Working with a Writing Partner
      • Key Deadlines
      • Self Assessment Exercise
      • Additional Resources
    • 3: Background >
      • Purpose and Goals
      • Read and Evaluate Chapter 1 Exemplars
      • Draft an Introduction of the Study
      • Outline the Background of the Problem
      • Draft your Statement of the Problem
      • Draft your Purpose of the Study
      • Draft your Significance of the Study
      • List the Possible Limitations and Delimitations
      • Explicate the Definition of Terms
      • Outline the Organization of the Study
      • Recommended Resources and Readings
    • 4: Lit Review >
      • Purpose and Goals
      • Purpose of the Literature Review
      • What is the Literature?
      • Article Summary Table
      • Writing a Short Literature Review
      • Outline for Literature Review
      • Synthesizing the Literature Review
      • Recommended Resources and Readings
    • 5: Methods >
      • Purpose and Goals
      • Purpose of the Methodology Chapter
      • Topics to Include
      • Preparing to Write the Methodology Chapter
      • Self-Assessment Exercise
      • Confidentiality
      • Building the Components for Chapter Three
      • Recommended Resources and Readings
    • 6: Qualify Exam & IRB >
      • Preparing for Your Qualifying Exam (aka Proposal Defense)
      • What is Needed for Your Proposal Defense?
      • Submitting Your Best Draft
      • Preparing Your Abstract for IRB
      • Use of Self-Assessment
      • Preparing Your PowerPoint
      • During Your Proposal Defense
      • After Your Proposal Defense
  • II: Data Collection and Analysis
    • 1: IRB
    • 2: Data Collection >
      • Pre-observation – Issues to consider
      • During Observations
      • Wrapping Up
      • Recommended Resources and Readings (Qualitative)
      • Quantitative Data Collection
      • Recommended Resources and Readings (Quantitative)
    • 3: Data Analysis >
      • Qualitative: Before you Start
      • Qualitative: During Analysis
      • Qualitative: After Analysis
      • Qualitative: Recommended Resources and Readings
      • Quantitative: Deciding on the Right Analysis
      • Quantitative: Data Management and Cleaning
      • Quantitative: Keep Track of your Analysis
  • III: Findings, Discussion, and Final Defense
    • 1: Chapter 4 >
      • The Purpose of Chapter 4
      • The Elements of Chapter 4
      • Presenting Results (Quantitative)
      • Presenting Findings (Qualitative)
      • Chapter 4 Considerations
      • Recommended Resources and Readings
    • 2: Chapter 5 >
      • The Purpose of Chapter 5
      • Preparing Your Abstract for the Graduate School
      • Draft the Introduction for Chapter 5
      • Draft the Summary of Findings
      • Draft Implications for Practice
      • Draft your Recommendations for Research
      • Draft your Conclusions
      • Recommended Resources and Readings
    • 3: Preparing for Defense >
      • What is Needed
      • Submitting Your Best Draft
      • Use of Self-Assessment
      • Preparing Your PowerPoint
      • What Happens During the Final Defense?
      • What Happens After the Final Defense?
      • Graduation

Purpose and Goals
Topic 5: Methods

In this topic, candidates will learn the key components of Chapter Three, the methodology chapter of the dissertation. We discuss how these key components link back to elements in Chapters One (introduction) and Two (review of the literature), as well as the level of detail needed in this Chapter. The key components include: Rationale for the general methodological approach selected, the site and sample selection process, data collection strategies including a description of the development of any collection instruments such as surveys or interview protocols, and the proposed data analysis process.

This topic extends what students have learning in the Inquiry I and Inquiry II courses and applies that learning to their specific problem of practice.

Learning Objectives
  1. Explain the purpose of Chapter Three
  2. Explain the differences between qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies
  3. Write a conceptual framework for qualitative and quantitative studies
  4. Match data collection methods with the conceptual framework and to answer the study questions
  5. Find an existing dataset for quantitative analysis or determine the unit of analysis and then the sample to be used for qualitative data collection and analysis
  6. Identify an assessment tool for quantitative analysis
  7. Write (or identify) a survey instrument based on the conceptual framework
  8. Write an interview protocol based on the conceptual framework
  9. Design an observation protocol based on the conceptual framework.
  10. Write a content analysis protocol
  11. Write out the approach to data analysis extending from the conceptual framework (qualitative dissertation)
  12. Select and write the Population section
  13. Select and write the Sample section
  14. Pilot an instrument (interview protocol, survey, etc.)
  15. Prepare for the qualifying exam/proposal defense
  16. Complete the CITI Training
  17. Use the EdD Guidelines and Checklist to navigate the IRB submission process


Purpose
The information in a successful Chapter Three serves as a road map for the collection and analysis of one's data. An effective Chapter Three explains how data are being defined and collected, based on the factors or issues that arose in the literature review in Chapter 2. This chapter also forms the basis of a sort of"contract" between the student and the doctoral committee – the chapter's description of the proposed study (at the proposal stage) should be sufficiently clear, complete and thoughtful that it reduces the likelihood of someone saying, post data collection,"Oh! You should have asked X, or collected Y." The chapter represents the best thinking of the student and the advising committee about how to answer the research questions being posed. So you can see that an incomplete understanding of the role of Chapter Three can lead to a methodology full of gaps, creating the potential for the study to go off track, and not answer the research questions.
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