Dissertation Guide

Revised January 2009

Dorcas UniversityAdministrative & Research Center

1860 Ala Moana Boulevard,Suite 404 Honolulu, Hawaii 96815

http://www.dorcas.edu

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Table of Contents

Chapters

1. The Dissertation 3What is a Dissertation? 3Publication of Research Results 4References 4

2. The Dissertation Process in DU 5Getting Started 5Writing Skills 6The Dissertation Idea Paper 7

Format and Contents of the Idea Paper 7The Preliminary Dissertation Proposal 8Format and Contents of the Preliminary Dissertation Proposal 8The Formal Dissertation Proposal 9Format and Contents of the Formal Dissertation Proposal 10The Final Dissertation Report 14Format of the Final Dissertation Report 15

Contents of the Final Dissertation Report 17

3. Form and Style 20Style Guides 20Reference Citations 21Online Citations 22Use of Web Material in Dissertations 22Reference List and Annotated Bibliography 23Other Formatting Requirements 24

Margins 24Line Spacing 24Paragraph Spacing 24Page Numbering 24Type Style 24Title Page 25The Abstract 25Chapter Title Heading, Subheadings, and Sub-Subheadings 25Tables and Figures in the Text Body 25Appendixes 26

Appendixes

A. Reference List 27

B. The Dissertation Approval Form 28

C. Sample Dissertation Pages and Formats 30

Index 43

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Chapter 1

The Dissertation

What is a Dissertation?

The dissertation is the most important requirement for the doctoral degree. You are expected, with the help and approval of an advisor, to select an appropriate topic of sufficient scope to satisfy the requirements for the dissertation.

The dissertation is an original, rigorous research work carried out with substantial independence by the doctoral candidate. It represents a significant extrapolation from a base of solid experience or knowledge in the area of concentration. In a significant way, the dissertation advances knowledge, improves professional practice or contributes to understanding in the field of study. Dissertation work is presented in a logical and understandable fashion.

Originality, independence, and rigor deserve some explanation. Originality means that the research has not been done previously in the same way. Independence means that the research is conceived, performed, and documented primarily by the doctoral candidate. To be rigorous, the research work is characterized by strict accuracy and scrupulous honesty and presents precise distinctions among facts, implications, and suppositions. Rigor is achieved by using demonstrable facts when reporting procedures and results, by building on a foundation of facts when drawing conclusions, by specifying links to facts when inferring implications, by always bringing forward all relevant data, and by being both self-critical and logical in reporting (Mauch & Birch, 1998).

The dissertation must be of sufficient strength to be able to distill from it a paper worthy of publication in a journal or conference proceedings, or to use it as the basis of a textbook or monograph. Although publication is not a requirement for completing the doctoral degree, you are strongly encouraged to submit your dissertation research work for publication. There is also no better way to appreciate the standards expected in a journal paper, or dissertation, than to read papers and dissertations in your area of specialization.

To facilitate the dissertation process, each DU doctoral program includes a series of four-credit project courses that offers you the opportunity to perform in-depth original and independent work in areas that are of professional interest. In many cases, a project course has helped lay a direct foundation for a dissertation or has indirectly stimulated interest in an area that ultimately led to a dissertation. DU project courses develop skills that you can use in the dissertation process, such as information gathering, problem identification, investigation and analysis, effective documentation, planning, and management.

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Publication of Research Results

Publication of dissertation results is not required but is encouraged. Publication, which may occur before or after graduation from the program, promotes professional recognition and is valuable to the new graduate's professional career and also to DU. Your advisor will be pleased to recommend several appropriate professional or scholarly journals for submission of your work. Publication in a refereed journal is the best way to validate the value of the candidate's work.

Students sometimes co-author publications with their advisors or committee members or both. This may happen when substantial contributions are made by these persons or when the dissertation is part of a larger project of DU. In the latter case, other students who have collaborated on the project may also be co-authors.

References

Books that explore the dissertation process include Davis and Parker (1997), Mauch and Birch (1998), and Miller and Taylor (1987). Excellent books on writing include Dupré (1995), Strunk and White (1979), and Zinsser (2001). Research methods are discussed in Mauch and Birch (1998) and Isaac and Michael (1997). Other useful references include The Chicago Manual of Style from the University of Chicago Press (1993) and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001), a handbook on writing for publication. Appendix A contains the Reference List for these sources. Note, however, that DU does not adhere to all University of Chicago or APA style recommendations.

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Chapter 2

The Dissertation Process in DU

Getting Started

Some students have a good idea for a dissertation topic when they start the program. Such students, however, are few and far between! The typical new doctoral student has no idea for a dissertation topic and no understanding of the dissertation process. Ideas for topics may come from many sources: a core course, readings, your job, a project course, a discussion with a faculty member, readings, a discussion with a colleague at your job, a discussion with a fellow student, and readings. (We are trying to convince you that the more you read the literature, the easier topic selection will be. Each paper, book, report, or dissertation that you read uses prior work as a foundation and, since a single work cannot do it all, usually points to future work that might be pursued.)

As you proceed in the program, you will be exposed to many potential topics, but do not expect one to jump out at you saying “I'm it. Your search is over. Forget all the other topics to which you gave fleeting thought!” A good approach is to keep a running list of possible topics. For each possible topic, provide a title, a short description of what the work might entail, an indication of the source(s) of the idea, relevant references, an annotated bibliography, and comments by faculty members with whom you have discussed the idea. Course instructors may mention potential research topics during lectures, so be sure to include these on your list. Remember that your interests may change as you go through your program, thus keeping track of even mildly interesting potential topics can be worthwhile.

It is important to communicate with faculty members about your interests and possible topics. Students are encouraged to communicate with faculty via email and to make appointments to meet with faculty members. Remember that faculty members will be happy to talk with you, and you should take advantage of every opportunity to meet with them.

Many students become anxious because they do not have a dissertation topic, but this is a normal situation and almost every student has to go through this search process. Do it methodically, and eventually you will find a topic. Remember that the faculty understands this situation and is there to advise you how to get through it.

Many students experience one or more false starts that result in the search for new topics. This also is a normal part of the process and should be expected.

Writing Skills

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DU requires each student to demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language in all work submitted during the dissertation process. Grammatical errors, spelling errors, and writing that fails to express ideas clearly will not be tolerated and may result in the rejection of dissertation work. The faculty will not provide remedial help concerning grammatical errors or other writing difficulties.

Appendix A contains useful references on writing, in particular, Dupré (1995) and American Psychological Association (2001). Dupré (1995) can help the student avoid common errors in professional writing.

Here are some helpful hints to get your writing off to a good start:

1. Quality, not quantity, is the watchword.

2. Always think before you write.

3. Proofread your work. Spell check it. Run it through a grammar tool, but do not rely solely on spelling and grammar tools. Proofread carefully.

4. Avoid overly general statements unless they are followed by statements that clarify and provide supporting evidence.

5. Support your statements with citations from appropriate literature.

6. Avoid the use of passive voice.

7. Write out, in full, the first identification of any person, organization, or object with acronyms, initialisms, or abbreviations. In the case of initialisms and acronyms follow the first full identification of the term with the appropriate acronym, abbreviation, or initialism in parentheses if you plan on using them later in your task.

8. Avoid excessive quotations.

9. Contractions do not belong in formal writing.

10. Use appropriate diction: received rather than got; difficulty rather than problem, etc.

11. The use of the first person is inappropriate in formal writing in that it gives the appearance of less objectivity. Writing should be in the third person.

12. Avoid needless intensifiers. For example: very important—either it is important or it is not.

13. Watch for split infinitives. For example, avoid: to merely serve, or to formally advocate, or to fully answer; use instead merely to serve, to advocate formally, or to answer fully.

14. Observe the differences in the following terms: feel, think, and believe. The distinctions between those words are important and misuse of them lends imprecision to your writing.

15. Colloquialisms are inappropriate in formal writing.

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16. Your opinions are not important. The results of your investigation are.

17. The formats provided in Appendix C should be followed as exact models.

The Dissertation Idea Paper

This must be a short document with length in the range of 7–14 double-spaced pages. Students submitting longer papers risk outright rejection. The dissertation idea paper is not intended to be a one-time or static document. As dissertation work proceeds, goals evolve. After a while, the original idea paper may not represent the current work. When this happens, the student may need to update the idea paper. The idea paper must accurately track the dissertation project, independent of the stage of the project. The idea paper is written in the future tense.

Format and Contents of the Idea Paper

The outline and instructions given next must be followed:

Problem Statement and Goal

This section must contain a concise statement of the problem to be addressed (why the work is being undertaken) and a concise definition of the goal of the work (what the work will accomplish). You should provide supporting evidence of the problem and goal from the literature. Every effort should be made to define a goal that is measurable, i.e., the faculty must be able to use the goal statement to determine whether you have succeeded when you say you are finished. The goal contained in the idea paper is a step in that direction, i.e., it attempts to establish some degree of measurability. Many students do not provide an adequate statement of the problem and this has been the basis for rejection. If you cannot say why you are doing it, you do not have the basis for a dissertation.

Relevance and Significance

This section serves to strengthen the statement of the problem to be addressed. It contains a brief description of the relative value of the work proposed. While a full literature search is not required at this stage, a brief discussion and synthesis of key relevant work must be included (usually 10 or fewer items at this stage). The result of your work must, in a significant way, advance knowledge, improve professional practice, and/or contribute to understanding in the field of study. It should be possible to distill from your completed dissertation a paper that is worthy of publication in a journal or conference proceedings or as a textbook or monograph.

Barriers and Issues

Why has this goal not already been met? Is it because the work is difficult and the solution elusive? That might make it appropriate for a dissertation. If, on the other hand, the work would be easy but no one, until now, has thought of it, then it might not be doctoral-level work. In this section, you discuss the underlying problem(s) and issues and the expected degree of difficulty of their solution.

Approach

Address how you expect to accomplish the stated goal. Prepare a list of the major steps, in

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sequence, you believe will have to be taken to accomplish the goal.

Resources

If appropriate, provide a preliminary description of the facilities or human resources to be used to accomplish the stated goal.

Reference List

The reference list must contain an entry for every work cited in the paper. It must follow the style shown in Appendix A, Reference List, and Appendix C, Sample Formats for References, of this guide. Note the requirement for single spacing within each reference, double spacing between references, and hanging indents.

The Preliminary Dissertation Proposal

The preliminary dissertation proposal is an important step on the way from the dissertation idea paper to the formal dissertation proposal. It is an expanded version of the idea paper and should be about 25–40 double-spaced pages in length. It is also written in the future tense. A full literature search is not required at this stage; however, an annotated bibliography must be prepared and included in the proposal covering the material you have read relevant to the proposed topic. The relationship between the proposed topic and the literature reviewed should be discussed in the preliminary dissertation proposal.

Format and Contents of the Preliminary Dissertation Proposal

These instructions must be followed. They expand those given earlier for the idea paper.

Problem Statement and Goal

This section must contain a concise statement of the problem to be addressed (why the work is being undertaken) and a concise definition of the goal of the work (what the work will accomplish). You should provide supporting evidence of the problem and goal from the literature. Every effort should be made to define a goal that is measurable, i.e., the faculty must be able to use the goal statement to determine whether you have succeeded when you say you are finished. The goal contained in the preliminary dissertation proposal should be more measurable than that contained in the idea paper. Many students do not provide an adequate statement of the problem and this has been the basis for rejection. If you cannot say why you are doing it, you do not have the basis for a dissertation.

Relevance, Significance, and Brief Review of the Literature

This section should describe more fully the relative value of the work proposed. The result of the work must, in a significant way, advance knowledge, improve professional practice, and/or contribute to understanding. It should be possible to distill from the dissertation a paper that is worthy of publication in a journal or conference proceeding in the area or as a textbook or monograph. A full literature search is not required at this stage, however, a brief review of the literature must be included in this section, and an annotated bibliography should be prepared covering the work you have read relevant to your proposed topic. Include the discussion of the literature in this section and place the annotated bibliography in the Annotated Bibliography section (see below).

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Barriers and Issues

Why has this goal not already been met? Is it because the work is difficult and the solution elusive? That might make it appropriate for a dissertation. If, on the other hand, the work would be easy but no one, until now, has thought of it, then it might not be doctoral-level work. In this section, you discuss the underlying problem(s) and issues and the expected degree of difficulty of their solution in greater detail than you did in the dissertation idea paper.

Approach

Discuss, in greater detail than in the idea paper, how you expect to accomplish the stated goal. List the major steps, in sequence, that must be taken to accomplish the goal.

Milestones

Include a list of milestones, with dates or timeframes, to be completed to accomplish your goal.

Resources

If appropriate, provide a preliminary description of the facilities or human resources to be used to accomplish the stated goal.

Annotated Bibliography

It is recommended that the annotated bibliography be based on a computer search with a minimum of 100 items retrieved. You should also consider all library resources available to you (not just computer searches). You should read at least 20 of these (at least two books and 18 papers). The annotations must be yours, not those obtained from a computerized abstraction service. You must discuss the relationship of the literature you have reviewed to your topic.

Reference List

The reference list should be keyed to the citations made in the preliminary proposal. Items that only appear in the annotated bibliography but are not cited elsewhere in the preliminary proposal should not be included in the reference list..The Formal Dissertation Proposal

The formal dissertation proposal provides the framework within which your research will be conducted and offers evidence of your qualifications to pursue the research. Concepts and theories underlying the study are articulated; the problem is clearly stated; specific, measurable goals are specified; a thorough literature review is presented; the methods for conducting the research are delineated; and a strategy to achieve the goal is given. The proposal is written in the future tense and indicates what you will accomplish in executing the investigation. An effectively formulated dissertation proposal functions as a blueprint for developing the final dissertation report.

The formal dissertation proposal is generally evaluated on the basis of the content and clarity of the introduction, literature review, procedures, expectations, and the effectiveness with which the document is organized and planned. Factors affecting the evaluation process include the purpose, significance, and merit of the investigation and the appropriateness of procedures chosen to meet the goal.

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You should contact your advisor directly with questions, statements, and observations about the assessment and status of the proposal.

Format and Contents of the Formal Dissertation Proposal

The outline for the formal dissertation proposal follows. Not all of the sections outlined here may be appropriate for all dissertations. Consult with your advisor if you have questions about whether or not to include a particular section in your work.

Front Matter

Title PageAbstract (maximum of 350 words; written in future tense)Table of ContentsList of TablesList of Figures

Chapter 1. Introduction

Statement of the problem to be investigated and goal to be achievedRelevance, significance or need for the studyBarriers and issuesElements, hypotheses, theories, or research questions to be investigatedLimitations and delimitations2 of the studyDefinition of termsSummary

Chapter 2. Review of the Literature

Historical overview of the theory and research literatureThe theory and research literature specific to the topicSummary of what is known and unknown about the topicThe contribution this study will make to the field

Chapter 3. Methodology

Research method(s) to be employedSpecific procedures to be employedFormats for presenting resultsProjected outcomesResource requirementsReliability and validitySummary

Chapter 4. Discussion of Expectations

Anticipated benefitsProjected outcomesPractical applications of the findingsConstraints and limitations of the studyRecommendations for additional studies

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Contributions to the field of study and advancement of knowledge

Back Matter

Annotated BibliographyAppendixesReference List

In the following paragraphs, the contents expected for each of the elements listed above are discussed.

The Formal Dissertation Proposal: Front Matter

Title Page

This is page i, but the page number should not be printed.

The title page includes the exact title of the dissertation, date of submission, the student's name, and name of the student's doctoral program. The title clearly states the subject of the dissertation and reflects the scope and content of the investigation. The title is comprehensive and descriptive, yet succinct. Intricate and extremely long titles are not acceptable. No page number is placed on the title page.

Abstract

This is one or two pages (page ii or pages ii and iii) but the page number(s) should not be printed.

The abstract is a brief summary of the purpose and content of the dissertation proposal. The abstract includes the problem statement, a description of procedures or methodology, and an account of expectations. The abstract shall not exceed 350 words in length and shall be written in future tense.

Table of Contents

This is page iv or v, depending on the length of the abstract. The page number should be printed and centered at the bottom of the page. The format should closely follow that of the Table of Contents for this Dissertation Guide and the sample in the Appendix section of this guide.

The table of contents includes entries for the abstract, list of tables (if necessary), list of figures (if necessary), chapters with their numbers and titles, main headings and subheadings, appendixes, and reference list. The title of each entry in the table of contents corresponds to the title listed in the text. Each listing specifies a page number indicating where it is located. A separate list of tables is used if the document contains two or more tables. A separate list of figures is used if the document contains two or more figures. Page numbers on the table of contents, abstract, lists of tables or figures, and any other front matter of the dissertation are printed in lower case roman numerals centered at the bottom of the page. All other pages in the dissertation are numbered in Arabic numerals and printed in the upper right of the page. See instructions in Chapter 3.

The Formal Dissertation Proposal: Text

The text is the main body of the dissertation proposal and contains three chapters and a section headed Expectations. Pages of the text must have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper

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right-hand corner of the page. The first page of Chapter 1 shall be numbered page 1. (For further instructions, see the section Page Numbering in Chapter 3.)

Chapter 1. Introduction

The reasons for undertaking the dissertation effort are explained. A clear and concise statement of the problem to be investigated or goal to be achieved based on an identification of need is presented. The problem is defined in specific terms. Supporting evidence of the problem and goal is provided from the literature. Hypotheses, research questions, and major issues that will be treated in carrying out the dissertation project are indicated. Dependent and independent variables are specified.

The student demonstrates that the problem is manageable and lends itself to investigation within a given time frame. The scope of the investigation, costs and schedule constraints, and resource requirements (factors controlled by the researcher) are discussed. Relevant terms are identified and defined. A summary of the chapter is presented.

There can be variation in presentation depending upon the model selected. The following topics are intended to serve as a guide. Material from the initial portions of the preliminary proposal should be included and expanded upon as appropriate.

– Statement of the problem to be investigated and goal to be achieved– Relevance, significance or need for the study– Barriers and issues– Elements, hypotheses, theories, or research questions to be investigated– Limitations and delimitations of the study– Definition of terms– Summary

Chapter 2. Review of the Literature

This chapter begins with an introduction that explains the purpose of the literature review and concludes with a summary. The literature review is organized by subject headings.

The literature review establishes the context for the investigation. Various sources are used to identify important previous work. The contributions of other researchers to the development and formulation of the dissertation proposal are acknowledged. Significant findings and major conclusions from cited sources are evaluated and interpreted in terms of their impact on the present work. The student explains and establishes the relationship of the dissertation proposal to previously conducted investigations in the professional literature.

Each reference to the literature in the text must be accompanied by a reference citation. The form of the reference citation is discussed in the Form and Style chapter of this guide.

A full annotated bibliography should be prepared covering the works you have read relevant to your proposed topic. The annotated bibliography should be based on an expansion of the computer search completed for the preliminary dissertation proposal. (Again, consider all library resources available to you, not just computer searches.) Your annotated bibliography should be expanded to approximately 50 references. The annotations must be yours, not those obtained from a computerized abstraction service. You should discuss the relationship of the literature you have reviewed to your topic. Include this discussion in Chapter 2 and place the annotated bibliography in the back matter as indicated in the discussion of that section.

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The following Chapter 2 topics are intended to serve as a guide:

– Historical overview of the theory and research literature– The theory and research literature specific to the topic– Summary of what is known and unknown about the topic– The contribution this study will make to the field

Chapter 3. Methodology

This chapter delineates, in detail, the ways in which the investigation will be conducted. Each step in implementing the inquiry is indicated. The student describes the dissertation model that will provide a conceptual framework for the study. Goals of the individual steps are delineated. Scheduling of major activities is specified. Testing or evaluation instrumentation is presented. The discussion is sufficiently detailed to permit replication. Strategies to insure reliability and validity are explained.

Reasons why the method selected should yield answers to the stated problem are delineated. Goals and constraints, managerial and technical considerations, and resource requirements are examined. Hypotheses to be tested and specific research issues to be addressed are described. Techniques for choosing subjects or materials, controlling and/or manipulating relevant variables, establishing criteria to evaluate outcomes, and developing instrumentation or criterion measures are delineated. Limitations constraining the study and within which conclusions must be confined are specified. Assumptions made about the problem under investigation are described. Techniques that will be used to present results are indicated. Be clear and thorough in the explanation of your chosen research method. Your presentation must enable replication of your work by other researchers. If other researchers were to obtain results that do not agree with your findings, doubt would be cast on the integrity of your research.

The following topics for the methodology chapter are intended to serve as a guide:

– Research method(s) to be employed– Specific procedures to be employed– Formats for presenting results– Projected outcomes– Resource requirements– Reliability and validity– Summary

Chapter 4. Expectations

A discussion of anticipated benefits and projected outcomes of the dissertation investigation is presented. Practical applications of the findings are examined. Constraints and limitations affecting the scope of the study are indicated. Recommendations for additional studies in the subject area and for making the project available to others are reviewed. Contributions of the investigation to the student's field of study and advancement of knowledge are explained.

The Formal Dissertation Proposal: Back Matter

Pages of the back matter must have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner of the page and must be numbered consecutively. The page number of the first page of the back matter must be one greater than the page number of the last page of Chapter 3 of the

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proposal. The contents of the back matter elements follow:

Annotated Bibliography

The annotated bibliography contains a complete listing of every pertinent work that has been personally reviewed by you in the process of completing your dissertation. It is not required that every item in the annotated bibliography be cited as a reference. The annotated bibliography should follow the guidance contained in the section Chapter 2, Review of the Literature on page 16.

Appendixes

An appendix is used to present material that supplements the text or may be of interest to readers but is too detailed or distracting for inclusion in the main body of the text. Surveys, evaluation instruments, original data, complicated mathematical tables, new computer programs, computer printouts, and data collection forms are examples of materials that are most appropriately appended.Appendixes help the reader replicate, assess, or understand the investigation. Each appendix is listed by letter and title in the table of contents.

Reference List

All works cited in the text of the dissertation proposal must appear in this section. The form of the reference list is discussed in Chapter 3. Form and Style.

The Final Dissertation Report

The final dissertation report is a detailed, accurate, and cohesive account of an investigation accomplished to solve a problem and reveal new knowledge. It is written in the past tense and indicates what the student accomplished in executing the investigation. Reporting is an important component of the investigative process. The final dissertation report is logically organized, complete, and objectively written.

Clear communication is achieved by presenting the sequence of ideas and concepts in a straightforward, orderly manner. Continuity in thematic development is facilitated by precision and clarity in word choice. The key to effective writing is utilizing language effectively.

You must review the final dissertation report for style and grammar before submitting the document to the chair for approval. It is the student's responsibility to insure that the final report is grammatically and stylistically correct. Your advisor does not edit the document. Software can be used to check the dissertation for syntactic errors, poor punctuation, rambling and disjointed sentences, and spelling mistakes, but software will not detect all errors. Consequently, you must proofread carefully. Incomplete sentences, subject-verb disagreement, double words, inaccurate spelling, transposed letters, erroneous pronoun usage, colloquialisms, clichés, and jargon inhibit communication of dissertation research. The final dissertation report is rigorously edited by the student.

The final dissertation report should reflect the time, energy, attention, and effort that went into its development. The work must be clearly described. Procedures, results, and findings must be reported as accurately as possible.

Approval of the Final Dissertation Report

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The sections that make up the final dissertation report include the following:

Format of the Final Dissertation Report

Final Dissertation Report: Front Matter

(see samples and templates in Appendix C of this guide)

Title Page

This is page i, but the page number should not be printed.

Approval/Signature Page

This is page ii, but the page number should not be printed.

Abstract

This is one or two pages, page iii or pages iii and iv. The page number(s) should not be printed.

Acknowledgments

This is page iv or v, depending on the length of the abstract. The page number should not be printed.

Table of Contents.

This is page v or vi, depending on the length of the abstract. The page number should be printed, centered at the bottom of the page.

List of Tables

Continue to print lower case Roman numerals, in sequence, centered at the bottom of the page(s).

List of Figures

Continue to print lower case Roman numerals, in sequence, centered at the bottom of the page(s).

Final Dissertation Report: Text

Pages of the text must have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner. The first page of Chapter 1 shall be page 1. Further instructions on page numbering appear in Chapter 3 of this Dissertation Guide.

Chapter 1. Introduction

– Statement of the problem investigated and the goal that was achieved– Relevance, significance or need for the study– Barriers and issues– Elements, hypotheses, theories, or research questions investigated

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– Limitations and delimitations of the study– Definition of terms– Summary

Chapter 2. Review of the Literature

– Historical overview of the theory and research literature– The theory and research literature specific to the topic– Summary of what is known and unknown about the topic– The contribution this study makes to the field

Chapter 3. Methodology

– Research method(s) employed– Specific procedures employed– Formats for presenting results– Projected outcomes– Resources used– Reliability and validity– Summary

Chapter 4. Results

– Data analysis– Findings– Summary of results

Chapter 5. Conclusion, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary

– Conclusions– Implications– Recommendations– Summary

Back Matter

Pages of the back matter portion of the report must have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner of the page and must be numbered consecutively. The page number of the first page of the back matter must be one greater than the page number of the last page of Chapter 5 of the report.

Appendixes (see samples in Appendix C of this guide)Possible appendixes include (see discussion on p. 19 on length of appendixes):

– Correspondence from individuals involved in the study– Officials granting permission to use facilities– Supervisors granting permission to conduct the investigation– Questionnaires– Unpublished tests– Raw data– Computer programs– Computer outputs

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- Computer screens- Interactive online sessions

– Additional tables to supplement material in the text– Additional figures to supplement material in the text– Additional charts to supplement material in the text

Reference List

Contents of the Final Dissertation Report

Abstract

The abstract should be written in the past tense. It should contain the problem statement, method(s) employed, results/findings, conclusions, and recommendations. It should not exceed 350 words. The abstract is single-spaced.

Acknowledgments

The final dissertation report includes a section that expresses appreciation for assistance to the dissertation advisor. Many students also include statements thanking other faculty members, staff members, colleagues, family, and friends. Acknowledgments should be in good taste and should not exceed one page in length. This page is single-spaced.

Chapters 1-3

The content of these chapters is substantially the same as that described above for the formal proposal except that while the formal proposal is written in the future tense, the final report is written in the past tense.

Chapter 4. Results

This chapter includes an objective presentation of the results or outcomes of the investigation. The following headings are intended to serve as a guide:

– Analysis– Findings– Summary of results

The data collected (if appropriate) are organized and presented to reveal their meaning. Their treatment is described clearly, concisely, and systematically. The text is supplemented with tables, figures, and charts. Each table, figure, or chart is labeled and accompanied by a brief description. If data are particularly long and complex, only a summary should be included. A more complete reporting of the data can be given in an appendix.

An explanation of techniques used for analysis is described. Safeguards for insuring proper application of investigative techniques are presented.

Data resulting from the study can be summarized in terms of their descriptive and inferential characteristics. Descriptive statistics, such as percentages, frequencies, and histograms can be used to reduce, simplify, and report the basic nature of the data collected. Parametric statistical tests, such as one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA), or nonparametric statistical tests, such as chi square, can be used in drawing inferences about the characteristics of the data.

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The statistical techniques selected should be appropriate to the needs of the study, satisfy requirements of the research design, and match study objectives, hypotheses, research questions, and underlying assumptions. Computer software programs such as MINITAB and SPSS-X are examples of packages that can be used for regular and complex statistical analysis of quantified research data.

Results and findings are derived logically and coherently from the analysis.

Chapter 5. Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary

The following sections are required:

– Conclusions– Implications– Recommendations– Summary

In this chapter, the student interprets, examines, and qualifies the results of the investigation and draws inferences from them.

The conclusions section clearly states the conclusions of the study based on the analysis performed and results achieved. The extent to which the specified objectives have been accomplished is indicated by the evidence or logical development. If the research has been guided by hypotheses, a statement is made as to whether the data supported or rejected these hypotheses. Alternative explanations for the findings are discussed, if appropriate. Strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of the study are delineated.

The implications section discusses the impact of the work on the field of study and its contributions to knowledge and professional practice. It also discusses implications for future research.

The recommendations section presents recommendations for further research or for change in research methods or theoretical concepts. As appropriate, it presents recommendations for change in academic practice, professional practice, or organizational procedures, practices, and behavior.The summary section is a summary of the entire paper, written so that it could serve as a stand-alone document. It should be about four to five pages in length.

Appendixes

Appendixes are used to present material that supplements the text but is too detailed or distracting for inclusion in it. They should be included if they help the reader replicate, assess, or understand the investigation. DU discourages the attachment of lengthy program listings and other lengthy documents as appendixes unless their content is critically relevant to the contribution the dissertation makes to the advancement of knowledge. Just because a program or data collection is a necessary part of the work does not mean that it must be published with the dissertation. Items that may be appropriate for inclusion in an appendix are correspondence from individuals involved in the study such as letters from officials granting permission to use facilities or supervisors granting permission to conduct the investigation, questionnaires, evaluation instruments, including permissions to use instrumentation, critical original data, complicated mathematical tables, novel algorithms, and data collection forms. Students should consult their advisors regarding the suitability of inclusion of any lengthy material. Each appendix should be

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listed by letter and title in the table of contents (See Chapter 3, Form and Style). For additional information see Appendix C, Sample Dissertation Pages and Formats.

Reference List

All works cited in the dissertation must appear in the Reference List. Procedures and formats for reference citations and the reference list are included in the Chapter 3. Form and Style of this guide and Appendix C.

Chapter 3

Form and Style

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Style Guides

Work submitted by DU dissertation students must conform to the style requirements contained in this Dissertation Guide. To the extent they do not conflict with the style requirements of this Dissertation Guide, students may consult the works listed in Appendix A of this guide or seek the advice of their advisors.

The Importance of Form and Style

During the dissertation process you will be required to write many documents. If these are poorly written or poorly organized they will frustrate readers and cause long delays in the project due to the extra effort required for rewriting and reexamination. This chapter contains some writing hints and a set of guidelines for the form and style of the dissertation.

Dupré (1995) contains valuable guidance on good professional writing and is specifically oriented to computer professionals. The APA Manual (2001) is also helpful, and you should give particular attention to Chapter 1 (Content and Organization of a Manuscript), Chapter 2 (Expressing Ideas and Reducing Bias in Language) and Chapter 3 (APA Editorial Style). Chapter 2 has good advice on writing style, grammar, and guidelines to reduce bias in language. Both of these books contain guidance on punctuation, spelling, capitalization, abbreviations, quotations, numbers, statistical and mathematical material, tables, figures, footnotes, appendixes, and reference citations in text. For reference lists, however, students must follow the instructions given in the Reference List and Annotated Bibliography sections of this guide.

Your dissertation should follow the basic framework for a scientific paper:

1. What is the problem?

2. How did you address it?

3. What were the results?

The researcher must not lose sight of this framework.

In this guide, we have included fixed structures for the idea paper, preliminary dissertation proposal, formal dissertation proposal, and the dissertation report. These must be used. The format within individual sections of the formal dissertation proposal and the dissertation report, however, may vary depending on the nature of the dissertation research. You will be guided on this by your advisor.

It is essential that you maintain a consistent flow in form and concept in work products, from the idea paper through the dissertation report. It is also critical that the idea paper and preliminary dissertation proposal be kept current as your work proceeds through subsequent stages. These documents must be kept up to date because they are used by the DU for a variety of purposes such as review by potential committee members, by the dean, and by other faculty members.

Make sure that the main ideas are stated clearly, prominently, and often. Do not mix several important ideas in a single sentence. Do not assume that your major ideas are too obvious to say. Follow the maxim:

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First tell them what you are going to tell them.

Then tell them.

Then tell them what you told them.

You need not write the dissertation serially starting with Chapter 1. For example, the introduction is best not finished until you know exactly what follows. Consider writing drafts of individual portions as you complete the work.

Attend carefully to the quality of the work you submit to the faculty. The work should be as letter perfect as possible, in both form and content, in each and every submission. It is your responsibility to proofread and edit your work. Work that is not properly edited will be rejected by the advisor, the committee, and the university.

Ask friends and colleagues to read draft versions and expect to spend the time necessary to include their suggestions. Do not ask someone to read a new version if you have not considered his or her previous comments.

If your readers do not understand your writing, consider it to be your fault, not theirs.

In the following paragraphs, we highlight some specific requirements for dissertation work products.

Reference Citations

One of the most important tasks in writing a dissertation is to reference other works and sources in the text body. You must provide a formal reference citation for each idea or statement taken from the work of an individual or organization. Failure to provide a reference citation, when one is appropriate, is plagiarism, which is a violation of the university’s Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility. An act of plagiarism will subject the student to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion from the university. Always err on the side of caution when writing any formal paper. As you conduct your work, keep accurate records that indicate which portions of your dissertation are not your own words and ideas. If you attempt to do this as an afterthought, you run the risk of losing the source of the information and committing plagiarism.

Reference citations in the text should use the author-date citation system specified in the APA Manual (5th ed.), pp. 207–214. All reference citations must be listed alphabetically in the Reference List section at the end of the document. See the section Reference List and Annotated Bibliography in this chapter.

Online Citations

You should download and retain copies of online references and provide copies to your advisor.

For examples on how to cite online citations see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition (2001) or APA’s Electronic References online at http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html.

Use of Web Material in Dissertations

You should assume that materials on the Web are copyrighted unless a disclaimer or waiver is

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expressly stated. You may not place any materials owned by others in your dissertation without the expressed permission of the copyright owner (examples include graphic images from other Web pages, articles, video, audio, photographs, software, or images scanned from published works). You may include short quotations of text in your dissertation provided that you clearly identify (e.g., in a citation in the dissertation or a footnote on the Web page) the author and the work from which the quotation is taken. These same practices apply to material used on student web pages.

If you have received formal permission to use material owned by another person, place the following notice on the page that contains the copied material:

Copyright 2003 by <name of the copyright owner>. Used with permission.

Although a copyright notice is not required to assert your rights to your own original material, you may want to include a minimal notice of copyright in a Web page footer when appropriate. When used, the copyright notice should appear as follows:

Individual Web pages:Copyright 2003 <your name>. All rights reserved.

Organization Web pages (examples):Copyright 2003 Cornell Law Review. All Rights Reserved.Copyright .2003 Nova Southeastern University. All Rights Reserved.@2003 Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences. All Rights Reserved.

Related DU policies that also apply to dissertations and Web pages are as follows:

Policy on Acceptable Use of Computing ResourcesCopyright and Patent PolicyComputing Account Security Agreement

Reference List and Annotated Bibliography

The reference list in the back matter must contain an entry for every work cited in the text body or appendixes of your dissertation. Your reference list should follow the style shown in Appendix A. Note the requirement for single spacing within each reference, double spacing between references, and hanging indents. Additional guidance on reference lists can be found on Pages 215–281 of the APA Manual, Fifth Edition (2001) and may be followed where they do not conflict with information in this Dissertation Guide.

Important Note: DU style deviates from APA format on one major stylistic point: book titles use initial capital letters except that non-major words shorter than four letters have no capital letters, as in this example:

Alvear, J. (1998). Guide to Streaming Multimedia. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Students should seek the opinion of their dissertation advisors on this and other stylistic issues if questions arise that are not addressed in this guide or in the APA Manual.

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Annotated bibliographies must be included in the preliminary dissertation proposal and the formal dissertation proposal. An annotated bibliography shall not be included in the final dissertation report. The annotated bibliography shall follow the same format as that required for the reference list except that the annotation shall be placed directly below each entry. The same reference may appear in both the reference list and the annotated bibliography. Entries in the annotated bibliography need not be cited elsewhere in the document.

Sample Annotation

McNair, S. (1994). An adult higher education: A vision of a future. Education & Training, 36(8), 3-7.In the last ten years British higher education has been transformed. Many changes have taken place, but probably the most fundamental in the long term has been the change from a system where students were primarily school-leavers, to one where the majority are mature people in their mid- and late 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond. These changes raise fundamental questions, of two kinds, for the whole higher education system. First, how far are adults as learners different from young people, and therefore in need of different kinds of learning experience or outcome? Second, and more importantly, if teaching in higher education is no longer primarily about preparing a small elite of bright, white, male school-leavers for key leadership roles in society, what is it for?The core of the study resulted in the development of a seven-point statement of principles regarding higher education. Included in the principles were: the need to view higher education as an ongoing process that can occur in several different settings; view education as lifelong, not time delimited; develop a learner-centered approach to higher education; reassess the concept of achievement to make it more inclusive in nature rather than exclusive; become engaged in a dynamic relationship between the university and the workplace where students and staff are constantly bringing the experience and problems from the outside into the university; develop more explicit, pragmatic focus to the process; and encourage diversity in the educational atmosphere.

Other Formatting Requirements

This section contains requirements for margins, line spacing, page numbering, type style, subheadings, tables and figures included in the body of the text, plus format requirements for some of the front matter and back matter sections. Several sample and template pages are included in Appendix C of this guide.

Margins

The left-hand margin must be wide enough for binding, usually 1.5 inches (4 cm.). Margins at the right, top, and bottom of the page should be 1.0 inch. (See exception for chapter title pages below.) The dissertation text may be left-aligned (leaving a ragged right edge) or may be both left- and right-aligned (justified).

Line Spacing

Double-spacing is required for most of the text in documents submitted during the dissertation process. Pages for the abstract, acknowledgments, and parts of the table of contents, however,

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must be single-spaced in the formal dissertation proposal and the final dissertation report. Single-spacing also can be used for table titles and headings, figure captions, references in a reference list (but double-spacing is required between references in the list), footnotes, and long quotations. Long quotations may be indented five spaces. Judicial triple- or quadruple-spacing can improve appearance and readability and is appropriate after chapter titles, before major subheadings, before footnotes, and before and after tables in the text; however, avoid open white spaces.

Paragraph Spacing

As noted above, the text of the document is double-spaced. There are no extra spaces between paragraphs in sections; however, indent the first line of new paragraphs five spaces. Material within a chapter should be kept together. Chapters begin on new pages.

Page Numbering

Page numbers for preliminary pages should be lowercase roman numerals, centered at the bottom of the page. All other pages should have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner (use the header function of your word processor). The number should appear at least 1.0 in. (2.54 cm.) from the right-hand edge of the page, in the space between the top edge of the paper and the first line of text (see template).

Type Style

For body text, you should use 12-point Times New Roman. Text for the cover page may be larger but should not exceed 14-point size. Text for the chapter title text should be 14- point size. Be consistent in your use of typefaces throughout the document. Do not use a compressed typeface or any settings on your word processor that would decrease the spacing between letters or words. Sans serif typefaces such as Helvetica or Arial may be used for relatively short blocks of text such as chapter headings and captions but should be avoided in long passages of text as they impede readability.

Title page

Every document that is submitted, from the idea paper through the final report, must have a title page. Use the format of the Sample Dissertation Title Page provided in Appendix C of this guide.

The Abstract

As you can see from the two-page template in Appendix C, the abstract is single spaced. The second page of the abstract, if needed, carries your name as a top right side heading. Note that the abstract must meet the UMI Dissertation Abstracts International length standard which requires abstracts to be less than 350 words. Abstracts are published in Dissertation Abstracts International, which is published by University Microfilm Incorporated (UMI). More information about Dissertation Abstracts is available at http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/gateway.

Chapter Title Heading, Subheadings, and Sub-Subheadings

It is preferred that dissertations use no more than three levels of headings in the body text. All headings should have only the first letter of each word capitalized except that non-major words

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shorter than four letters have no capital letters. Heading levels follow. See Appendix C for a sample page.

Level 1: Chapter Title Heading

This heading starts 2 inches from the top of the page, is centered on the page, and is set in 14-point type. The first line contains the chapter number, e.g., Chapter 4. The second line is blank. The third line displays the chapter title, is centered on the page, and is set in 14-point type.

Level 2: Subheading

Start the subheading at the left margin of the page, four spaces (i.e., two returns when your document is set for double-spacing) down from the title, set in bold 12-point type. Double-space (one return) to the subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text five spaces.

Level 3: Sub–Subheading.

Start the sub–subheading at the left margin of the page, double-spaced (i.e., one return when your document is set up for double-spacing) from the subheading, set in 12-point italics. Double-space (one return) to the sub-subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text five spaces.

Tables and Figures in the Text Body

Charts, graphs, diagrams, figures, and summary tables that significantly enhance reading of the dissertation should be placed in the text body. Only include material in the text body that is needed by the reader to understand the point(s) you are trying to make. Other material should be placed in appendixes. Tables that summarize large amounts of data are best placed at the end of the dissertation. If you have included numbers/data in your text related to some point, then the full table containing such numbers/data belongs in an appendix. When using tables and figures in the body of the paper, remember that the right/left center of the body is not at the center of the paper. It is 0.25 inch to the right of center due to the 1.5 inches left binding margin. All tables and figures that are less than body margin must be centered properly. Samples of a table and figure appear in Appendix C.

Appendixes

Place in appendixes all raw data, analytical tables, evaluation instruments, and other material important in the determination, evaluation, analysis, and description of your research that is not contained in the text body (see section above). Do not exclude material that would be necessary for another researcher to replicate your work and that is not available elsewhere. If appropriate, you may use a titled cover sheet for an appendix. (See samples in the Appendix Cor both cases.) If used, the cover sheet is counted and numbered. The cover sheet page number is the page number that appears in your table of contents for that appendix.

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Appendix A

Reference List

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Davis, G.B., & Parker, C.A. (1997). Writing the Doctoral Dissertation: A Systematic Approach. Woodbury, NY: Barron's Educational Series.

Dupré, L. (1998). Bugs in Writing, A Guide to Debugging Your Prose. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.

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Isaac, S. & Michael, W.B. (1997). Handbook in Research and Evaluation (3rd ed.). San Diego, CA: EdITS Publishers.

Mauch, J. E., & Birch, J.W. (1998). Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty (4th ed.). New York: Marcel Dekker.

Miller, J.I. & Taylor, B.J. (1987). The Thesis Writer's Handbook. West Linn, OR: Alcove Publishing Company.

Strunk, W. (2000). The Elements of Style (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

University of Chicago Press. (1993). The Chicago Manual of Style (14th ed.). Chicago: Author.

Zinsser, W. (2001). On Writing Well (6th ed.). New York: HarperCollins.

Appendix B

The Dissertation Approval Form

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Graduate SchoolDoctoral Degree Programs

DISSERTATION APPROVAL FORM

CANDIDATE’S NAME ________________________________________________________

PROGRAM___________________________________________________________________

DISSERTATION TOPIC

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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□□ Idea Paper The Idea Paper (attached) has met my approval. The topic is potentially suitable for a doctoral dissertation and I hereby agree to serve as dissertation advisor.

□□ Preliminary Proposal The Preliminary Proposal (attached) has met my approval.

□ Formal Dissertation Proposal We hereby approve the candidate’s Formal Dissertation Proposal (attached).

□ Final Dissertation Report We hereby approve the candidate’s final Dissertation report (attached).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADVISOR __________________________________________________________________

Name Signature Date

4255 Tyler Avenue, El Monte, California 91731 626-401-0760, 626-401-0766 Fax 626-401-0716

Appendix C

Sample Dissertation Pages and Formats

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Sample Dissertation Title Page

Comparison of the Cognitive Styles of Deaf Studentswith the Cognitive Styles of Hearing Students

by

Kelly A. Doe

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A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Dorcas University

2003

NOTE: This is page i but the number should not be printed.

Sample First Page of Abstract

An Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted to Dorcas Universityin Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of

Philosophy

A Comparison of the Cognitive Styles of Deaf Studentswith the Cognitive Styles of Hearing Students

byKelly A. Doe

June 2003

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The abstract must be single-spaced, less than 350 wordsand should not exceed two pages in length.

NOTE: This is page iii but the number should not be printed.

Sample Second Page of Abstract(if needed)

Kelly A. Doe

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On this, the second page of the Abstract, the author'sname should be spaced in from the right hand

margin as a right-aligned side header

NOTE: If needed, this will be page iv but the number should not be printed.

Sample of Acknowledgments Page

Acknowledgments

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Acknowledgments should be in good taste andshould not exceed one page in length.

NOTE: Count as the next Roman numeral, but do not print the number.

Sample First Page of Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Abstract iiiList of Tables (if necessary) viii (your actual page number may be different)List of Figures (if necessary) ix (your actual page number may be different)

Chapters

1. Introduction 1Statement of the Problem to Be Investigated and Goal to Be Achieved 1Relevance and Significance 4Barriers and Issues 7

etc.

2. Review of the Literature 16Historical Overview of the Theory and Research Literature 17

etc.

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3 . Methodology 33Research Methods Employed 35

etc.

4. Results 60Data Analysis 62Findings 78

etc.

5. Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary 108Conclusions 108Implications 123

etc.

AppendixesA. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 140B. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 148C. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 155

etc.

Reference List 198

NOTE: Count and print the number of this page centered here in lowercase Roman.

Sample for List of Tables or Figures

List of Tables

Tables

1. MPC 2.0 Standard for a Multimedia PC 20

2. Multimedia Personal Computer Configuration 21

3. Results of Alpha Evaluation 96

4. Results of Beta Evaluation 101

etc.

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NOTE: Count and print the number of this page centered here in lowercase Roman.

Sample of the Format for Headings in the Chapters

Chapter 3

Methodology

Research Methods Employed

She had not gone much farther before she came in sight of the house of the March Hare; she

thought it must be the right house, because the chimneys were shaped like ears and the roof was

thatched with fur. It was so large a house, that she did not like to go nearer till she had nibbled

some more of the left-hand bit of mushroom, and raised herself to about two feet high: even then

she walked up towards it rather timidly, saying to herself, “Suppose it should be raving mad after

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all! I almost wish I’d gone to see the Hatter instead!”

“I warn you Icarus, fly a middle course. Don’t go too low, or water will weigh the wings down;

Don’t go too high, or the sun’s fire will burn them. Keep to the middle way. And one more thing,

no fancy steering by sun or constellation. Follow my lead!” That was the flying lesson, and now

to fit the wings to the boy's shoulders. Between the work and warning, the father found his cheeks

were wet with tears, and his hands trembled. He kissed his son (Goodbye, if he had known it),

rose on his wings, flew on ahead, as fearful as any bird launching the little nestlings out of the

high nest into thin air.

Procedure for Pawn Tern Dare Worsted Ladle Gull

It isn’t what I do, but how I do it. It isn’t what I say, but how I say it. And how I look when I do it

and say it, etc.

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Sample of Appendix Cover Page, When Used

Appendix N

Questionnaires

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Sample of Appendix Without Separate Cover Page

Appendix Q

Officials Granting Permission to Use Facilities

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39

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Sample Table

Table 1. Administrative Issues

Issue Category Discussion

Do you place limits on the subjects taught via the Web?

Student satisfaction A clear majority of respondents (60%) placed no limits on subjects taught.

Do you limit class size? Student satisfaction This issue was almost evenly divided between those who allowed relatively large classes of over 25 students (49%) and those who restricted classes to fewer than 25 students (42%).

What, if any, time limits are placed on course completion?

Cooperative learning The vast majority of respondents (88%) indicated that standard semesters or quarters were used for Internet-based courses.

What percentage of students who enroll in a Web-based class do not complete the class?

Student satisfaction The plurality of respondents (30%) indicated a course completion rate of at least 90%. A significant number of respondents (19%) did indicate rather high withdrawal rates of over 30%.

Where do you recruit students for Web-based courses?

Student satisfaction Two sources for recruiting students were evident: from the existing student body (75%), and through advertisements on the World Wide Web (51%).

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Sample of Figure with Caption

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Index

Abstract, 17, 47Annotated Bibliography, 12, 13, 20, 30Appendixes, 20, 25, 33Approval, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15Back Matter, 17, 23Certification of Authorship, 6Chapter Title Heading, 32Citations, 28, 29Commencement, 26Conclusions, 25Conferment, 26Copyright, 29Dissertation Advisors, 9Dissertation Committee, 14

Changes in, 15Forming, 14Operation, 14

Dissertation Process, 4Dissertation Tracking Form, 7, 38Electronic library, 5Equations, 55Evaluation of Doctoral Students, 7Expectations, 17, 19Figures, 32, 51Final Dissertation Report, 20

Abstract, 24Acknowledgments, 24Final Report Binding, 26Results, 24

Five-chapter model, 21Form and Style, 27Formal Proposal, 15

Approval of, 15Format and Contents, 16

Formulas, 55Front Matter, 16Graduation, 26Idea paper, 10

Approval of, 10Format and Content, 10

Implications, 25Institutional Review Board (IRB), 13Introduction, 16, 18Introduction to the doctoral dissertation, 1IRB Approvals. See Institutional Review BoardLibrary Resources, 37Line Spacing, 31

Margins, 31Methodology, 16, 19Page Numbering, 31Paragraph Spacing, 31Preliminary Dissertation Proposal, 11

Approval, 12Format and Content, 12

Printing, 33Processing the Dissertation Form, 8Publication of Research Results, 3Recommendations, 25Reference List, 20, 23, 25, 30, 34References, 3Research Involving Human Subjects, 13Research Methods, 2Review of the Literature, 16, 18Sample Pages and Formats, 44

Abstract, 47Abstract, Second Page, 48Acknowledgements, 49Appendix Cover Page, 53Appendix without separate cover page, 54Certification of Authorship, 43Dissertation Approval Form, 41Equations and Formulas, 55Figure with Caption, 57Format for Headings in the Chapter, 52List of Tables, 51Signature Page, 46Table, 56Table of Contents, 50Title Page, 45

Signature Page, 22, 46Style Guides, 27Subheading, 32Sub–Subheading, 32Summary, 25Table of Contents, 17, 50Tables, 32Title page, 32Topics, 9Type Style, 31UMI, 26Use of Web Material, 29Web. See Use of Web MaterialWriting Skills, 5

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