[Insert Title Here] FOR USE WITH QUALITATIVE METHODS Please note that this is only a template.

Relevant headings and subheadings should be included or excluded (particularly with grounded theory approaches .

by [Insert !ame Here]

"n "pplied #issertation $ubmitted to the "braham $. %ischler $chool o& 'ducation in Partial %ul&illment o& the Re(uirements &or the #egree o& #octor o& 'ducation

!ova $outheastern )niversity ['nter *ear Here]

Approval Page This applied dissertation was submitted by [Insert Name] under the direction o& the persons listed below. It was submitted to the "braham $. %ischler $chool o& 'ducation and approved in partial &ul&illment o& the re(uirements &or the degree o& #octor o& 'ducation at !ova $outheastern )niversity.

[Insert Name and Degree, e.g., "l $mith+ 'd#] ,ommittee ,hair

#ate

[Insert Name and Degree] ,ommittee -ember

#ate

Program Pro&essor Review [as isno name] "pplied Research ,enter

#ate

-ary "nn .owe+ $.P# "ssociate #ean

#ate

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Statement of Original Wor I declare the &ollowing/ I have read the ,ode o& $tudent ,onduct and "cademic Responsibility as described in the Student Handbook o& !ova $outheastern )niversity. This applied dissertation represents my original wor0+ except where I have ac0nowledged the ideas+ words+ or material o& other authors. 1here another author2s ideas have been presented in this applied dissertation+ I have ac0nowledged the author2s ideas by citing them in the re(uired style. 1here another author2s words have been presented in this applied dissertation+ I have ac0nowledged the author2s words by using appropriate (uotation devices and citations in the re(uired style. I have obtained permission &rom the author or publisher3in accordance with the re(uired guidelines3to include any copyrighted material (e.g.+ tables+ &igures+ survey instruments+ large portions o& text in this applied dissertation manuscript.

444444444444444444444444444 $ignature ___________________________ !ame >above the line, type your name< 444444444444444444444444444 #ate >above the line, type the date signed, e.g., -arch 56+ 7865<

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A!"tra#t [Insert Title o& #issertation]. [Insert !ame+ e.g.+ Richard #adier+ 7866]/ "pplied #issertation+ !ova $outheastern )niversity+ "braham $. %ischler $chool o& 'ducation. [Insert 9 or : 'RI, #escriptors+ e.g.+ 'RI, #escriptors/ #atabases+ Internet+ -edia $election+ -iddle $chools+ Teacher 'ducation] [Insert description o& dissertation;;example &ollows] This applied dissertation was designed to provide better access to current in&ormation &or the students and sta&& in a middle school. The printed materials located in the school2s media center were outdated+ scarce+ or inade(uate. 'lectronic databases were available in the media center &or online searching and in&ormation retrieval. However+ the students did not 0now how to use databases as a source &or completing class assignments or how to browse within these online services to &ind additional in&ormation. Teachers also did not 0now to use electronic in&ormation to enrich their lessons. The writer developed lesson plans and strategies to train students and teach on how two online services available in the media center. #aily sessions on these databases provided students and teachers with training in (a e;mail usage+ (b searching and locating current events in&ormation+ (c printing &rom the screen+ (d saving messages+ and (e dialing into the online services. Teachers were encouraged to continue to use these services &or curriculum enrichment and as an additional source &or &uture lesson plans. "n analysis o& the data revealed that students were more li0ely than teachers to use the online databases. The most success&ul activities were those that involved students in research in&ormation about current events. "lthough teachers planned assignments that re(uired the use o& online services+ they did not want to provide additional time &or students to be in the media center.

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Ta!le of $ontent" Page ,hapter 6/ Introduction........................................................................................................6 <xxxxxxxxxx xx <xxxxxxxx..................................................................................6 <xxxxxxx <xxx <xxxxx.........................................................................................7 <xxxxxxx <xxxx.....................................................................................................9 ,hapter 7/ .iterature Review...............................................................................................= <xxxxxx <xxxxxxxx...............................................................................................= <xxxxx <xxxxxxxxxx.............................................................................................> <xxxxx xx xxx <xxx.............................................................................................66 <xxxxxxxxxxx xx xxx <xxxxxx xx xxx <xxxxxxx.............................................69 ,hapter 5/ -ethodology....................................................................................................79 <xxxxx...................................................................................................................79 <xxxxxxx <xxxxxxx.............................................................................................7: <xxxxxxxxxx xx <xxxxxxx..................................................................................7? ,hapter 9/ %indings............................................................................................................7> <xxxxxxxxx xxx <xxxxxxxx xx <xxxxxxxx.......................................................7> <xxxxxxxxxx xx <xxxxxx <xxxxxxxx................................................................5> <xxxxx xx <xxxxx <xxxxx................................................................................. 95 ,hapter :/ #iscussion........................................................................................................9= <xxxxxxx...............................................................................................................9= <xxxxxxxxx...........................................................................................................:8 <xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.................................................................................................:9 <xxxxxxx xx <xxx................................................................................................:? Re&erences..........................................................................................................................:> "ppendices " Title in Initial ,aps and .ower ,ase3@egin a $econd .ine #irectly @elow the %irst .ine...................................................................................................=8 @ Title in Initial ,aps and .ower ,ase .............................................................=7 Tables 6 7 %igure Title in Initial ,aps and .ower ,ase.....................................................................9? Title in Initial ,aps and .ower ,ase..............................................................68 Title in Initial ,aps and .ower ,ase..............................................................9A

6 $%apter &' Intro()#tion Statement of t%e Pro!lem This should include (a a clear statement that the problem exists+ (b evidence that supports the existence o& the problem+ (c evidence o& an existing trend that has led to the problem+ (d de&initions o& maBor concepts and terms (this can be provided below in a subsection + (e a clear description o& the setting+ (& probable causes related to the problem+ and (g a speci&ic and &easibly statement. $peci&ic subtopics may include the &ollowing. P%enomenon of intere"t* #iscuss the phenomenon in generalC set the literary hoo0 to draw the reader2s interest. +a# gro)n( an( ,)"tifi#ation* Provide evidence &rom the literature and experience showing that the problem exists and the relevance (perceived Busti&ication &or studying the phenomenon . The phenomenon should be discussed within speci&ic context and include assumptions+ biases+ experience+ intuitions+ and perceptions related to the belie& that in(uiry into the phenomenon is important. This section should also include the bac0ground o& the site and how the main research problem is experienced at that site. Defi#ien#ie" in t%e evi(en#e* Include a brie& discussion that details the area o& need in relation to the problem and the de&iciency or lac0 o& evidence in the literature. A)(ien#e* #iscuss who is a&&ected and who bene&its &rom reading the dissertation. Definition of Term" Provide complete scienti&ic de&initions and appropriate re&erences i& necessary. Include as many terms or variables as needed.

7 P)rpo"e of t%e St)(The purpose statement should provide a general statement regarding the overall purpose o& the study (see ,reswell+ 788A+ &or examples o& (ualitative purpose statements . Dey points to 0eep in mind when preparing a purpose statement are as &ollows/ 6. ,reate a sentence that begins with EThe purpose o& this study is . . .F 7. ,learly identi&y and de&ine the central concepts or ideas o& the study. 5. Identi&y the central phenomenon to be explored. 9. Indicate the participants and research site.

5 $%apter .' Literat)re Revie/ The literature review should contain the &ollowing elements and should be distinguished through the use o& "P" level;7 or 5 headings/ (a an introduction to the sectionC (b a discussion o& the theoreti al perspe tive !theoreti al lens" within which the study will be groundedC (c a historical context o& the studyC (d a synthesis o& the &indings in a Estate;o&;0nowledgeF summary in regard to the problem area+ including additional evidence as to the nature and the importance o& the phenomenonC (e an identi&ication o& gaps and limitations o& the literatureC (& a clear discussion o& how &urther research should extend+ di&&er &rom+ or replicate past studiesC and (g an articulation o& the uni(ue contribution o& the intended dissertation study. Re"ear#% Q)e"tion" The research (uestions are based on the problem or area o& need and on the research reviewed. The research (uestions should adhere to the &ollowing guidelines/ (a &ormation o& (uestion or (uestions based on theory+ previous research (i.e.+ the literature review + and experience and (b stated in the &orm o& a (uestion. ,entral (uestion3the overarching (uestion you explore in the research study $ub(uestions3divides the central (uestion into smaller+ speci&ic (uestions Issue sub(uestions3narrow the &ocus o& the central (uestion into speci&ic issues

9 $%apter 0' Met%o(ologAim of t%e St)(This section should include a brie& description o& the general aim o& the study. Q)alitative Re"ear#% Approa#% Provide some bac0ground to the approach and why it is a good strategy &or your research. This section should include the &ollowing/ 6. Identi&y the speci&ic strategy o& in(uiry to be used with re&erences (e.g.+ narrative+ phenomenology+ case study+ ethnographic . 7. Provide some bac0ground in&ormation about the strategy (e.g.+ applications o& and brie& de&inition &or discipline origin . 5. #iscuss the intended outcome &rom this type o& strategy. 9. #iscuss the source o& this strategy. :. #iscuss why it is an appropriate strategy. =. Identi&y how the use o& this approach will shape the type o& (uestions as0ed+ the &orm o& data collection+ and the steps o& data analysis. Parti#ipant" This section should include the &ollowing elements/ (a the participants should be de&ined+ consistent with the Purpose $tatement and the Research Guestions (this should also include demographic in&ormation such as age+ gender+ and ethnicity and (b a discussion o& the type o& sampling with re&erence citations (e.g.+ purposive+ criterion+ snowball sampling techni(ue . This section should contain a discussion about participants and the site+ including the &ollowing/ (a the setting+ (b the actors (who will be interviewed + (c the events

: (what will the actors will be observed or interviewed doing + (d the process (the evolving nature o& events underta0en by the actors within the setting + and (e the type or types o& data to be collected (e.g.+ &ocus groups+ observations+ interviews+ documents+ audio and visual materialC be speci&ic about the strengths and wea0nesses o& each type . Data $olle#tion Tool" I& established instruments will be utiliHed+ this section will detail each data; collection instrument. The relevant in&ormation pertaining to each instrument should include the source or developers o& the instrument and any other salient in&ormation. "lso permission &rom the author must be granted or you must state why permission was not necessary. @oth the instrument and a permission note must also appear in the appendix. I& an original instrument is created+ you must identi&y the in&luencing literature. "dditionally+ describe how the instrument was validatedC you may explain that is was piloted and reviewed by a group o& experts. The actual instrument should be included in the dissertation document as an appendix. Pro#e()re" The Procedures section will be based directly on the research (uestions (central and sub(uestions . $peci&ically+ this is the Ehow;toF section o& the study/ how the data will be collected based on the (uestions o& interest. This section should read li0e a step;by;step recipe o& how the study+ beginning with IR@ approval+ will be conducted. Data Anal-"i" !ame the steps involved in conducting an analysis o& (ualitative data. #escribe how the data will be organiHed and transcribed. #iscuss the coding procedures o& the transcripts or text &iles. I& used+ discuss speci&ic (ualitative so&tware you will use &or your

= analysis. #evelop a detailed (ualitative description. -a0e sure that the approach used &or the study is re&lective in the language used when describing the analysis. %or example+ a phenomenological study has speci&ic language when describing the stages o& analysis. Et%i#al $on"i(eration" This section should describe how you will maintain ethics o& the study. Preserve anonymity and 0eep the documents secure. Tr)"t/ort%ine"" This section should demonstrate aspects o& the study2s validity and reliability. 1hy should your study be trustedI ,hec0 the accuracy o& your &indings and interpretation by including the &ollowing/ (a member chec0ing3as0ing members to chec0 the accuracy o& the account and (b triangulation3using corroborating evidence. Potential Re"ear#% +ia" In this section+ describe your own bias o& the topic+ whether personal or pro&essional. "lso+ you should explain the plan to manage potential bias. Limitation" Include any limitations+ restrictions+ or constraints that may a&&ect the dissertation outcomes.

? $%apter 1' Fin(ing" %indings are discussed according to the (ualitative approach. This section should include (uotes &rom interviews with in&ormants or &rom analyHed documents to illustrate themes and &indings. 'xamples o& "pproaches/ Phenomenology ,ase $tudy Jrounded Theory 'thnography !arrative Historical !arrative %or instance+ in grounded theory+ the aim is the generation o& theoretical constructs. In this section+ then+ you would have &indings &rom the process o& memo writing+ theoretical sampling+ sorting+ saturation+ the review o& literature+ and developing the theory. 1ith an ethnographic approach+ the &indings may be reported in a smooth+ &lowing description narrative. The aim o& the narrative is to portray a &ull context o& the experiences and the culture o& research participants as observed and analyHed. 1ith phenomenology+ the &indings will be reported di&&erently. 'xamples might include (a a description o& experiential themes+ (b a description o& the essences o& experience+ and (c a description o& relationships among essences.

A $%apter 2' Di"#)""ion 1hile you write this section incorporate the &ollowing/ (a preconceptions and ideas as discussed in your introduction+ (b existing literature and practice in the area o& study+ and (c the utiliHation o& the method. #iscuss/ -eanings and understandings Implication o& the study Relevance o& the study

Integrate the &ollowing/ $igni&icance and substance Importance to discipline ,riti(ue o& &indings with suggestions &or change and &uture in(uiry

$on#l)"ion" an( Re#ommen(ation"

> Referen#e"