Assignment Overview

Please revise and submit your Methodology and Design – Chapter 3. If you have not already done so, insert it into the current version of the Universal Dissertation and DSP Template available under the Forms & Templates tab of the Doctoral Resource Center.

Remember, your Method and Design chapter should demonstrate your mastery of the required components of your DSP study and include the following key items:

Chapter Introduction

Briefly introduce the major components of the research study design.

Method and Design

Introduce and provide rationale for the key decisions in the methodology and design choices made for your DSP study. This should also explain why your choice was made over other available options.

Population

Provide a description of the population (as appropriate), estimated population size, and relevant characteristics with appropriate support. Depending on the study design, populations may reflect a group of people, a set of organizations, a set of documents, archived data, etc. Describe why the population is appropriate to respond to the study problem and purpose.

Sample

Identify the sampling method and explain selection of participants or relevant sample, including known population characteristics and recruitment or selection strategy. Describe and justify the sampling method (convenient, purposive, random, etc.) and minimum sample size (include sample size in total and as a breakdown between the sources of data that utilize participants; minimum sample size should be at least 15 participants total, combined from all sources.

Instruments

Note: The instruments do not need to be created prior to the Prospectus Presentation. All instruments must be created prior to the Proposal Defense in subsequent courses.

A minimum of three data sources is required for the DSP; two sources must be primary sources (interview protocol, questionnaire, focus group protocol, observation protocol, etc.). Place the description of instruments in the sequential order that data will be collected. This section is an explanation of the physical instruments and how they were created. This section should NOT provide any explanation about the process of data collection with the instruments.

Data Collection

Note: This section will only need to briefly explain the three processes prior to the Prospectus Presentation. All details must be provided prior to the Proposal Defense in subsequent courses.

Describe the collection procedure in a sequential step-by-step explanation. Provide specific details relative to the execution of the design. The collection process should also explain how participants will be recruited and how the informed consent form was completed by the participants prior to collecting data. It is recommended to use a subheading for each instrument/source of data to ensure the collection of each is adequately defined. Readers must be able to replicate the study based on this description. This includes the procedure for accessing and retrieving secondary data if used as a source in your study.

Data Processing

Describe how data will be processed following the collection procedures. This should include steps for transcription of audio files, either through a professional, available software, or manual transcribing (which is very time consuming). This section must also explain the procedures for storing and protecting the raw data, both physical and electronic, until and throughout data analysis and final reporting.

Data Analysis

Note: This section will only need to briefly explain the process prior to the Prospectus Presentation. All details must be provided prior to the Proposal Defense in subsequent courses.

Describe the data analysis procedures in enough detail so that it could be replicated. Describe the steps that will be taken to carry out the analysis. Describe the method for storing and categorizing data. This may include the use of electronic software used for analysis. Each source of data may have a different analysis process (if so, use separate subheadings for each source of data). Analysis procedures should follow a procedure found in the literature and be cited. Explain how the author of the published analysis procedure explains each step and then explain how you will implement each step.

Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations

These three sections will examine the areas within the study that may provide overall boundaries to your study. Most details in these sections may not be known until the full proposal has been prepared in subsequent courses.

Ethical Assurances

Note: This section will only need to briefly explain each concept prior to the Prospectus Presentation. All details must be provided prior to the Proposal Defense in subsequent courses.

Discuss compliance with the standards for conducting research as appropriate to the proposed research design. For most studies, this should include an explanation of: Letter of Intent or Site Approvals, IRB Approval requirements, Informed Consent process, Participant Protections, Data Protections, and Bias Mitigation.

Chapter Summary

Provide a recap of the major concepts and theories used as the foundation of your literature review. Summary should briefly transition the reader to the next chapter of the DSP.