Use the attached template 3-4 pages Look ahead to the dissertation research prospectus that you will be expected to prepare in RES861 to describe the key elements of your desired doctoral research. Co

[Title]

[Title is no more than 12 words and includes method choice]

Research Prospectus

Student Name

Month/Year

[Note. The Research Prospectus is a significant milestone in the journey toward your XXX dissertation research study. An approved Research Prospectus demonstrates your achievement of a viable research problem and alignment of the research method choice, problem, purpose, and research question. Your Research Prospectus will be approved when your instructor has deemed all criteria on the Research Prospectus Evaluation Rubric as “Met.”]

Abstract

[Insert an abstract of no more than 150 words to summarize the study problem, purpose, variables or constructs, method choice rationale, and plans to conduct the review of the literature. Note. The title page and Abstract page have no page numbers. The Introduction begins as page 1. Be sure to remove all red template instructional content as you prepare your Research Prospectus draft.]

Introduction

[The Research Prospectus is double-spaced throughout with Level 1 headers for each required section. The title page, Abstract, References, and any appendices headers (known as front and back matter in scholarly publishing) are not bolded. The Research Prospectus begins with an introduction to the study problem that includes enough background information and term definitions for the reader to understand the problem statement and all key terms used within the study problem. Remember the proposed study is first introduced in the study purpose statement below and not in the introduction as this is an introduction to the study problem. The introduction is no longer than 2 pages.]

[Start intro here…]

Problem Statement

[The problem statement is one paragraph of text (not multiple paragraphs) of no more than 250-350 well-supported words to describe the study problem of focus. The University requires dissertation problems to be both practice-based and scholarship-supported, so the description of the problem must include both practice considerations and the current research. A quality Research Prospectus presents a well-aligned Problem, Purpose and Research Question, clearly articulated, and substantiated through citation of the appropriate theoretical, conceptual, and empirical peer-reviewed literature. This section begins with the sentence: The problem is…]

The problem is…

Study Purpose

[This section begins with the sentence to introduce the study: The purpose of the [method choice] [research approach/design] study is to… Following the study purpose sentence, the Purpose section will introduce a brief rationale for the choice of study method followed by research site, target population, sampling method, proposed sample size, data collection method, data analysis method, and the analysis software to be used. The Purpose section will close with a statement of the potential contributions of the study findings to professional practice and the scholarship.]

The purpose of the …

Research Question

[One overarching research question will guide the study. An introduction to the question will be offered here and the question will be formatted as a Level 3 APA header as shown below. Clear alignment must be demonstrated between the problem, purpose, and research question.]

The study research question….

Q1. [Phrasing for the research question must align with the traditions and conventions of the study method choice]?

Q1a. [Optional sub-research questions will be presented for quantitative or mixed methods studies with multiple hypotheses and formatted using Level 4 APA headers as shown]

Q1b.

Hypothesis(es)

[Hypotheses are required only for quantitative and mixed methods studies. If the study involves multiple hypotheses, sub-research questions are required above to align with each hypothesis. Variables introduced in the Purpose must be labeled verbatim to how they were introduced above to ensure alignment. Both a null followed by an alternate hypothesis are required and hypothesis headers are formatted as Level 3 APA headers. No introduction is required before the hypothesis(es)]

H10. [Phrasing for each null hypothesis must align with the traditions and conventions of the study method choice].

H1A. [Phrasing for each alternate hypothesis must be the identical contrast to the null and align with the traditions and conventions of the study method choice].

Research Method Rationale

[The Research Methods Rationale section will present a continuation of the brief method rationale from the Purpose section above to fully describe the research traditions and paradigmatic perspectives that justify the choice of the research method and design/approach as appropriate to address the study problem. In addition, a justification for how and why the method choice and research design/approach align with the degree program discipline and area of concentration as supported by the current scholarship of the respective discipline.]

The research method selected for this study is…

Review of the Literature Plan

[This section will begin with a brief introductory paragraph followed by a topical outline to present the primary areas of research as aligned with the study problem to be explored within the literature review. Be sure to consider the theoretical, conceptual, and empirical peer-reviewed literature as you categorically plan out the areas of the literature to be reviewed for the dissertation study. The topical outline will be formatted as Level 2 APA headers.]

The plan to conduct the review of literature will involve…

[Theme 1 Label]

[Theme 2 Label]

[Theme 3 Label]

References

[References will be formatted per APA 6th ed. guidelines, double-spaced, and left justified with proper indent for second and subsequent lines of the source citation.]

Author, A., & Author, B. (year). Article title. Journal title, V(I), ##-##. doi:###.###.xxx

Appendices

[Optional: When an appendix or appendices are to be included, format per APA 6th ed. guidelines]

Research Prospectus Evaluation Rubric
	Section	Meets (Instructor please check)	Does Not Meet (Instructor please check)	Instructor Feedback
Front Matter	Title Page	☐ Title no more than 12 words Title reflects method choice Title aligned with Trio and discipline/ concentration	☐ Title no more than 12 words Title reflects method choice Title lacks alignment with Trio Title page APA errors
Abstract	☐ Meets 150 word limit Summary of all required components	☐ Exceeds 150 words Missing summary for required components
	Introduction	☐ No more than 2 pages Key terms defined Adequate introduction to the study problem Adequate citations for scholarship support	☐ Exceeds 2 pages in length Missing term definitions Unclear introduction to the study problem Inadequate citations for scholarship support
Trio	Problem Statement	☐ Meets length requirement (250-350 words) Meets paragraph format Adequate citations for scholarship support of the study problem	☐ Exceeds length requirement Incomplete scholarship citations to justify problem Problem lacks alignment with Purpose and RQ
Study Purpose	☐ Purpose well aligned with Problem and RQ All required components introduced Adequate statement of proposed contribution	☐ Purpose lacks alignment with Problem and RQ Missing required components Missing statement of proposed contribution
Research Question	☐ RQ aligned with Problem and Purpose RQ phrasing aligned with traditions/ conventions of method choice RQ phrasing aligned with conventions of the discipline/ concentration	☐ RQ lacks alignment with Problem and Purpose RQ phrasing not aligned with traditions/conventions of method choice RQ phrasing not aligned with conventions of the discipline/ concentration
	Research Method Rationale	☐ Adequate description of research traditions Adequate paradigmatic perspective Adequate rationale for method fit	☐ Missing research traditions Missing paradigmatic perspective Inadequate rationale for method fit Lacks alignment with discipline/concentration
	Review of the Literature Plan	☐ Adequate description of literature review plan Literature review themes align with study problem Literature review themes align with discipline/concentration	☐ Incomplete description of literature review plan Literature review themes lack alignment with study problem Literature review themes lack alignment with discipline/concentration
Back Matter	References	☐ Double spaced with proper indent Formatted per APA 6th ed. guidelines	☐ Spacing/indent errors High error rate of APA 6th ed. guidelines
Appendices (optional)	☐ Adequately formatted per APA 6th ed. guidelines	☐ Formatting errors per APA 6th ed. guidelines