1 Sample Dissertation Proposal Outlines (Should Be Confirmed with ...

Sample Dissertation Proposal Outlines (Should Be Confirmed with Advisor)by Mark Warschauer, 11 January 2010These two sample dissertation proposal outlines – one for a standard dissertation and onefor a three-article dissertation – are being provided as examples only. There is nostandard dissertation proposal outline for the UCI Ph.D. in Education program. Studentsmust consult with their own advisors about what content and format the advisor findssuitable.Standard DissertationI. IntroductionII.III.IV.A. Background (background to the problem)B. The Study (briefly introducing the study and research questions)C. Significance (briefly explaining who your study will be of value to andwhy)Conceptual Framework (situates your work within a conceptual framework,explains key constructs, introduces or clarifies any theoretical modelsinvolves, and situations your work within prior theory and research on thequestion; begin with an introductory paragraph introducing the elements of theconceptual framework and conclude with a summation that helps review theneed for your study and thus transitions to the methodology)MethodologyA. Overall Research Approach (with justification and citations of otherresearch using that approach or to theorists of that approach) [usuallyneeded for qualitative, possibly for quantitative]B. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/ParticipantsC. Instruments/Measures/Sources of DataD. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used in qualitative]E. Data AnalysisF. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, notquantitative]Timeline (for proposal defense, completion of the dissertation, anddissertation defense)V. Outline of Dissertation Chapters [optional] (usually Introduction, ConceptualFramework, Methodology, Findings, and Conclusion)VI.VII.Dissemination [optional] (plans for journal articles, conference presentations,or other forms of dissemination)References1

Three-Article DissertationI. IntroductionII.III.A. Background (background to the problem)B. The Studies (briefly introducing the collection of studies and overallresearch questions)C. Significance (briefly explaining who your dissertation will be of value toand why)Conceptual Framework (situates your work within a conceptual framework,explains key constructs, introduces or clarifies any theoretical modelsinvolves, and situations your work within prior theory and research on thequestion; begin with an introductory paragraph introducing the elements of theconceptual framework and conclude with a summation that helps review theneed for your study and thus transitions to the methodology)MethodologyA. Overall Research Approach (with justification and citations of otherresearch using that approach or to theorists of that approach) [optional]B. Overall Research Site or Population (if this is consistent across the threestudies) [optional]C. Study AD. Study Bi. Research Approachii. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/Participantsiii. Instruments/Measures/Sources of Dataiv. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used inqualitative]v. Data Analysisvi. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, notquantitative]i. Research Approachii. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/Participantsiii. Instruments/Measures/Sources of Dataiv. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used inqualitative]v. Data Analysisvi. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, notquantitative]2

IV.E. Study Ci. Research Approachii. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/Participantsiii. Instruments/Measures/Sources of Dataiv. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used inqualitative]v. Data Analysisvi. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, notquantitative]Timeline (for proposal defense, completion of the dissertation, anddissertation defense)V. Outline of Dissertation Chapters [optional] (Usually Introduction, ConceptualFramework, Study A, Study B, Study, C, and Conclusion) (Methodology willbe integrated into each of the three Study chapters; umbrella informationabout Methodology can be integrated into the Introduction or the ConceptualFramework or included in an additional chapter inserted after the ConceptualFramework)VI.VII.Dissemination [optional] (plans for journal articles, conference presentations,or other forms of dissemination)References3