Professor Joseph M. Piro
E-mail: joseph.piro@liu.edu
Phone: 516- 299-3683
FAX- 516-299-3312
DISSERTATION PROPOSAL
Once you've selected your dissertation committee and topic, the next step requires you to create a dissertation proposal describing your topic and its relevant details along with information for your Committee. The following outline should be helpful to the student in preparing a proposal for the dissertation research. Each proposal will likely diverge somewhat from the outline depending on the type of study. Nonetheless, the broad sections and approximate page numbers should serve as rough guidelines for most studies proposed for your dissertation.i. Title: The title should indicate, succinctly, what the thrust of the research will be. It can be changed during the process of writing but, at least in the opening phase, try to capture the essence of your study in the title.
1 page
ii. Introduction- Identification of the topic, question, problem, etc. Importance of the study and statement of the hypothesis. 1-2 pages
iii. Literature Review: Provide a brief review of the literature that places your study within the context of the extant research literature. Touch on the major themes, issues, and/or dilemmas bearing on the problem you will be addressing in the dissertation. Show how your study adds an important new dimension. This review should occupy approximately three to four pages. 3-4 pages
iv. Research Question(s): As succinctly as possible, list the question or questions you are pursuing in your research. What are you trying to find out? (Half a page, or even less).
v. Methodology: Describe the methods you will use to conduct your research. This section should include the greatest detail. Be specific about how you will go about:
• Selecting a sample.
• Deciding upon or designing data collection instruments (provide samples as an appendix, if appropriate).
• Choosing how and when the data will be collected, i.e. your procedures (do not collect data prior to the Dissertation Proposal Review unless they are archival data).
• Analyzing your data (including thoughts about how they will be reported).
• Thinking about how each data element answers the question(s) you have posed.
This section on methodology should range from 1 to 4 pages, depending on the type of study you are doing and the complexity of your methods.
vi. Timeline: Provide a timeline specifying what will be done when, and when you anticipate completing your work. 1 page
From: UC Davis School of Education:
