6.1 PREPARATIONS FOR WRITING
The process of writing the dissertation is not a sudden enterprise, but a progressive investigation of a line of empirical inquiry begun in the research seminars. Students first encounter the empirical research model in the first term during the LSP 901 Empirical Research I: Critical Inquiry and Research Design course. Through seminar course work, students continue to identify potential research questions.
In the LSP 908 Empirical Research II: Research Problem and Literature Review seminar, the student receives formal training in research methodologies including literature review development. In the LSP 911 Empirical Research III: Prospectus and Instrument Development seminar, students will work towards a potential prospectus, and the development of appropriate instruments and statistical techniques for the research process will be carefully considered.
After completing comprehensive exams (one of which is dissertation related), the student formally develops a dissertation Prospectus that will present the student’s research questions and strategy. The student’s Dissertation Committee supervises the dissertation writing process including the writing of the Prospectus. The student defends the Prospectus in an open hearing. The student cannot begin dissertation research until the Dissertation Committee accepts the Prospectus.
Research methods utilized for the dissertation must be appropriate to the type of research being conducted by the student. Qualitative and/or quantitative social science research methodologies are appropriate for the dissertation. On-campus, individual consultations are required of the student during the writing of the dissertation.
Worthy topics for dissertation research generally will arise out of a specific relational or conceptual problems in reference to human development; theory and praxis of teaching and learning; organizational management; leadership; decision-making; or other social interactional dimensions of ministry leadership and Christian education ministry broadly defined.
The doctoral student is expected to become fully acquainted with the design parameters and requirements of the research method chosen for the dissertation.