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ABSTRACT

The abstract summarizes the contents of the manuscript, including the importance of the study, purpose of the study, the methodology, results, conclusions, and recommendations for further research. Descriptions of the methodology should include the design, the sample, setting, data collection method, measures used (if appropriate), and key results and findings. Approximately 250 words or less is recommended; however, some dissertation abstracts are a little longer. No more than one page is allowable, and the abstract should be written as one, double-spaced paragraph. The abstract should not include statistics or citations. The word “ABSTRACT” should be in all caps, bold, and centered. Keywords should be located at the end of the Abstract. Indent and italicize the work Keyword followed by a colon, then a list of the words in lower case separated by a comma.

Keywords: This is a list of 4-7 words (separated by commas) that are central to your study.

Dedication (Optional)

The dedication page is a page in which the candidate dedicates the manuscript. This page is optional.

Acknowledgments (Optional)

The acknowledgments page provides the opportunity for the candidate to acknowledge individuals who influenced the writing and completion of the dissertation. This page is optional.

Table of Contents

The Table of Contents lists the various chapters and subsections of the manuscript along with their page numbers. The Table of Contents should include the Abstract, Copyright Page

(optional), Dedication (optional), Acknowledgements (optional), List of Tables, List of Figures, CHAPTER TITLES (all caps), Level 1 headings, Level 2 headings, REFERENCES (all caps), and APPENDIX or APPENDICES (all caps). These should be left justified. The subsections included should only be APA Level 1 and Level 2 headings within the manuscript. Level 1 headings should be indented one half inch and Level 2 headings should be indented one inch.

Chapter titles are not considered Level 1 headings. Entries should be double-spaced.

ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................2

Copyright Page (Optional) .............................................................................................................3

Dedication (Optional) ....................................................................................................................4

Acknowledgments (Optional) ........................................................................................................5

List of Tables .................................................................................................................................9

List of Figures ..............................................................................................................................10

List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................11

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................12

Overview ..........................................................................................................................12

Background ......................................................................................................................12

Problem Statement ...........................................................................................................12

Purpose Statement ............................................................................................................13

Significance of the Study .................................................................................................13 Research Question(s) .......................................................................................................14

Definitions.........................................................................................................................14

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ..............................................................................16

Overview ..........................................................................................................................16

Conceptual or Theoretical Framework ............................................................................16

Related Literature..............................................................................................................17

Summary ..........................................................................................................................17

CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ................................................................................................18

Overview ..........................................................................................................................18

Design ..............................................................................................................................18

Research Question(s) .......................................................................................................18

Hypothesis(es)...................................................................................................................19

Participants and Setting.....................................................................................................20

Instrumentation ................................................................................................................21

Procedures ........................................................................................................................22

Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................22

CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS ...................................................................................................24

Overview ..........................................................................................................................24

Research Question(s) .......................................................................................................24 Hypothesis(es)..................................................................................................................24

Descriptive Statistics ........................................................................................................24

Results ................................................................................................................................24 Hypothesis(es)........................................................................................................24

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS ...........................................................................................26

Overview ..........................................................................................................................26

Discussion ........................................................................................................................26

Implications.......................................................................................................................26

Limitations .......................................................................................................................27

Recommendations for Future Research ..........................................................................27

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................28

APPENDIX or APPENDICES ...................................................................................................29

List of Tables

The List of Tables cites the tables and the corresponding pages of each table. This enables the reader to easily locate the tables in the manuscript. The title of this page should be a Level 1 heading, centered, 1 inch from the top of the page. Entries should be double spaced.

List of Figures

The List of Figures cites the figures and the corresponding pages of each figure. This enables the reader to easily locate the figures in the manuscript. The title of this page should be a Level 1 heading, centered, 1 inch from the top of the page. Entries should be double-spaced.

List of Abbreviations

The title of this page should be a Level 1 heading, centered, 1 inch from the top of the page. Entries should be double-spaced. Examples are provided below.

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Overview

Start Chapter One with a brief, introductory statement (one short paragraph). This should orient the reader to the contents of the chapter.

Background

The Background section educates the reader regarding the topic. Start this section by catching the reader’s attention. Use recent evidence from at least three to four scholarly journal articles published within the last ten years. The Background section then moves into an overview of the most relevant literature regarding the issue and provides a historical, social, and theoretical context regarding the issue. Remember that this is just an overview. You will go into more depth in Chapter Two.

The historical overview examines how the issue has evolved over time from the past to present-day. The background’s historical overview should be well supported by at least five to seven scholarly journal articles or books. Some sources may be older than ten years old for this section.

A conceptual and/or theoretical background overview relates the issue to similar studies and discusses the theories that drive them. The background’s theory discussion should be supported by at least three to five scholarly journal articles and/or books. Some sources may be older than ten years old for this section. Conclude the Background section by summarizing the information and preparing the reader for the problem. The Background section is approximately three to five pages long.

Problem Statement

The problem statement discusses how the literature may not have completely addressed the issue. For example, there may be controversy regarding mixed results from other studies, unexamined populations, lack of new testing instruments, etc. In other words, convince the reader that there is not enough research available to bring the issue to closure. The problem statement finds its “roots” in other studies and expands on their recommendations for further research. In general terms, the problem is always a lack of research on a particular issue. The problem statement should be well-supported by at least one to three scholarly journal articles published within the last ten years. The problem statement ends with a declarative statement:

“The problem is …” which is clearly supported by current literature. The Problem Statement section is approximately one page long.

Purpose Statement

The purpose statement usually begins with, “The purpose of this study is…” The purpose statement gives the reader a quick overview on how you plan to help “solve the problem.” Once again, since the problem is a lack of research on a particular issue, your purpose is simply to propose another research study. However, you need to be specific on what your population is and what you plan to do. The purpose statement foreshadows the research question(s) in a later section of this chapter. The purpose statement includes the variables (i.e.,

Independent/Dependent and/or Predictor/Criterion) involved in the study.

Significance of the Study

At this point, the reader should be convinced that the issue is important, that there is a lack of research on the issue, and you have a proposed study to help solve the problem. The significance of the study convinces the reader that the study will add to the existing body of knowledge by building off similar studies that investigate the same issue. It includes a description of the contributions that your study will make to the knowledge base or discipline, both theoretically and empirically. This section also includes a brief description of how the study is important to other locations, organizations, general populations, or the sample being studied.

References are very important here, as they lend additional credence and support for your study. Key assertions in this section need to be well-supported by the literature. At least three scholarly journal articles published within the last ten years should be used as support for this section. The

Significance of the Study section is approximately one half to one page long.

Research Question(s)

The proposed research questions need to be derived from the problem and purpose statements. A well-formulated research question (a) asks about the relationship/differences between two or more variables, (b) is stated clearly and in the form of a question, (c) is testable (i.e., possible to collect quantitative data to answer the question), (d) does not pose an ethical or moral problem for implementation, (e) is specific and restricted in scope (i.e., the aim is not to solve the world's problems), and (f) identifies exactly what is to be solved. A good research question also clearly identifies the sample population. In addition, it should be noted that the research question implies the research design and statistical analysis. A typical dissertation contains one to three research questions. Research questions should be listed, each on a separate line. Example:

RQ1: Can Christian meditation reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in a normal population sample (church-goers)?

RQ2: Does God attachment mediate the effectiveness of Christian meditation in a church-going sample?

Definitions

Terms pertinent to the study should be listed and defined as the final section of chapter one. Dictionary definitions are not acceptable; rather, use definitions related to the instruments you are using in your study to measure your variables. If an important construct does not have an instrument in your study, use how key sources in the literature define it. All definitions in this section also need to be supported by the literature. If you will use abbreviations in your document for a term, include that information in the definition as well. At least one citation is needed for each definition. Here are some examples:

1. Attitude - Attitude is a psychological tendency that involves evaluating a particular object with some degree of favor or disfavor (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993).

2. Interest - The combination of emotion and personal valuation of a task resulting in a desire for various levels of enjoyment (Ainley & Ainley, 2011).

3. Etc…

Summary

Provide a chapter summary here. The Summary includes a succinct restatement of the problem and purpose of the study and provides a strong conclusion to the chapter.

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

Overview

Chapter Two is often the longest chapter of the dissertation. The minimum length should be 30 pages, but most are longer. Its purpose is to provide a context for the research and to demonstrate its importance based on the problem demonstrated via the literature as well as the gap in the literature. Chapter Two is comprised of at least four sections: (a) an overview, (b) a theoretical or conceptual framework section, (c) the related literature section, and (d) a summary.

The introduction should provide a general explanation and overview of the chapter with links to the purpose of the study. This should be done in a short paragraph.

Conceptual or Theoretical Framework

The conceptual or theoretical background section should provide the reader with a direct connection to the framework that will effectively guide the study and allow the findings to be situated within a greater context. According to Maxwell (2005), the point is not to summarize what has already been done in the field. Instead, it is to ground your proposed study in the relevant previous work, and to give the reader a clear sense of your theoretical approach to the phenomena that you propose to study. (p. 123)

Start by describing the theory(ies), including origination and major theorist(s). Next discuss how the theory(ies) has advanced or informed the literature on your topic. Conclude by articulating how your specific research focus relates to the theory and how it may potentially advance or extend the theory(ies). Examples of theoretical frameworks include Bandura’s (1986) Social

Cognitive Theory, Maslow’s (1954) Hierarchy of Needs, Knowles (1980) Adult Learning Theory, etc. Situating the study and research questions within an established theoretical framework helps establish the significance of the study.

Related Literature

The purpose of the Related Literature section is to provide a tight synthesis (not simply a study-by-study summary) of the existing general knowledge on your topic and link this existing knowledge to the proposed study. Remember that the literature review is the argument for the significance of the study. It communicates what has been examined on the topic(s), what has not been examined or how understanding on the topic is still developing, and how the study can fill the gap or further understanding in the field.

The chapter should end with a focused summary of what is currently known, what is not known, and how the study can specifically address a gap in the existing literature. Subheadings at Level 2 and Level 3 are often necessary. Often 100 to 200 articles are integrated in the construction of this chapter. The majority of the literature cited in the chapter needs to be current (i.e., ten years or less since publication) unless research is very limited in the particular topic area. Students will discuss this issue with their Chair if they believe that their topic area fits this

description.

Summary

Provide a chapter summary. The Summary provides a strong conclusion to the chapter.

CHAPTER THREE: METHODS

Overview

Start Chapter Three with a brief, introductory statement (one short paragraph). This should orient the reader to the contents of the chapter.

Design

Begin this section by identifying the research design. The research design needs to be specific. For example, it is not sufficient to state that “a quasi-experimental study was used.” It would be more appropriate to state that “a quasi-experimental static-group comparison design was used.” In addition to identifying the design, a rationale for why the design is most appropriate for the study is needed. This rationale needs to be supported by research as well as topic-specific, peer-reviewed literature. In other words, what is the purpose of the design? When is it used? Why is it the most appropriate choice for the present study? Refer to your research texts for the proper design description and use them to support your rationales. The chosen research design(s) should be consistent with the research question and hypothesis proposed as well as the procedures described in your study. Sometimes more than one research design is appropriate.

Research Question(s)

The proposed research questions need to be derived from the problem and purpose statements. A well-formulated research question (a) asks about the relationship/differences between two or more variables, (b) is stated clearly and in the form of a question, (c) is testable (i.e., possible to collect quantitative data to answer the question), (d) does not pose an ethical or moral problem for implementation, (e) is specific and restricted in scope (i.e., the aim is not to solve the world’s problems), and (f) identifies exactly what is to be solved. A good research question also clearly identifies the sample population. In addition, it should be noted that the research question implies the research design and statistical analysis. A typical dissertation contains one to three research questions. Research questions should be listed, each on a separate line. Example:

RQ1: Can Christian meditation reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in a normal population sample (church-goers) participating in the study?

RQ2: Does God attachment mediate the effectiveness of Christian meditation in this church-going sample?

Hypothesis(es)

Every research question will normally have at least one corresponding alternate hypothesis; however, sometimes more than one is needed. The number of hypotheses needed should be based upon the number of variables under study and the planned analysis method. Well-formulated hypotheses are based on the following criteria: (a) the hypothesis states the expected relationship/differences between variables, (b) the hypothesis is testable, (c) the hypothesis is stated as simply and concisely as possible, and (d) the hypothesis is founded in the problem statement and supported by research. Like the research questions, the hypotheses directly influence the statistical procedures used. Example:

The alternate hypotheses for this study are:

Ha1: There will be a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores on the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21-S) after Christian meditation in the experimental group. The experimental group will report lower scores in depression, anxiety, and stress measured by the DASS-21-S than the waiting-list control group.

Ha2: God attachment as measured by the God Attachment Inventory (GAI) will mediate the relationship between Christian meditation and DASS-21 scores.

Participants and Setting

Begin this section with an overview of your population. For example, “The participants for the study were drawn from a convenience sample of middle school students located in southeastern Virginia during the spring semester of the 2013-2014 school year. The school district was a middle-to-upper income suburb outside of …” Describe the population from which your sample was drawn. Make sure to specify your sampling procedure. Real names for people, churches, schools, etc. should never be used. Use pseudonyms for people and general descriptors for churches, treatment centers, schools, etc..

After you have described the population, next describe the sample. You might begin by reporting the sample size. For example, “…for this study, the number of participants sampled was 00 which exceeded the required minimum for a medium effect size. According to Gall et al. (2007), 66 participants is the required minimum for a medium effect size with statistical power of .7 at the .05 alpha level.” Quantitative literature citations, including references to research texts, must be provided to demonstrate the adequate sample size in quantitative studies. Program development/evaluation studies do not need to demonstrate adequate sample size for a medium effect size due to the more limited nature of the study (i.e., it is not trying to produce generalizable knowledge but is limited to the program). Then, describe where the sample came from. For example, “… the sample came from three different middle schools in the district. Within each school, students were selected from six introductory math classes. The introductory math classes taught basic additions, subtraction and multiplication skills to…” Also include sample demographic information regarding the age, ethnicity, gender, grade level, etc. of your sample. You may need to consider tables to represent this data. Note: If you are still developing your plan, prospectus, or proposal, please plug in “place holders.” For example “… the sample consisted of 00 males and 00 females from a first grade physical education class.” This section will be updated after you have collected your real data and then real numbers will be inserted. The sample must be described with enough detail so that other researchers could possibly replicate your study with similar subjects if your results need to be verified.

Depending on your study, after you have described the sample, you may need to identify and describe each group (e.g., treatment, control, etc.). Describe each group’s make-up in enough detail so that the study can be replicated. Include similar information as described in the sample section, but at the group level. At this point, write this section in future tense. It will be changed to past tense in the final version.

Instrumentation

In this section, the instruments that are used to measure each variable need to be identified. The instruments may be tests, surveys, questionnaires, or other measurements. A description of each instrument, its content, its origin, and its appropriateness needs to be included. State other peer-reviewed studies where an instrument was used. This will help with its credibility. For example, “the instrument was used in numerous studies (e.g., Jackson, 2014; Jones, 2013; Smith, 2009).” The scales of measurement need to be discussed and include the number of questions. For example “… the instrument consisted of 30 questions and used a fivepoint Likert scale that ranged from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Responses were as follows: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4, Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, and Strongly Disagree = 1.” Include scoring information regarding the instrument. For example, “… the combined possible score on the ATSF range from 20 to 200 points. A score of 20 points is the lowest possible score, meaning that…and a score of 200 points is the highest, meaning that…etc.” The composite and each subscale need to be included as well as validity information and reliability psychometric information. The validity and reliability information should be cited. State that permission was granted to use the instrument(s). All documents related to the instrument should be included as appendices. The instrument itself should only be included if written permission was granted to do so.

Procedures

The procedure section is similar to a “cookbook.” It should contain enough detail that another researcher can read your procedures and conduct your study and produce the same results. This includes, but is not limited to, information about securing IRB approval, eliciting participants for the study, conducting a pilot study (if done), training individuals to implement treatment, administration of the procedures, gathering the data, and recording procedures. The procedures should be described in a chronological, step-by-step format. Remember to describe the procedures clearly and with enough detail so that the study can be replicated. All procedural material (e.g., IRB permission, church/school permission, consent forms, assent forms, protocol, training manual, and any other pertinent information) should be included in the appendices.

Data Analysis

In this section, there needs to be identified statistical procedures for each hypothesis. Thus, it is useful to organize this section according to the research hypotheses. The type of data analysis is identified and a concise rationale for the type of analysis is provided. The chosen statistical procedures should be consistent with the research questions, hypotheses, and the type of data collected. In other words, why is the chosen analysis the most appropriate choice to test the hypotheses? The rationale needs to be supported by your research/statistics textbooks. For each identified analysis, be sure to discuss all assumption tests and how they were tested, the statistic used to report the effect size and the convention used to interpret it, and the alpha used.

CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS

Overview

A short introductory paragraph is appropriate for this chapter. It should orient the reader to the contents of the chapter.

Descriptive Statistics

Use descriptive statistics to describe your data. The purpose of descriptive statistics is simply to give your reader an overview of your findings. Statistics such as mean, median, mode, frequency, standard deviation, etc., should be used. Only report the descriptive statistics that are relevant to your study; do not overwhelm the reader with unnecessary data. It may be useful to organize and manage this section by using tables and charts. Unlike inferential statistics which are directly related to your hypotheses, descriptive statistics only describe and cannot be used to draw conclusions.

Results

Hypothesis(es)

It is useful to organize the Results section according to each of the hypotheses. That is, state the alternate hypothesis, and then descrobe the corresponding statistical test results for the hypothesis. Include assumption tests, analysis, alpha level, effect size, and whether your alternate hypothesis was supported, partially supported, or not supported. Once you have finished analysis of the first hypothesis, state the second hypothesis and adhere to the same stringent level of analysis and reporting. Repeat this process until all the hypotheses have been addressed.

For each statistical analysis technique, data screening will need to be addressed. All assumption tests must be conducted and reported. Tables and figures should be used when appropriate and in accordance with APA guidelines. Note: If only one statistical test is being used, then you may report all assumption tests at the beginning of the section. In this case, consider using a heading labeled Assumption Tests.

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS

Overview

Start Chapter Five with a brief, introductory statement (one short paragraph). This should orient the reader to the contents of the chapter.

Discussion

Begin this section with the purpose of the study and a brief overview. The purpose of the study should be presented as a one sentence declarative statement. It is then useful to organize the Discussion section according to each research question. Each question should be restated and discussed in light of the results, literature, other studies, and theory. The Discussion should examine whether the results support or contradict other studies and theories. The Discussion section relies heavily on your review of literature. Keep in mind that the main purpose of this important section is to compare and contrast the results of the present study with findings from earlier studies. This should be the longest section in chapter five.

Implications

The implications of the study for counseling/ministry/marriage & family practice help convince the reader that the study added to the existing body of knowledge and theory and have meaning for community care and counseling. It gives you an opportunity to say what you think about how the study and its results impact the appropriate field (counseling, marriage & family, or pastoral care/ministry). Studies will vary on how much Christian worldview aspects relate to the topic. If Christian worldview considerations are not woven into the chapter five discussion due to the secular nature of the topic, include a separate subsection in the Implications section exploring how the Christian worldview informs an interpretation of the findings of your study.

Limitations

Limitations should be discussed in terms of threats to both internal and external validity. Identify the type of threat and describe it in terms of the present study. Discuss how the limitation could potentially impact the study, and discuss if any steps will be taken to limit the threat. Every study has limitations, so do not discount the importance of this section.

Recommendations for Future Research

Recommendations for further research need to addressed and discussed. Consider different populations, testing instrumentation, theoretical constructs, and limitations. Recommendations for future research should be thought of as ways to further increase knowledge in the field of study.

REFERENCES

All the references cited within the text should be listed in accordance with the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of APA. The reference title should be all capitalized, bold, and centered.

APPENDIX or APPENDICES

The Appendices may include a variety of artifacts. An appendix of the completed dissertation should include the IRB approval letter. Other appendices may include informed consent/assent forms, surveys/questionnaires/instruments (with written permission only), protocols (interviews or observations), sample transcripts of interviews, theoretical memos, and other documents used to establish an audit trail. Any identifying or personal information (names, schools, districts, phone numbers, email addresses) should be eliminated. If numerous types of artifacts are included as appendices, each type should have a section labeled as Appendix A, Appendix B, etc. The appendix title should be capitalized, bold, and centered.