08042023-Q1
cchhantii1988
DissertationTemplateAPA7thEd.Qualitative_Version_5-10-2023.docx
QUALITATIVE DISSERTATION TEMPLATE 1
For the header, Type: your abbreviated title in all capital letters. (No more than 50 characters, including spaces). The page number is also in the header, flush right starting with 1.
Be sure your font in the header is size 12 Times New Roman Font.
The entire document should be double spaced with Times New Roman 12-Point Font.
Type your approved dissertation title on line 5.
Your Approved Dissertation Title Here in Upper and Lowercase Letters
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
Type only your first and last name on line 6. Do not list other degrees.
First and Last Name
Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Degrees:
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Philosophy Information Technology
Doctor of Philosophy Business
Doctor of Philosophy Leadership
Requirements for the Degree of
[insert degree]
Type University of the Cumberlands on line 7.
University of the Cumberlands
Month and Year of Graduation
Month and Year only should be typed on line 8.
No comma is used between the two.
Approval for Recommendation
Two double spaces should be included after this heading.
This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the faculty and administration of the University of the Cumberlands.
Include this page as you submit the various chapters in each course.
You will not have the actual names of committee members two and three until you select your committee in DSRT 930.
Dissertation Chair:
____________________________
First Name Last Name, Ph.D., EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Dissertation Evaluators:
____________________________
First Name Last Name, Ph.D., EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
____________________________
First Name Last Name, Ph.D., EdD, DBA, or other faculty degree credentials.
Acknowledgments
The Acknowledgment is where you thank those who have helped you achieve this goal. There are many to whom a debt of gratitude is owed for their assistance in conducting this research…. (It is appropriate to thank key faculty, friends, and family members, as well as ministers and God. It is advisable to limit the comments to one page.)
Abstract
The word “Abstract” should be centered and typed in 12-point Times New Roman.
The abstract begins with a restatement of the study purpose sentence from Chapter One. The abstract is one paragraph without indentation that contains a comprehensive summary of the paper's contents. The abstract should be no longer than 250 words and include one or two sentences covering the key areas of the literature review, problem, research questions, methods used, study results, and implications of the research.
The abstract should not include keywords.
Table of Contents
Background and Problem Statement 10
Main Heading (Level 2 Heading) 16
Subheading (Level 3 Heading) 17
Research Method and Paradigmatic Perspective 18
Qualitative Research Approach 18
Sampling Procedures (and or) Data Collection Sources Interviews, Surveys/Questionnaires, Document Analysis, Focus Groups, Observations 20
Participants and Research Setting 22
Analyses of Research Questions 23
Summary, Discussion, and Implications 25
Practical Assessment of Study Analysis 25
Implications for Future Study 27
List of Tables
Table 1: Name of the Table…………………………………………………………………1
7.10 Table Numbers
Number all tables that are part of the main text (i.e., not part of an appendix or supplemental materials) using Arabic numerals—for example, Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3. Assign the numbers in the order in which each table is first mentioned in the text, regardless of whether a more detailed discussion of the table occurs elsewhere in the paper. Write the word “Table” and the number in bold and flush left (i.e., not indented or centered). Tables that appear in appendices follow a different numbering scheme (see Section 2.14).
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if tables are necessary. Tables should not be used to increase page count. Tables must be APA formatted, and not copied from Excel, or other non-APA sources. Only Tables within the chapters should be included here. Tables in the Appendix are not listed here.
See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
List of Figures
Figure 1: Name of the Figure …………………………………………………………………1
If applicable. See APA guidelines regarding if tables and figures are necessary. Tables and figures should not be used to increase page count. Only Figures within the chapters should be included here. Figures in the Appendix are not listed here.
See APA manual 12.14 through 12.18 for copyright citation guidelines.
Figures should be in grayscale only.
Chapter One
Paragraphs throughout
your dissertation should be a
minimum of three
complete sentences.
Headings throughout your document should appear as they appear in this template.
Introduction
Overview
Indent each new paragraph. Write an overview to your study here. You should provide the reader with an overview of what will be detailed in the study and Chapter One (thesis statement and thesis map). This statement will allow the reader to know what "universe" you are exploring. What is your topic? How is your approach different from other scholars? What are the significance and implications of your topic? In the final paragraph, it is helpful to preview the remaining four chapters of the dissertation (keep in mind, per APA, do not use “will”; simply state “Chapter Two discusses the literature review” rather than “will discuss”).
Background and Problem Statement
Indent each new paragraph. Write your background and problem statement here. The background section should lead naturally and logically from the overview section. It should tell the reader what precipitated your interest in the study. A historical description of the problem or situation that led to the issue at hand. For example, if you are studying the subject of teen pregnancies, it would be good to cite some specific locations (towns, counties, states) and numbers of cases, especially depicted in trends, that caused you to "sense" a need for further study. Think of this section as a highly condensed Chapter Two whereby you give the historical literature and give insight into a gap in the literature that sets up the purpose of your study.
Discuss the link to leadership in the purpose and significance of the study.
Purpose of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Clarify qualitative methodology (i.e., exploratory (sometimes referred to as Descriptive), Case Study, Narrative Inquiry, Phenomenology (Descriptive or Hermeneutic), or Grounded Theory. Next, include a clear declarative sentence specifying the problem presented for research. Review your research questions for keywords that might be helpful to include in your purpose statement. You may also find it helpful to include Chapter Two citations supporting the purpose statement. As with any research, the results are hoped to edify someone, a particular community, state or institution, or society. The Purpose of the Study is not a long section. Most of the sections in this chapter are relatively short compared to Chapters Two and Three. Discuss the link to the degree discipline in the purpose and significance of the study. Finally, keep in mind you are writing this before you have collected data, but you will defend it afterward; therefore, save time by ensuring all verbs are in the past tense (i.e.,”the research aims” should be ”the study aimed”).
Significance of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In this section, you will connect the study's significance to organizations interested in this study, and you must connect to your academic discipline or policy and how the study could impact decision-making or improvement of current practices. Finally, you will defend how the qualitative research methodology chosen adds to the significance of the study.
Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The methodology and research design should be introduced before RQs are listed. For example….The following research questions guided this qualitative phenomenological study.
1.
2.
3.
Also, provide a closing paragraph summarizing your research questions section and introduce the reader to the next section ( sometimes students include “I” or “the researcher”; the doctoral research handbook does not allow for the use of first person, and APA does not allow for the use of third person; therefore, state “the study.” This formatting should be applied to the entire dissertation)
Here is an example…..To understand the influences of culture on the hiring of Kentucky superintendents, researchers need to recognize the similarities and differences between the perceived leadership behavior styles, the demographics of the community, and the individual's career pathway. The following section provides an overview of the study's theoretical framework.
Theoretical Framework
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The theoretical framework is presented in the early section of a dissertation and provides the rationale for conducting your research to investigate a particular research problem. Consider the theoretical framework as a conceptual model that establishes a sense of structure that guides your research. It provides the background that supports your investigation and offers the reader a justification for your study of a particular research problem. It includes the relationships you seek to understand. Essentially, this is where you describe a "theory" and build your case for investigating that theory. The theoretical framework is your presentation of a theory that explains a particular problem.
The theoretical framework is developed from and connected to your review of the knowledge on the topic (the literature review). This knowledge is likely how you initially formulated your research problem. You reviewed the literature and found gaps in the explanation of some phenomena. The theoretical framework allows you to present the research problem in light of the literature summary.
Your description of the relationships of interest in the context of the literature review allows the reader to understand the theorized relationships. It would be best if you began by describing what is known about your topics, what is known about their relationship, and what can be explained thus far. You will investigate other researchers' theories behind these relationships and identify a theory (or combination of theories) that explains your major research problem. Essentially, the theoretical framework section aims to convey to the reader why you think your variables are related; therefore, including previous research and theories supporting your belief is essential to defend your rationale. If conducting a grounded theory dissertation, you will need at least an additional paragraph to establish the background behind the theory proposed in your study (often, this is added when Chapter Four is completed).
Limitations of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Despite best efforts, these limitations may have affected the study results. Inherent limitations due to extraneous variables not addressed in the study are listed here. Identifying and discussing 5-10 limitations of the study is recommended.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Provide a closing paragraph summarizing the limitations section and introducing the reader to the next section.
Here is an example…..
These limitations of the current study represent the characteristics of design and methodology that potentially influenced the interpretations of the findings. Although study limitations represent constraints placed on the ability to generalize the study results, it was necessary to acknowledge these limitations to correctly assess the methodology chosen for the study. Chapter Five further delineates the impact of the limitations.
Assumptions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The study was constructed with the following assumptions: Provide a list of assumptions related to your study here. Again, 5-10 assumptions are recommended for your study.
Provide a closing paragraph here that summarizes your assumptions section and introduces the reader to the next section.
Here is an example…..These underlying assumptions were explicit considerations of consistently applied beliefs that served as the foundation that guided the research. These assumptions were believed to be true based on the presupposition without distinguishing the facts. Although these assumptions are beyond the control of the research, they are necessary presumptions that must be acknowledged to conduct the study.
Definitions
Begin this section with an introductory sentence….for example, the following terms and definitions are essential to understanding and following the research in this study.
For definitions, state the term in italics followed by a colon. The actual definition should be without italics.
All definitions should include an in-text citation for the reference source.
Transformational leadership: The………(in-text citation)
Definitions should be listed in alphabetical order. All definitions must be cited by the scholarship. It is recommended to include at least 15 to 20 definitions specific to your research to assist the reader in understanding the intent of your study. Look for keywords in your research questions and your title to start with to develop ideas for definitions. Do not cite dictionaries or encyclopedias for your terms.
Remember, When quoting directly, always provide the quotation's author, year, and page number (in both parenthetical and narrative in-text citations). Follow these guidelines when providing a page number:
· Use the abbreviation “p.” (e.g., p. 25, p. S41, p. e221) for a single page.
· For multiple pages, use the abbreviation “pp.” and separate the page range with an en dash (e.g., pp. 34–36).
· If pages are discontinuous, use a comma between the page numbers (e.g., pp. 67, 72).
If the work does not have page numbers, provide another way for the reader to locate the quotation.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your summary of chapter one here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Two. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Two
A qualitative dissertation should be a minimum of 45,000 words. If each chapter is divided evening that would be 9,000 words per chapter. The literature review should be a minimum of 9,000 words that synthesized literature but will normally require many more pages and closer to 10,000 to 15,000 words.
Review of Literature
Introduction
Indent your introduction. Begin by Introducing your thesis map for your dissertation topic and the literature review you will cover. Start writing with a summary of the purpose statement that leads to a brief explanation of the organization of the literature review. Do not cut and paste the Purpose Statement section from Chapter One. Sometimes students want to include qualitative research literature in the literature review; please save these citations for Chapter Three.
Present historical research and recent research related to the topic of study, primarily within the last five years. Some seminal research studies may be included. Each assertion should include appropriate scholarly source citations. Use multiple citations from diverse literature to weave concepts persuasively and coherently together. Ensure the discussion has depth and presents a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature, providing context for the dissertation study. Ensure the discussion is comprehensive, organized, and flows logically. Organize theory around major themes on your topic and discuss how they relate to your theory. The theoretical basis should be referenced in each topic area of the article discussed. The literature review should synthesize the findings related to the doctoral research topic. Finally, all verbs in the dissertation should be past or present perfect tense (i.e., asserts should be asserted). Remember, if you are quoting a 2022 study, they are not currently stating anything; they stated this in 2022.
Main Heading (Level 2 Heading)
Your literature review will likely have many level 2 headings. If you need to add subheadings within a main heading, follow the level 3 heading.
Subheading (Level 3 Heading)
The s ubheading should be flush left, Bold italic, Title Case Heading (level 3 heading) . You should not have one subheading within a main heading. There should be a minimum of two if subheadings are needed.
Level 4 Subheading. The Level 4 Subheading should be indented, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 4 subheading within a level 3 subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Level 5 Subheading. The Level 5 Subheading should be indented, italics, boldfaced, Title Case Heading, ending with a period. You should not have one level 5 subheading within a level 4 heading subheading. There should be a minimum of two.
Summary
The summary is a level 2 heading. Indent the paragraph and make sure you write one to two paragraphs. Your literature should build support for your literature and logically lead the reader to this summary, where you provide a gap in the literature and a need for your research here.
Your final summary paragraph provides how you will address the gap in the literature. You will end the paragraph by transitioning to Chapter Three. You should not write in future tense.
Chapter Three
Procedures and Methodology
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Circle back to Chapter One, where you discuss theories from the theoretical framework and how they are connected to the literature in Chapter Two. Then, transition to the methodology listed here in Chapter Three.
Research Method and Paradigmatic Perspective
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section should provide an overview of why qualitative research is best suited for the study described in Chapter One. Qualitative research is built on an inductive approach designed to examine phenomena. Citing from Creswell or other qualified qualitative research authors helps defend the research method.
Qualitative Research Approach
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. In the previous section, you discussed why qualitative research was selected in a general nature. In this section, you will select one of the qualitative research methodologies listed in the Appendixes of the University of the Cumberlands Doctoral Research Handbook. You will first introduce the selected approach and defend its selection against other qualitative research approaches. Next, you should include citations from Creswell or other qualified qualitative research authors to explain how the qualitative research approach you selected is directly applied to fidelity in this study.
It is encouraged (per the doctoral research handbook) to include the qualitative research quality criteria (Credibility, Dependability, Transferability, Confirmability) using citations from Creswell or other qualified qualitative research sources.
Furthermore, in the Qualitative Research Approach section, due to the “human instrument” aspect of qualitative research, the role of the researcher and researcher positionality are related but distinct concepts in qualitative research. The role of the researcher refers to the specific tasks, responsibilities, and activities that the researcher undertakes during the research process. The role of the researcher can include information concerning the study's design, collecting data, analyzing data, and reporting findings. The researcher's role can vary depending on the nature of the study and the research methodology being used.
Researcher positionality, on the other hand, refers to the researcher's subjective position concerning the research topic, participants, and data. The Research Positionality includes the researcher's personal characteristics, experiences, and values that may influence their interpretation of the data and their relationship with participants. Positionality is often seen as a critical aspect of reflexivity in qualitative research, as it acknowledges the potential for the researcher to bring their own biases and assumptions to the research process.
In other words, the role of the researcher refers to the researcher's specific actions and responsibilities in conducting the research, while researcher positionality refers to the researcher's subjective position and potential biases in relation to the research topic and participants. Both of these concepts are important to consider in qualitative research to ensure the research process's transparency and rigor. The Role of the Researcher or Researcher Positionality, if appropriate to include based on the research approach, can be included in the Qualitative Research Approach section or can be included as a Level III subheading within this section (i.e., “Role of the Researcher” or “Researcher Positionality” as a Level III subheading, depending on which is more appropriate for your research approach).
Sampling Procedures (and or) Data Collection Sources Interviews, Surveys/Questionnaires, Document Analysis, Focus Groups, Observations
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. All of these headings may not be necessary based on your research design. Select only those that apply to your qualitative research approach. It is often more ready-friendly to separate Sampling Procedures and the Data Collection Source.
In the sampling procedures, reference Informed Consent and IRB approval and place both in Appendices. Describe the sampling strategy employed (i.e., snowball). Then, discuss the qualities of the participants who sought to participate in the study and the rationale for selecting those participant qualities. You will discuss demographic information in Chapter Four.
In the data collection sources, delete extraneous instruments and only include the one(s) selected for use in this study. Introduce the instrument used for data collection. Then, justify its applicability to the research questions listed in Chapter One. Next, describe the field testing, expert review panel, etc., who provided validity and reliability to the instrument; this is often best accomplished by adding a level 3 heading, “ Expert Review or Validity & Reliability .”
Data Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Often this section is “short-changed” and leads to many revisions in quality review. The centerpiece of qualitative research is the data analysis, theming, coding, and presentation. It may be helpful to organize this section with APA level III headings.
This section should open with a discussion of the chosen data analysis method (i.e., Thematic Coding Analysis). Then, defend the data analysis’s alignment to Chapter One’s research questions using citations from qualified qualitative research sources. If software is used in the process, discuss the software.
Additionally, discuss how data saturation was reached and its applicability to this study.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Four. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Four
Research Findings
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Recap the methodology from Chapter Three and provide an overview of how Chapter Four is organized.
Participants and Research Setting
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Begin this section by describing how the study reached saturation through the number of participants.
Typically, you must include a paragraph describing the demographic information for each participant in your study. See this example using an APA level 3 heading (see following example).
Institution #12 – President #12
Institution #12 was founded in the late 1800s with Christian principles and is committed to student’s future successes and contributions to Appalachia. The institution supports and respects the worth of all humans. Ninety-nine percent of freshmen students receive financial aid, and 38% are first-generation students. Sixty-three percent of undergraduate students are awarded federal, state, local, or institutional grant aid. Institution #12 is designated by IPEDS as “town: remote” and classified with the Carnegie Classification as a major graduate, medium-sized institution with high residency. The institution offers both distance education courses and programs. The institution has roots in the Baptist faith and is religiously affiliated for purposes of institutional control. As an independent, non-profit institution, #12 receives no federal, state, or local appropriations. President #12 was a white male in his fifties who had been serving in his present role as president since 2016 after serving as chief academic officer at a private, faith-based institution in Idaho (Hudson, 2021).
Study Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section should circle back to the Data Analysis section from Chapter Three, where you provide an overview of the coding. Then, briefly introduce the themes of your study and their alignment with each of your respective research questions.
Analyses of Research Questions
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. List research questions one at a time. You should address each question with its own level three heading. Often, you will want level IV and V headings to introduce themes and sub-themes within each research question (see below).
Research Question One
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. It is best practice to begin this section by restating the research question. For example:
Research question one asked, what meaning do TRiO Student Support Services students attribute to their success in college? Then, introduce your themes and their corresponding data using Level IV and V headings (see example below).
Theme One: Social Responsibility. Begin texts and quotes here. Recall that APA requires quotes over 40 words to be a block quote. For more information on how to appropriately format quotations from research participants, please see 8.36 of the APA Publication Manual, Seventh Edition ( https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/quoting-participants)
Subtheme One: Social Responsibility Among Culture . Begin texts and quotes here. Recall that APA requires quotes 40 words or more to be a block quote.
Research Question Two
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Follow the same guidelines as above to begin this section.
Supplementary Findings
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. If you do not have supplementary findings, this heading should be deleted.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. This section summarizes the chapter contents and closes with a transition sentence to Chapter Five. Do not write in future tense.
Chapter Five
In the Practical Assessment of Research Question section, focus in this section on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic.
Discuss the link to leadership.
Summary, Discussion, and Implications
Introduction
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Provide a
summary of the writing discussed in Chapters One through Four.
Practical Assessment of Study Analysis
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The Practical Assessment of Study Analysis section focuses on how your research question findings align or differ from scholarly published literature on the topic. Make sure to include any unusual findings as well (i.e., results that you did not expect to be significant but were, or findings that may have surprised you based on previous research findings). Introduce the reader to this section, then address each research question separately (see below). You will have as many level three headings as you do research questions (i.e., if you have two research questions, you will have two level 3 headings. If you have four research questions, you will have 4 level 3 headings, etc.) When discussing your themes, you will also be using level IV and level V headings as needed.
Research Question One
Be sure to state your findings by the analysis method utilized in Chapter Four and discuss how your findings were similar or different from those noted in Chapter Two's lit review. This practical assessment of the findings will assist you in closing the research gap for each research question under its level three heading. It is best practice to begin this section by restating the research question. For example:
Research question one asked, what meaning do TRiO Student Support Services students attribute to their success in college? Then continue with the introductory paragraph as you present your practical assessment of the study analysis and complete the research loop for each research question.
Research Question Two
Follow the same guidelines as above. If you have additional research questions, add as many level three headings as you have research questions to address and complete the research loop for each research question.
Supplementary Findings
If you did not have any supplementary findings in Chapter Four, this heading would be deleted. If you did have supplementary findings in Chapter Four, you would also need to provide a practical assessment of the findings here as you have for all the other individual research questions. Be sure to state your findings by the analysis method utilized in Chapter Four and discuss how your findings were similar or different from those noted in Chapter Two's lit review. This practical assessment of the findings will assist you in closing the research loop for your supplementary findings as you have for the other individual research questions.
Limitations of the Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. Do not copy and paste the limitations stated in Chapter One. Think of this subsection as the "humble pie” subsection. In your Limitations section in Chapter One, you addressed the study's potential limitations. Begin by looking at potential limitations as you initially proposed, and then discuss those that may have affected your findings. In many cases, the potential limitations referenced in Chapter One do not come into play here.
However, limitations can typically originate in one of two sources: the study's design and problems during implementation. Design issues involve sampling, assessment, procedures, and choice of research design (i.e., poor match). Furthermore, issues of implementation must be addressed (i.e., low sample, measurement issues, heterogeneous groups).
Implications for Future Study
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here. The recommendations may be directed at the participants, community, state, nation, or internationally. Furthermore, discuss findings in light of questions or issues that suggest future research directions. Extend the study to other populations. For example, consider other variables that should be explored in the field and how to assess those additional variables. The Implications for Future Study is the portion of the study where researchers are allowed to dream and set the stage for similar studies by thinking of ways to extend their study to other questions that may add to the understanding of the issues.
Summary
Indent each new paragraph. Write your next section here.
References
Consult the Reference Section on APA Style for more information about citing references.
References are double spaced with appropriate indent for second and subsequent lines.
All citations and references must match throughout the dissertation. Follow APA guidelines on formatting.
Only include sources that you cited in your text in your reference list.
All live links should be in black font rather than blue. No underline is needed.
References with hyperlinks to retrieval sources or DOIs, should include the “live” link to the source.
Appendix A
Appendices: This section contains any tables, figures and possible data sources that were not appropriate in the chapters of your dissertation, as well as copies of consent forms and IRB approval letter.
Tables
2.14 Appendices: If an appendix consists of a table or figure only, then the appendix label takes the place of the table or figure number, and the appendix title takes the place of the table or figure title. Thus, if Appendix B is a table-only appendix, the table is referred to as Appendix B rather than as Table B1. Likewise, if Appendix C is a figure-only appendix, the figure is referred to as Appendix C rather than as Figure C1. If multiple tables and/or figures (but no text) are combined into one appendix, label and title the appendix and also number and title the tables and/or figures within the appendix (e.g., Tables D1 and D2 are two tables in Appendix D).
Appendix B
Figures
Appendix C
Consent Forms
Include a copy of the letter/form used to obtain consent from participants in the study.
Do not include consent forms from organizations that provided permission to gather data.
Appendix D
IRB Approval
