DSRT-736: Dissertation Seminar: 13.1 - Methodology and IRB Planning

Methodology and IRB Planning

Overview: Now that you have closed in on the gap in the literature regarding your topic, you are ready to begin thinking about data collection. Most dissertations will require some form of instrumentation to gather data. This assignment will be a brainstorming time for you and your Chair to determine a possible instrument aligned with your initial literature review. Consider your approved topic and current literature review to determine the alignment between the topic, literature, and proposed instrument.

1. What are your proposed research questions?

RQ1:

RQ2:

RQ3:

RQ4:

RQ5:

2. How will you gather data to answer your research questions? Check the appropriate response.

☐ Pre-existing validated survey

☐ Design a new quantitative instrument. Select the appropriate area below.

☐ Researcher-designed, Likert-type or other numeric survey instrument

☐ Researcher-designed numeric data collection tool

☐ Adapted or changed pre-validated numeric survey instrument

☐ Feasibility of a study recruitment protocol

☐ Feasibility of a study data collection protocol

☐ Design a new qualitative instrument.

☐ Interview questions and protocol

☐ Open-ended questionnaire

☐ Focus group questions and protocol

☐ Needs assessment or other evaluation questionnaire

☐ Secondary data.

3. Complete the appropriate table below based on the answer to the question above:

Pre-existing validated survey(s):

Survey Title	What construct(s) does the survey measure?	What variables from your study will be measured using this survey?	Survey Source/Article Citation	Do you need permission to use the survey? If yes, whom do you need to contact? What is the contact information?

New Quantitative Instrument:

For a new quantitative instrument, you will need to determine what the instrument will measure and what theory is the basis for the instrument. A new quantitative instrument will require pilot testing after the pilot/field test IRB application has been approved. The full study IRB application requires submission of pilot test results. Review the required steps (Link to FAQ etc.)

What construct(s) will the survey measure?	What variables from your research question(s) will be measured using this survey?	What theory is the basis for your new instrument?	Theory / article citation

New Qualitative Instrument:

For a new qualitative instrument, you will need to determine what the instrument will measure and what theory is the basis for the instrument. A new qualitative instrument will require review by an expert panel and then a field test after the pilot/field test IRB application is approved. The full study IRB application requires submission of field test results. Review the required steps (Link to FAQ etc.)

What constructs will the instrument measure?	What variables from your research question will be measured using this instrument?	What theory is the basis for the questions on your instrument?	Theory/article citation

Secondary data:

For secondary data, your data should align with the variables in your research question. You should be familiar with the source of the data, how the data was collected, and if the data was collected from a survey, what construct the survey was validated to measure.

Secondary Data Title	What constructs does the secondary data measure?	What variables from your study will be measured using this secondary data?	Source of secondary data	Do you need permission to use the data? If yes, who do you need to contact? What is the contact information? If no, why not?

4. Where will you gather your data? Review the Doctoral Research Handbook guidelines for site permission.

Data Collection Site	Do you need permission from the site? If no, why not?	Who do you need to contact for permission?

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