Discussion Board #1

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DISSERTATION

MANUAL Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Ph.D. in Public Policy Doctorate in Public Administration

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the Program Directors

I. Introduction

II. Overview of the Dissertation Process

III. Planning & Budgeting of the Dissertation Process

IV. Formatting & Style

V. Steps in the Dissertation Process

VI. Components of the Completed Dissertation

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FROM THE PH.D. PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Dear Doctoral Candidate:

Congratulations on reaching this final stage of your Doctoral journey! You began this

journey several years ago and step after step completed all of your coursework and

Comprehensive Examination Now you face the capstone of the Doctor of Philosophy Program: the dissertation.

Even before Students arrive at the landmark dissertation stage, they have many questions about the dissertation and the process by which they complete one. To

address these overarching issues, the Helms School of Government developed this

dissertation guide.

It is our hope that this process will prepare you for a lifetime of meaningful research

and scholarship that not only evidences the knowledge and skills you have ascertained in this program, but, more importantly, reflects the Heart of Christ for justice, advocacy,

mercy, and healing for all of mankind.

May God bless you with all that you need to flourish abundantly as you conduct you r

research and write your dissertation. Our prayers are with you!

Dr. Joel Cox, Chair of Criminal Justice, Helms School of Government Online.

Dr. Kahlib Fischer, Online Chair, Helms School of Government Dr. Doug Orr, Criminal Justice Program Director

Dr. Timothy P. O’Brien, Public Policy Program Director Dr. Harry McGinnis , Public Administration Program Director

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I. INTRODUCTION

A. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to assist Criminal Justice, Public Policy, and Public

Administration Doctoral Students in completing their dissertation at Liberty University.

The best academic tradition and professional practice requires the University to prepare Doctoral Students to conduct Doctoral dissertation research that suits them for a

lifetime of meaningful empirical and scholarly endeavors that impact society. Because the completed dissertation is a publication of Liberty University, the Helms School of

Government must maintain high standards concerning the form and appearance of

dissertations and require that all work by each student conforms to those standards.

This guide sets forth those standards and provides a set of directives for Doctoral

Students as they journey through the dissertation process. This guide is also intended to serve as an aid to faculty involved in Chairing Candidate’s dissertations. It provides an

overview of the dissertation process and describes, in broad terms, the roles and

responsibilities of the Student, Committee Chairperson, and other Committee Members.

Moreover, this guide provides pertinent information about the content and style of the

dissertation document and describes the processes for document approval and final publication of the dissertation. Doctoral Students should refer to this guide and follow

its direction as they plan for and prepare their dissertation and whenever submitting

materials to their Committee. The Committee Chairperson is responsible to the University for the structure, content, and final submission of the document for

publication and has the ultimate authority in the Committee on these matters. This

guide is intended to support Students and faculty at Liberty University through the essential processes of writing and defending the Student’s dissertation.

B. The Authority of this Dissertation Manual

This version of the dissertation guide supersedes all previous editions of the

dissertation manual. Students who are in the process of writing their final chapters, however, may continue under the former guidelines.

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II. OVERVIEW OF THE DISSERTATION PROCESS

A. Background to the Dissertation

The dissertation is the culminating activity of a Doctoral Student’s degree and

represents the Student’s original contribution to the professional literature. It provides

an opportunity to focus on a single, carefully defined area of interest within the Student’s field of study. The dissertation is a scholarly document intended to

demonstrate the research competence of the author and to produce greater understanding of their chosen field of study. The dissertation is to be written in the

formal language and style of the author’s discipline or field of study, and presents the

results of a comprehensive, logical, and ethical investigation. The dissertation is an extension of published research that involves the acquisition, analysis, and

interpretation of new data. It is based upon the assumption that there exists one or more

of these elements:

 An internal reality that can be sampled, observed, measured, and analyzed.

 An internal phenomenological reality that can be described in sufficient detail by

the person experiencing it.

 A social or organizational reality that can be derived by examination of its

structure or communicated through its participants’ reports.

Regardless of the underlying assumption, the dissertation should address an important problem that is feasibly studied within the Student’s field. The dissertation study must

be carried out through the application of accepted methods and procedures appropriate to the stated problem. The dissertation is not just descriptive; it must be of a sound

extant basis or a well- developed conceptual basis that leads to the question(s) under

investigation. This basis serves as the origin for conclusions and inferences that lead to further research, for enhanced theoretical understanding, and for recommendations for

organizational improvement.

All Doctoral Candidates must submit an approved dissertation to satisfy part of the

requirements for their degree. The dissertation must be based on original research that

has been approved by the Student’s dissertation Committee. The main aim of the dissertation is to encourage independent study and to provide a foundation for future

original research and scholarship that impacts the content field and, ultimately, society.

In terms of learning, the dissertation should offer the opportunity to develop research skills, demonstrate mastery of a specified topic, and contribute to the body of

knowledge.

Dissertations can be divided into two general classifications based upon their purpose:

(a) inquiry-oriented studies that have as their purpose to investigate a certain problem

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and (b) action-oriented studies that have as their purpose to bring about change or improvement in the area of the problem.

Regardless of the type of dissertation chosen, completing a dissertation tests many of the talents expected of Doctoral Candidates such as independent thought, judgment,

critical thinking faculties, knowledge of their field, research ability, organization,

writing style, and verbal presentation. The dissertation requires the Student to research and evaluate relevant reference materials to formulate pertinent question and/or

hypotheses, to construct an appropriate research design that answers those questions

and/or hypotheses, and to present findings in the form of a coherent scholarly manuscript of appropriate format. There are many aids to this process available to the

Student, but in the final analysis the Doctora l Student is ultimately responsible for successfully completing all steps of the dissertation process.

The decision as to whether the Student has met the necessary qualifications to earn the degree rests with the Committee as a whole as well as the members of that committee

alone. The selection and working relationship with the Committee is crucial to the

successful outcome of the dissertation process. It is critical, therefore, that the Student understands the desires and demands of each Committee member and adheres to the

standards in this guide.

B. History of the Dissertation

The tradition of writing a dissertation as part of Doctoral study dates back to the late Middle Ages in European universities that were at the forefront of academic and

scientific thought. Many of their traditions surrounding dissertation writing are still

respected today. The dissertation as a genre emerged from the oral culture of medieval graduate education which emphasized mastery of ancient philosophies and evolved

into a public recognition of original scientific investigation in pre- World War I Germany. University scholars enlisted graduate Students to facilitate and record their

research. Modeled from the original research report, the dissertation became a sine qua

non, an essential element, for acquiring the Doctoral degree.

James Morris Whiton wrote the first dissertation in the United States at Yale University

in 1861. His study of the proverb “Brevis vita, ars longa” contained six pages written in Latin. Fifteen years later, a total of 83 dissertations had been written in the US. The rate

of dissertations rose modestly from the turn of the twentieth century until the early

1950s when the number of dissertations recorded increased exponentially. In 2004, over 32,000 dissertations were recorded in the University Microfiche Incorporated (UMI)

ProQuest database. Among the two million dissertations written since Whiton’s, the

structure and expectation of the dissertation remains an instantiation of the scientific method: background, method, analysis, and conclusions.

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C. Dissertation Outline & Criteria

1. Chapter One. Introduction

 The introduction adequately establishes the background and context of the

study;

 The problem statement is adequately articulated, supported with research,

and amenable to the investigation;

 The justification of purpose and significance is integrated with the problem

statement and makes an adequate case for conducting the research;

 The nature of the research design adequately describes and is appropriate to

the stated problem;

 The research questions and/or hypotheses are sta ted in answerable or

testable form and are appropriate to the stated problem;

 The relevant assumptions and limitations have been identified;

 All technical terms have been adequately defined and explained, and

 Summary.

2. Chapter Two. Literature Review

 The literature review establishes an adequate theoretical framework for the

study;

 The literature review examines current empirical, theoretical, and relevant

literature associated with key variables of the problem;

 In areas where literature that directly addresses the topic is limited, current

literature in related fields is used to build a rationale for the problem;

 The literature review cites appropriate research literature to defend the

selection of research design and procedures for this study; and

 Summary.

3. Chapter Three. Methods

 The research design is adequately described and justified;

 The relationships between the problem, the research questions/hypotheses,

design and methods are defended;

 The description of the population/sample and/or participant selection

procedures is adequate;

 All the constructs involved are operationalized;

 The data processing and analysis procedures are appropriate in light of the

study’s design and hypotheses; and

 Summary.

4. Chapter Four. Data Analysis and Results:

 The data have been analyzed using the appropriate techniques as described

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in the methods chapter;

 The analyses are performed and presented correctly;

 The results address the hypotheses and/or questions; and

 Summary.

5. Chapter Five. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations:

 The findings are discussed in terms of research problem, conceptual

framework, and research questions/hypotheses;

 All the relevant conclusions that can be drawn from the analysis are

identified;

 Findings are clearly placed within the context of the current literature

 The recommendations for future research directions and practice a re

identified and justified;

 The general conclusions are warranted in light of the results and current

literature;

 The ramifications and implications for practice are appropriate; and

 Summary.

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D. The Dissertation and Degree Completion Plan

Below is an overview of how the dissertation process fits within the Student’s degree

completion plan:

CJUS/PADM/PLCY 885 Comprehensive Exam & Research Concept

In this course the student completes the comprehensive exam and writes a paper which serves as a “proto-dissertation”.

CJUS/PADM/PLCY 987 Dissertation I Proposal (Chapters 1-2)

This course is the first step for doctoral candidates in the process of developing and completing their research study and dissertation. Doctoral candidates will develop Section 1, which includes the Foundation of the Study, to include a detailed Literature Review relevant to the proposed research study.

CJUS/PADM/PLCY 988 Dissertation II Chapter 3 & Proposal This course is the second step for doctoral candidates to develop and complete their

dissertation. Doctoral candidates will develop Section 2, which includes their methodology for conducting the study, and combine it with Section 1 into a single document. Candidates will also complete and submit their IRB package to complete their proposal defense.

CJUS/PADM/PLCY 989 Dissertation III Chapters 4-5

This course is the final step in developing the dissertation manuscript. Doctoral candidates will conduct their field study, analyze their data, and present their findings and develop Section 3 of their dissertation. Candidates will combine all three sections into their completed dissertation manuscript in preparation for their dissertation defense.

CJUS/PADM/PLCY 990 Dissertation IV Dissertation Defense

This course is the last step in the doctoral program. Doctoral candidates will defend their dissertation and finalize their dissertation manuscript for publication.

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III. PLANNING & BUDGETING OF THE DISSERTATION PROCESS

A. Guiding Thoughts

The dissertation is a major undertaking and there are several general considerations and

expenses that the Student should keep in mind during the planning stage. These include time, money, and additional skills (such as test administration, statistical

analysis, editing, or transcription for qualitative research) that the Student may need to learn/pay for in order to complete the dissertation research. The Student is advised to

begin financial planning as soon as possible.

Managing time appropriately is important if Doctoral Candidates want to graduate on a certain date. A written detailed project plan is highly encouraged. In planning a timeline

for the completion of the dissertation, Students should consider their personal time limitations and the time constraints of Committee Members. Normally, a Committee

member requires at least two weeks in order to adequately review Student submissions.

This timeline, however, can be influenced by a number of events. In other words, it is important to keep faculty schedules in mind when submitting materials for review. The

student shall solicit chair and reader buy in with respect to review turnaround times.

Both parties shall agree to the timeline. If the Student believes that the Committee Chair or other Committee Members are being negligent in responsibilities, it is the

Student’s responsibility to discuss the matter with them. If an agreement cannot be

reached, the Student may appeal to the Ph.D. Director(s), the Department Chair(s), or the Helms School of Government Online Associate Dean.

Students submit chapters as they are completed in order to allow the Chair or Committee Members to provide timely feedback. While waiting, the Student can

continue to work on subsequent chapters. Ultimately, the Committee will decide when

the document is complete and ready to defend. Their decision is based on the quality of each part of the manuscript as well as the entirety of the design itself. No other

deadlines or priorities will supersede this responsibility. Should the Committee determine that the document is not ready to defend, the student will be assigned a

grade designation of “Progress”, allowing the student to continue fine-tuning the final

product. This includes both the dissertation proposal and the completed dissertation in its entirety.

B. The Use of Assistance in the Dissertation Process

It is not unusual for the Doctoral Candidate to enlist the assistance of research

methodologist consultants in the course of dissertation research and document preparation for the purposes of ensuring that the research methodology of the study is

sound. Although Candidates must make decisions on how to best utilize their time, and

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how much to use the skills of others, they never relinquish the responsibility for the process or the product of the research.

The Student is responsible for knowing every aspect of the research and is answerable to the Committee for the ethical behavior, procedures, accuracy, interpretation, and

integrity of the results. The Student must not include anything in the dissertation that

s/he cannot describe, understand, justify, and explain to the Committee. The Student must be in control of the research and dissertation, and cannot defer to experts or hired assistants without a complete understanding of the reasons, procedures to be used, and appropriate interpretation of the results from these outside efforts. The Committee must be completely

convinced that the Student has a firm grasp on the research and has taken measures to

ensure accuracy.

Many Doctoral Students find it helpful to employ a research methodologist consultant

at various points throughout their research and dissertation. These consultants can assist Students with the research questions, design, data collection procedures, and

statistical procedures necessary for the dissertation proposal. Statistical consultants can

also assist Students in statistical analysis and interpretation. If Students wish to use a consultant, they should discuss this with the Committee Chair first, and then with other

Members of the Committee. Whether or not a consultant is used, students must

understand that they must be able to explain and defend their chosen methodologies as part of their proposal and defense. The consultant will not be available as a resource in

either the proposal or final dissertation defense; moreover, students must be prepared

to answer detailed questions about methodological approaches. Failure to demonstrate sufficient awareness and understanding of methodology will delay the approval

process.

One consultant Students must employ is a professional editor who is also an expert in

the following formatting styles, dependent upon the doctoral program:

 APA for the Criminal Justice and Public Administration doctoral programs

 Turabian for the Public Policy doctoral program.

Please note that heretofore, the above styles are assumed in the rest of this guide for

their respective program.

Committee Members should be able to review your work w/out being distracted by

spelling, grammar, and writing errors. Remember that the dissertation will be published

in the Student’s name but will also include the names of Committee Members. Each person’s reputation is intractably tied to the quality of the completed dissertation. Students are

responsible to pay for this service. The use of an editor will be money well spent in order

to ensure that the dissertation is both well-written and consistent with the appropriate format writing standards. Students are free to select an editor of their choice. However,

the final dissertation product shall have a ready-for-publication appearance.

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IV. FORMATTING & STYLE

A. Basics

 The margins for all chapters of the dissertation are: 1 inch at the top and bottom,

1 inch on the right side, and 1 inch on the left side. Text should be Times New

Roman, 12-point font.

 Text within the body of the manuscript should be left justified and double

spaced throughout the document with page numbers in the upper right-hand

corner.

 Page numbering should be Arabic, with no number on the title page.

 All manuscripts should follow the latest version of the appropriate style manual.

For further information consult the Thesis and Dissertation and Publishing

Guides.

 Students are responsible to give one bound copy of their dissertation to the

Helms School of government. Information about binding and publication is via the Library site.

B. Style, Additional

 Broadly speaking, the dissertation is a scholarly document written for

professionals in their specific field of study.

 A dissertation typically ranges from 125 to 200 pages of text with some exceeding

400 pages and contains a thorough literature review that is typically 30 to 75

pages in length depending on the topic and amount of previous research.

 The dissertation should follow the most recent edition of the appropriate style

guide. However, the formatting guidelines and the templates for the dissertation outlined in this handbook need to be followed where specified.

 It is highly recommended that candidates retain their textbooks from their

previous statistics and research methods courses as these can be very useful

guides in the development of their project and identification of appropriate

statistical analyses to use.

C. Academic Honesty

Liberty University considers academic honesty and integrity to be one of its highest

values. The dissertation should represent an original contribution to the knowledge

base of the Student’s field of study. Students are accountable for conducting original research that leads to the discovery of new information that informs policy or

theoretical improvement. Thus, they are expected to submit original work. The reuse of

end-of- course essays or reports, master’s theses, or Doctoral research conducted

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elsewhere is prohibited. While citing previous work, Students should treat their previous submission and publications as they would any other work cited according to

the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological

Association. This is described in greater detail below.

Students must cite the ideas and work of others appropriately and according to current

APA format. Properly crediting others’ scholarly work is an ethical imperative for all academics and one that demonstrates an author’s own integrity. The same principles

that guide expectations of academic honestly and integrity in coursework hold true for

the dissertation.

The Chair of the Doctoral Committee may require a Student to submit his/ her

dissertation at any stage of the writing process through plagiarism detection software. The consequences of apparent academic dishonesty are given to the Doctoral

Committee Chair and the Committee for their discretion. For more information on the University’s policies regarding academic dishonesty, please refer to the Student honor

code and plagiarism/academic integrity policies found here.

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V. STEPS IN THE DISSERTATION PROCESS

A. Overview

The idea of completing a dissertation can be overwhelming. In fact, the process seems so

threatening to some Doctoral Students that they never begin or finish their dissertation.

 Remember the strong encouragement to use a detailed project plan from earlier

in this guide.

 It is helpful to disregard the dissertation as one enormous journey, but consider

it a series of steps.

For practical purposes, HSOG conceptualizes the dissertation process as having the

following steps:

1. Select a topic: this occurs through the process of the student’s chosen cognate

and/or other courses in the degree. 2. Chair and Committee selection process: students will be assigned a chair and

reader as part of their chosen research path/cognate and will also have some

opportunity to solicit a chair and reader of their preference. 3. Complete the proposal

4. Defend the proposal

5. Obtain approval by the Internal Review Board (IRB)

6. Conduct the research 7. Complete the final chapters

8. Submit the entire dissertation for final approval

9. Obtain a professional editor to review for form and style 10. Defend the dissertation

11. Submit the final dissertation and resubmit for further professional editorial

review if further changes were made to the document post defense.

B. Step 1: Select a Topic

Without a doubt, selecting a topic is one of the most difficult aspects of the dissertation

process. The key, in this regard, is choosing a topic that will sustain the Student’s

interest and attention over a period of 6 to 18 months—the average length of time to complete most dissertations. Moreover, topics should not be too broad, too vague, too

grand, or too global. Once a topic is selected, the Student will create a one-page,

succinct summary of the research question and method to present to a potential Chair. Finally, topics should be relevant to the field of counseling with the goal of extending

the empirical literature in meaningful ways that impact real people, policies,

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organizations, and society at large.

C. Step 2: Obtain a Dissertation Committee Chair

The second step in the dissertation process is for dissertation Committee Chair person

assignment (if not already done). The research interests of the student will be matched

as close as possible to the research interest of the potential committee chair. The dissertation assignment portal must be used to start the dissertation-oriented courses.

Given the importance of the Chairperson as it relates the success of a dissertation, the

Doctoral Student should discuss their research ideas with their committee chair soon after assignment. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee is comprised of two Members:

the Dissertation Chair (not school chairperson) and one faculty Reader.

D. Dissertation Chairperson’s Role and Responsibilities

Dissertation Chairpersons are vitally important to the success of Students working on

their dissertation. The Chair of the Dissertation Committee is the liaison for the Student,

Committee, and the school. The Chair guides and supports the Doctoral Candidate as he or she develops and demonstrates competencies in critical thinking, analysis,

synthesis, and integration of relevant theories and research.

The Chair reviews the ideas of the student and assists HSOG administration in

developing a cogent committee of the remaining Committee positions, guides and

supports the Student through the Candidacy Exam, supervises the design and research, and oversees the completion of the dissertation manuscript. The Chair provides

feedback on the Student’s writing and research skills and refers the Student to

additional support and resources within the University when those skills need further development.

During the dissertation process, the Student and Chair will be engaged in collaborative efforts involving the communication skills of writing and discussing. The Chair must

ensure that the Comprehensive Exam, the Proposal, and the completed dissertation

comply with all criteria used to evaluate acceptable scholar-practitioner work at the Doctoral level. This includes, but is not limited to: the content, structure, format, style,

and ethical guidelines. The Chair is the focal point for communication between the Committee Member and the Student and facilitates the pace and flow of all meetings.

The Chair should clearly communicate to the Student, all University and HSOG

expectations concerning procedures for completing the dissertation research project and the Doctoral degree. The primary form of communication shall be email. However, the

Chair should set up several regular phone conferences as appropriate. It is

recommended that phone conversations/webinars be summarized via email to ensure shared understanding.

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E. Chair Eligibility & Duties

A Chair is a residential or online LU employee who has earned a relevant doctoral

degree. The Dissertation Chair mentors the doctoral candidate through the scientific

peer review process involved in dissertations in the social and behavioral sciences. Peer review is an essential component for any doctoral study that could potentially be

published in a scholarly journal in these fields. Specifically, the Chair mentors the doctoral candidate in the following ways:

1. Instructs on the development of a proposal document.

a. Reviews drafts

b. Provides feedback until an acceptable document for a proposal defense is developed

2. Consults with the Reader regarding the proposal document in order to obtain

feedback (peer review). 3. Prepares the candidate for the proposal defense.

4. Directs the dissertation committee questioning process during the proposal

defense 5. Provides feedback on any needed adjustments to the candidate’s study design or

literature review following the proposal defense.

6. Gives feedback on ethical aspects and final approval of the candidate’s IRB application.

7. Addresses any student questions or issues that arise during the student’s study

implementation. 8. Instructs on the development of a dissertation document

a. Reviews drafts

b. Provides feedback until an acceptable document for a dissertation defense is developed.

9. Consults with the Reader regarding the dissertation document to obtain

feedback (peer review). 10. Prepares the candidate for the dissertation defense

11. Directs the dissertation committee questioning process during the dissertation

defense. 12. Determines, along with the Reader (peer review), whether the candidate’s work

is sufficient to pass the dissertation defense.

13. Provides feedback on any needed adjustments to the candidate’s interpretation of study findings.

14. Oversees the final manuscript submission process to the library.

15. When appropriate, assists the student in developing an article submission to a scholarly journal.

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F. Committee Member/Reader Role & Responsibilities

A Dissertation Reader is typically is a residential or online LU faculty member with a

relevant doctoral degree. With program chair approval, a specialized subject expert not employed by Liberty University may be considered. A Non-Liberty University

employee may also be considered in the case of work flow needs.

Committee Members provide content, technical, organizational, ethical, and

administrative guidance for the Student in the dissertation process. The dissertation

Committee Members work collaboratively with the Committee Chairperson to guide the Student in the development and advancement of academic skills. Once the Committee

Members have been approved by the dissertation Committee Chair and the Members have agreed to participate on the Committee, the Student will need to complete the

process. This process will be completed in our online dissertation portal, where further

instructions are provided.

To this end, the dissertation Committee should form a collective of subject matter and

methodological experts that coincide with the topic under investigation and the methods proposed. The Committee Member is available to Students throughout the

dissertation process to provide counsel relevant to the study and consistent with their

expertise via email. At the discretion of the Committee Member, a phone conference or webinar may be scheduled. The Committee Members must hold earned doctorates. The

Committee Member evaluates the dissertation proposal and manuscript to ensure that

the work meets rigorous academic standards for quality and that the Student meets the guidelines for ethical research, academic honesty, and academic writing and

presentation.

A Reader assists in the scientific peer review process involved in dissertations in the

following ways:

1. Reviews carefully the proposal document to assess whether the doctoral

candidate is ready to defend the proposal.

a. Provides feedback to the student and Chair regarding the proposal b. Informs the Chair when there are critical issues that must be resolved

before the proposal defense to prevent a potential failure

2. Participates in the proposal defense as a scientific peer reviewer

a. Asks questions in the proposal defense to assess the student’s competency

and the merits of moving forward with the study. b. Provides the student and Chair feedback on any needed adjustments to

the candidate’s study design or literature review.

c. Discusses with the Chair (often privately when the candidate is asked to leave the room) any concerns about passing the doctoral candidate in the

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proposal defense d. Officially votes whether to pass, pass with modifications, or not pass the

doctoral candidate.

3. Assists the Chair (when appropriate) in addressing any student questions or

issues that arise during the student’s study implementation.

4. Reviews carefully the dissertation document to assess whether the doctoral candidate is ready to defend the dissertation.

a. Provides feedback to the student and Chair regarding the dissertation

b. Informs the Chair when there are critical issues that must be resolved before the dissertation defense to prevent a potential failure.

5. Participates in the dissertation defense as a scientific peer reviewer

a. Asks questions in the dissertation defense to assess the student’s accuracy and competency in analyzing the results and interpreting the findings of

the study.

b. Provides the student and Chair feedback on any needed adjustments to the candidate’s analyses or interpretation of the findings.

c. Discusses with the Chair (often privately when the candidate is asked to leave the room) any concerns about passing the doctoral candidate in the

dissertation defense.

d. Officially votes whether to pass, pass with modifications, or not pass the doctoral candidate.

6. When appropriate, assists the student and Chair in developing an article

submission to a scholarly journal.

G. Chair and Reader Removal and Replacement

None of the policies listed below should supersede any governing federal, state, and

university policies with respect to anti-discrimination policies or related policies.

In all circumstances both students and Committee members should keep in mind that

there may be monetary implications and/or course implications to the removal of a Committee member. These implications may impact the Committee member and/or the

student.

1. Student Requested Removal

 If a student wishes to have a Chair or Reader removed from their Committee

the student shall, in the case of the reader, discuss the situation and reason(s)

with the Dissertation Chair. The Chair should make reasonable efforts to

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facilitate a dialogue that would preserve the present Committee makeup.

 In the event that the student request for reader removal or the student

requests removal of the Dissertation Chair, the request shall be forwarded by the student to the appropriate Program Director. The Program Director and

HSOG administrative leadership shall confer and make a final decision.

 Typically requests for removal are for extreme circumstances that would

prevent a positive and ongoing dialog among the Committee and student.

2. Committee Requested Removal

 If a Chair or Reader wishes to be removed from a Dissertation Committee

they should address the issue with the Program Director.

 The Program Director will confer with HSOG administrative leadership for

final disposition.

H. Step 3: Complete the Proposal

The process of completing the dissertation leading to Committee approval is an iterative process that culminates in the dissertation defense. This iterative process typically takes

place for each chapter and involves the Chairperson’s initial endorsement of each submission before distribution to other Committee Members. This entire process begins

with the dissertation proposal.

Typically, a dissertation proposal is comprised of Chapters One through Three (e.g., Introduction, Review of the Literature, and Methods) of the entire dissertation. The

Chapters, References, and Appendixes may be updated throughout the dissertation process, but should be written with a completed draft in mind. The submission of the

proposal should include the Title Page, Abstract, Table of Contents, References, and

Appendices. The actual format of the dissertation, however, will be determined by the nature of the research and in collaboration with the Committee.

As for the submissions of the dissertation proposal, several revisions are likely. This process is usually done through the development of outlines, identification of reference

sources, the submission of drafts, the receipt of feedback, and the revision of drafts. At

the discretion of the Committee Chair, this process may be supplemented with face to face or teleconference meetings as necessary.

I. Step 4: Defend the Proposal

Although it is preferable for the proposal defense to take place face to face with the

Committee. Due to the geographic dispersion of the University’s Student body, a teleconference or webinar defense will most likely be the best choice. The student,

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working with the Chair shall ensure the defense is formal and professional. Additionally, the Chair shall ensure the student’s PowerPoint, video’s, supporting

material is profession and fee of errors and, if applicable, that the student is familiar

with the webinar presentation software.

The defense of the proposal is not just a formality. Issues that require clarification or

changes that must be made may emerge from the defense. The Candidate is expected to demonstrate a mastery of the proposed study, the related literature, and adequately

answer Committee member questions.

Questions about the proposal may include:

1. Does the design clearly relate to the purpose of the study?

2. Does the design adequately address each research question? 3. What are the data sources? Are they useful, reliable, and sufficient?

4. Is the design feasible within the stated limitations and delimitations?

5. Does the design attend to the protection of human subjects?

6. Is a realistic timeline established? 7. Is the sample clearly defined?

8. Do the research methods reflect the literature?

9. Is this the “best” design for the study and the subject area? 10. Are the theoretical frameworks appropriate to the study?

Three possible outcomes may result from the dissertation proposal defense. First, the Committee may approve the Candidate’s proposal. If the proposal is successfully

defended, the Committee will sign the cover page of the proposal and it will be placed

in the Candidate’s electronic file. A shared file should be created when a student starts the dissertation process. This file should be created by the dissertation coordinator. The

Candidate will be given permission to begin Step Five of the dissertation proc ess.

Second, the Committee may accept the proposal with modifications. The Committee will not approve the proposal until such changes are made. The Candidate should

submit these modifications to the Chair for review.

Third, the Committee may not approve the proposal. Rescheduling and

recommendations for a second attempt will be determined on a case-by-case basis by

each Committee. A successful proposal defense must be accomplished before the Candidate can move forward with any aspect of conducting the research or evaluation.

J. Step 5: Obtain Approval by the Internal Review Board

The federal government requires that all institutions, whether university, company, or agency ensure that all state and federal regulations are observed by researchers in their

community. The Internal Review Board (IRB) examines all research to ensure that the

welfare of human research participants is protected. Data collection cannot begin until

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IRB approval has been obtained. The IRB’s current guidelines and application forms can be found on the Graduate Center for Research and Evaluation (GCRE) webpage. The

Student’s Doctoral Committee Chair serves as the faculty sponsor and works with the

Student to insure that proper ethical standards are applied to the project and that informed consent is used when appropriate. Consider the following guidelines in

obtaining IRB approval.

1. First, determine which IRB application form to use (see the Guidelines and

Forms the IRB website). If the project involves minimal risk, the exempt research

application is appropriate. Guidelines for expedited and full research are also found under the Guidelines and Forms link.

2. Once the appropriate form has been chosen, view the “avoiding pitfalls section”

of the IRB homepage. This section provides application hints based upon the study’s design. Many times, simple modifications to a design can prevent delay

(or the need for resubmittal) in the application process. 3. Once the Student is aware of the particular issues his or her design might pose

for approval, he or she should proceed with completing the application form.

The form will require the Student’s signature as Primary Investigator and the Faculty Sponsor’s signature in order to be considered complete. Prior to

submission to the IRB, the Student’s Chair must review and approve the

application.

The Student should submit the appropriate and completed IRB application form to the

IRB after obtaining review and permission from the Chair to submit the approved application form. For exempt or expedited submissions, the IRB should render a decision

within two weeks. For full review submissions, which require a more thorough review

process, the IRB should be able to render a decision within one month. No IRB application can be submitted without Chair review and approval. No data can be

collected without IRB approval. If a student wishes to collect and analyze archived or

public use data, the student guided by the dissertation Chair shall inquire with IRB the efficacy of collecting this data and make note of the IRB’s decision.

K. Step 6: Conduct the Research

After the successful defense of the Proposal and approval of the IRB, the Candidate can proceed to implement the investigation as designed and agreed upon by the

Committee. The responsibility of the Candidate is to implement the study as presented

in the Proposal. Any deviations from the Proposal need both Committee and IRB approval.

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L. Step 7: Complete Final Chapters

In the approved research Proposal, the Candidate typically has completed Chapters

One through Three. After the research is completed and Chapters Four and Five are being written, the first three chapters should reflect past tense (reflecting completed

action). The remaining chapters present the results, summarize and interpret the data, draw conclusions, discuss practical implications, and make recommendations for future

research. Further, the Candidate must complete the entire dissertation document (e.g.,

Abstract, Appendixes, Table of Contents, Transition Paragraphs, etc.).

M. Step 8: Submit the Entire Dissertation for Final Approval

Once the Doctoral Student has completed the final draft of the dissertation, it should be

submitted to the Committee. Typically, the Committee will provide feedback to the

Candidate within 30 days. Any required changes to the document should be made and resubmitted to the Committee. This process will continue until all of the Committee

Members approve the document. At that time, the Student and the Committee should

schedule the dissertation defense. The defense will be scheduled no sooner than 30 days following approval of the final draft. The Student must create a dissertation

announcement via the Dissertation Portal.

N. Step 9: Defend the Dissertation

1. Purpose of the Dissertation Defense

The oral defense of the dissertation is open to members of the Liberty University academic community. It should be approached seriously and with dignity because it is

the culminating event of a Student’s Doctoral degree. Members of the Committee will

evaluate the Student’s ability to present his or her research in a scholarly manner. Committee Members will assess the Student on his or her ability to:

 Share knowledge with the academic community,

 Be innovative and creative in the applications of scholarship and practice,

 Interact with the academic community, and

 Logically and adequately present ideas during a critical review or constructive

exchange.

The Student’s Chair coordinates the meeting and the procedures for conducting the defense. If the Candidate wishes to graduate at the upcoming commencement, he or she

must schedule the defense early in the semester. Each Committee member must

approve the final draft before the defense can be scheduled. The defense may be scheduled 30 or more days following final acceptance of the document by all

Committee Members.

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The elements of the defense should be negotiated with the Student’s Committee Chair

prior to the defense meeting. Some Chairs may wish for the Student to develop a

PowerPoint presentation and handouts that reviews the study and results. Just as in the proposal defense, the student, working with the Chair shall ensure the defense is formal

and professional. Additionally, the Chair shall ensure the student’s PowerPoint,

video’s, supporting material is profession and fee of errors and, if applicable, that the student is familiar with the webinar presentation software.

2. The Defense Proper

While presentations may vary in length, most reviews can be accomplished in

approximately 20 minutes. Following the presentation, questions will be addressed to the Doctoral Student. Questions may relate directly to the research, its theoret ical

underpinnings, or be of a more general nature to test the qualifications of the Student to receive the Doctoral degree. Following a period of questioning by Committee Members,

other attendees may question the Candidate. Keep in mind that attendees will most

likely refer to “virtual attendees”.

When the questioning is completed, typically the Student and observers will be excused

so that the Committee can deliberate privately. From these deliberations three results are possible:

1. The Candidate passes, though minor editing changes may be necessary and the

Committee Members, except the Chair sign the signature page. The Chair will sign the signature page once the changes have been completed.

2. The Candidate is provisionally passed pending the submission of changes,

review, and approval by the Candidate’s Committee. The Committee Members will not sign the signature page until all changes have been approved. The

Candidate will not be required to defend again.

3. The Student is not passed. In this case the Candidate must meet with the Chair (or Committee) to develop a plan to be completed before the resubmission of

the document and the rescheduling of a defense.

The successful defense of the dissertation concludes the work of the Committee. Each

Committee Member will sign the signature form, which indicates that their work has

been completed. In addition, each Committee Member must sign the ILRC (library) Deposit Form that must be submitted in order to have the dissertation uploaded to the

ProQuest/UMI. This deposit form is available on the ILRC webpage.

Committee Members should use black ink when signing the signature page of the

original copy of the dissertation. The work of the Chair and the Student is not

completed until all changes have been made, all signatures are present, and all documents are delivered to their appropriate sources.

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O. Step 10: Obtain a Professional Editor to Review the Dissertation for Form and Style  After the successful defense of the dissertation, the Student will make corrections

as required by the Committee.

 If the Student has not done so already, he or she needs to carefully review the

dissertation guide for compliance with the HSOG form and style.

 All Students are required to obtain an editor to have their dissertation carefully reviewed to ensure excellence in style, format, grammar, spelling, syntax, and appropriate the style guide.

 The Student will be required to make all the necessary changes and resubmit the

corrected dissertation for review.

 The Student is responsible for the costs associated with obtaining the editor.

P. Step 11: Submit the Final Dissertation

Once compliance has been verified, the Student is then ready to submit the disserta tion

for publication. The following IRLC submission guidelines must be strictly followed

and can be reviewed in more detail on the IRLC website. 1. Ensure that all required pages are present: Signature Page, Cover Page, Table of

Contents, Abstract, List of Tables, and List of Figures.

2. Ensure accuracy with all page numbering and reference list.

3. Ensure that any reprinted material conforms to all governmental copyright regulations. Failure to comply with copyright regulations will prevent the

dissertation from being accepted. 4. Liberty University has adopted the Microsoft® Office software bundle as the

standard for its operations. The dissertation must be submitted in Microsoft®

Office Word. It is important that the dissertation template found in the dissertation guide’s appendixes be followed in order to prevent problems from

converting the dissertation to a PDF format.

5. Each Student will need to upload the completed and approved dissertation to ProQuest/UMI. Instructions for submission can be found on the IRLC website.

Once the dissertation has been deposited the Student will receive a confirmation.

The Student will eventually obtain another confirmation from the library sta ting that ProQuest/UMI has accepted the dissertation for approval.

6. Once approval has been obtained from the ProQuest/UMI, the dissertation must

be submitted for binding. Since the University no longer binds dissertations it is the Student’s responsibility to provide a bound copy for the Department. If you

wish additional copies, you may also order them. The binding company

recommended by the IRLC can be found on the IRLC website: Additional bound copies might be requested by the Student’s Committee member. Of course, most

Students also choose to have a bound copy for themselves. The cost of binding

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these copies is the responsibility of the Student.

7. Once the bound copies are received, the Student should forward them to the HSOG for signatures. The Student is responsible for any costs associated with mailing.

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VI. COMPONENTS OF THE COMPLETED DISSERTATION

Although dissertations can vary in number of chapters and organization, in essence all

dissertations consist of four major components or parts: (a) Preliminary pages; (b) Text; (c) References; and (d) Appendixes. These components are detailed below.

A. Preliminary Pages

Preliminary pages must appear in the order described below. These pages are

numbered with lower case roman numerals.

 Title Page: Each copy of the dissertation must include a title page prepared

exactly in accordance with the EXAMPLE. This is the only page among the

preliminary pages that does not bear a page number; it is page “i” but the “i” is

not printed on the page. The Student’s full legal name should be used on the title page.

 Signature/Approval Page: All copies must include a signature page that has been

signed in black ink by each Committee member. The page number appears on

the bottom of this page as “ii”. The author may include a copyright statement on the signature page. It should be centered and appear after the author’s full legal

name as follows: © Copyright, YEAR.

 Abstract: (If style guide requires): All dissertations must have an abstract that

briefly describes the problem, purpose, methods, and summary of findings.

 Dedication (Optional): The Student may wish to include a dedication.

 Acknowledgement (Optional): Many authors include an acknowledgement page to

express their appreciation to those who have assisted in the dissertation.

 Table of Contents: consistent with relevant style guide.

B. Text, References and Appendices Sections

All dissertations by Students in the Helms School of Government program shall comply with the writing format of the most recent version of appropriate style guide.

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