week 9

The EdD in Christian Leadership is a terminal degree that requires the writing of a social science model dissertation. For this program, the model used is the “Dissertation-in-Praxis” model. The dissertation-in-praxis model is very practical. It uses existing theory and knowledge to answer real-world leadership or ministry problems in a practical and informed way.

This dissertation is produced through a sequence of research courses. While each student develops their dissertation with specific sections and content appropriate to their research problem and design, the template's purpose is to ensure that the dissertation manuscript is a quality document that meets the program's standards. This template provides information about formatting and the content contained in each section of the dissertation.

This template is designed for use in creating a Dissertation-in-Praxis dissertation and should be followed with great care to include all required headings and content. As a matter of convenience, students are encouraged to retain the headings of this document and insert their relevant narrative content under those headings. This will ensure that the Table of Contents feature operates as intended.

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

AN EXAMPLE OF THE TITLE PAGE: THE TITLE GOES HERE

ALL CAPS. INVERTED TRIANGLE,

17 WORDS MAXIMUM

A Proposal Presented in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership

by

Student’s Full Legal Name

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE SIGNATURE PAGE: THE TITLE SHOULD GO HERE (ALL CAPS)

by Student’s Full Legal Name

A Proposal Presented in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Date Defended

APPROVED BY:

Faculty Supervisor

____________________________________________ _________________

Signature Date

____________________________________________

Name, Degree, or Title

Collaborating Coach

____________________________________________ _________________

Signature Date

____________________________________________

Name, Degree, or Title

____________________________________________

Collaborating Organization

The abstract summarizes the contents of the proposal. It should include the purpose (see template below), a brief rationale, and a project description. The proposal’s abstract is written in the future tense because the project has not yet been undertaken. Regarding format, the word “ABSTRACT” should be in all caps. It is set as a Word level one heading but is not counted as a level one heading in APA. It is to be centered and bolded. The abstract should be written as one double-spaced paragraph in which the first sentence of the abstract is not indented. The typical length of the abstract is approximately 250 words or less.

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

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

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

The List of Tables cites the tables and the corresponding pages of each table. This enables the reader to locate the tables in the manuscript quickly. 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.

The List of Figures cites the figures and the corresponding pages of each figure. This enables the reader to locate the figures in the manuscript quickly. 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.

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.

Society of Professors of Christian Education (SPCE)

National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)

Liberty University (LU)

The purpose of Chapter One is to provide an introduction, overview, and foundational framework for the praxis project. The chapter should create reader interest, provide awareness of a problem that necessitates the project, establish a brief literature framework on which the project will be based, identify the project within a specific organizational context, and introduce the collaborating organization where the project will be implemented. The introduction must also clearly and concisely describe the contents and organization of the chapter. Chapter One may vary in length from 16-20 pages. This section should be a brief introduction to the document. It should be a paragraph or two at maximum.

A brief transitional paragraph should be included that states the purpose and content of this section. The author often uses this section to create a sense of anticipation and an early interest on the reader’s part in the problem being studied and the proposed program, process, or product to address it. It is best to remember that the proposal reader is just being introduced to this problem. You have been reflecting on it for some time. Use this section to bring them into the conversation and express your passion for this topic. In essence, the background segment creates a sense of urgency in addressing an issue that is dissertation worthy.

“A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the literature, theory, or practice that leads to a need for the study” (Creswell, 2013, p. 50). The strategic problem is an issue or concern within a broad research topic area while also being specific to the organization for which the student will create a program, process, or product to address. This section will briefly describe the problem or opportunity that motivates the proposal and the program, process, or product to be created in response to that problem or opportunity. The section will also briefly introduce the intended output and outcomes of the program, process, or product to be created. This section should be 2-3 pages in length.

This section will discuss, in greater depth, the nature of the problem, need, or opportunity to be addressed by the dissertation. It should provide the background that supports a rationale for undertaking this proposed project. The rationale should include relevant data, previous studies, organization concerns, and biblical imperatives that support the approval of the proposal. Data to support the identification of the problem can be presented in narrative and, as appropriate, in table format. This section should define present realities that mandate change and a preferred future for the organization or context in which the Dissertation-in-Praxis will be implemented. This section should be 3-4 pages in length.

This section will address the preferred future to be created by the implementation of this program, process, or product. Five specific areas must be discussed, each under subheadings. This section should be 3-5 pages in length.

Create a vision or preferred future statement for the program, process, or product you are designing. A vision statement is a one-sentence statement.

A one-sentence statement of the purpose of the project. The purpose statement is a declarative sentence that gives specific directions to the program, process, or product you are creating in response to the problem. It orients your reader to your project, provides a short explanation of why the study is being done and what issue or need it hopes to address, and gives the reader an immediate sense of the theory the project seeks to apply. The reader should have a clear sense of the direction of the project, the content, the theory, and the outcome driving the praxis project.

A sample purpose statement might read as follows.

Engaging millennials in the church is a problem faced by many Evangelical Churches. A study by Barna (2015) indicates that churches will attract and retain millennials when their concerns and interests are considered when designing church programming. The purpose of this leader mentorship program is to test and apply Vroom’s (1964) expectancy theory of motivation to the attraction and retention of millennial generation members in volunteer leadership roles within three Southern Baptist Churches in Huntsville, AL.

Notice the elements of this purpose statement. First, it begins with the problem to be addressed in the program being designed. Further, it identifies a theory to be tested and applied by creating a leader mentorship program. In this case, the program will be implemented in Southern Baptist Churches in Huntsville, AL.

A list of three to five objectives to be attained through the implementation of this program.

Discuss the immediate deliverables from this program, process, or product. List any immediate results you are hoping to achieve.

Discuss the intended changes or transformations that will result from your program. These are the long-term benefits derived from the implementation of your program. What are the circumstances you are seeking to transform through your program? For example, an outcome of our example above might be a resurgence of millennials in leadership or service roles in the local church.

This section will focus on the collaborating organization or the context in which you will conduct your project or study. The APA, level three subheading headings below are suggestions. You may have to modify these for your context. This section should be 2-4 pages in length.

You should describe the organization or context where the praxis problem or need exists. If the organization is a church or denominationally affiliated non-profit, background information on the organization’s denominational affiliations should be provided. Background on the history of the organization is appropriate. If the organization is a Christian non-profit, discuss the nature of the ministry.

Include a mission statement as published by the organization if one is available. You may obtain this from the organization’s website or other relevant documents. If a mission statement does not exist, describe the mission as you understand it. Seek this information from your collaborating coach or key organizational leader.

If a vision statement exists, include that as well. This may be harder to obtain. An interview with a key leader could give you this information. If a vision statement does not exist, describe the mission as you understand it. Seek this information from your collaborating coach or key organizational leader.

This section aims to place your project into a context within the organization for the reader. The APA, level three subheading headings below are suggestions. You may have to modify these for your context. This section should be 2-4 pages in length.

This section discusses the specific setting in which your program, process, or product will occur. For example, suppose you are planning a program for recruiting, retaining, and developing volunteer leaders in an after-school youth outreach program. In that case, you will want to describe the specific setting where the program will function within the organization. In the case of this example, will this program occur on the school campus, a neutral location, or the church’s campus? Discuss any relevant information about the setting in which your program will function.

You will also want to include any demographic information about the program participants or organization relevant to your proposal. Describe the cultural, political, economic, legal, and/or academic contexts in which this problem resides in the context or organization. If you are implementing a program in a church context, discuss the demographics of the church and the surrounding community. Data on church size, staff size, and church composition might be relevant to your program.

The APA, level three subheading headings below are suggestions. You may have to modify these for your context. This section should be 3-5 pages in length.

This section will describe the leadership of the organization. Describe how the organization is led and the key leadership positions that exist. Discuss the leadership structure and the relationship between key positions. Describe the leadership philosophy practiced within the organization. Discuss any distinctive organizational characteristics. If there has been a recent change of leader or if the organization has enjoyed a long tenure of its executive leadership, this could be relevant to your proposal.

Please describe the collaborating team you plan to assemble for this project and explain the criteria to be used in selecting your strategic team members as it relates to the praxis problem to be addressed. Discuss the role your collaborating team will play in your program. How will you interface with this team before, during, and after the implementation of your project?

You will want to identify a willing coach within the organization who is committed to your success and guidance with the organizational system. Discuss the background and role of this individual within the organization. This coach should know the organization well, believe in your program, process, or product, and be able to guide and champion your plans. You will need official approval later in your strategic plan, so this individual should be able to assist you in that process.

Write a brief one or two-paragraph summary of the contents of this chapter. Use this paragraph to bring closure to the chapter and link the project to the literature framework that follows in the next chapter. This should be a concise connect section, not a lengthy rehashing of the material above.

Chapter Two creates the framework for your project and is often the longest chapter of the proposal. The minimum length should be 30 pages, but most are longer. Its purpose is to accomplish four goals. First, it provides a biblical and theological framework for your project. Second, it creates a theoretical framework for your project. Third, it provides a context for your research by exploring literature relevant to your project. And fourth, it demonstrates its importance on the project and how it applies essential framework principles to the rationale for and design of the project plan that follows in Chapter Three.

Begin the chapter with an introduction that provides a general explanation and overview of the chapter with links to the project’s purpose. This should be done in a short paragraph or two. This section should summarize your praxis problem, purpose, and context. It should orient your reader to your project focus. Aim for 250 words as the maximum number of words for the introduction.

After you write a summative paragraph, use the APA 7 level-two headings below to guide the development of this section. Ensure you connect the content discussion directly to your proposed praxis problem. The biblical and theological section of this chapter should be a minimum of 10 pages in length, double-spaced, and in APA 7 style. While you must include the level-two headings listed here, you may add APA 7 subheadings to your document. You must have at least ten sources in your reference list for Chapter Two's biblical and theological framework section.

This section discusses any biblical imperatives (commands or principles) that motivate your project. Are there commands given in Scripture that your project will seek to fulfill? For example, your project may involve the development of a program for prospective adoptive parents regarding the adoption process. Ask yourself: What biblical mandates or passages would serve as a rationale or basis for your program? In response, maybe you identify James 1:27 as a motivation for your adoption information program. Then, write a rationale for your program based on biblical mandates or other biblical passages relevant to your praxis problem. Be sure that you accurately interpret and apply any Scriptures used. You must identify at least one biblical imperative or principle behind your project.

Be sure to use APA 7 subheadings to add organization to your writing. The next level subheading would be lift-aligned, bold, italics, and title case . It should be formatted as the heading above. Each subheading must be followed by at least one paragraph. If you create these subheadings, you should create at least two or more in this section.

Here are a few more pointers as your write. Notice that the first line of this paragraph is indented. You should do this in your writing as well. Additionally, as you write each of these sections, be sure you also use APA 7 in-text citations. Do not sermonize here or use biased language. Instead, support your claims with appropriate citations from the literature.

Identify biblical themes from CLED700, CLED720, and CLED800 that apply to your project. For example, suppose you were developing a program for unwed mothers who decide to bring their unborn children to full-term delivery. In that case, your program might rest on the theme of the imago Dei as it is relevant to the values placed on every human life.

This section should be developed from the literature from at least two of the three courses listed above. It should demonstrate your ability to apply the concepts taught in those courses to your praxis problem. Do not mention the courses directly, quote from the professors, or use the course numbers in your narrative.

Be sure to also interact with additional literature as appropriate, beyond course content, that addresses the themes of your project. Use APA 7 in-text citations to support your claims and statements of fact. Limit quotations to no more than 10% of your work and paraphrase content from others in your own words.

As appropriate, create level three and level four subheadings per APA 7 style requirements. This will add structure to your document.

You may have as many level-three, level-four, or even level-five subheadings as required to give your document the structure required. Remember the rule of outlining here. You never have subheading one without also having subheading two. Otherwise, you are not subdividing the content being presented. Of course, you may add additional subheadings and are not limited to just two; just be sure you follow APA 7 standards for heading levels.

Include a brief introductory paragraph to this section of the chapter, the theoretical framework section of this chapter, and the level two headings identified below. The theoretical section should be a minimum of 10 pages in length, double-spaced, and in APA 7 style. Additional level-three, level-four, and level-five APA 7 subheadings may be added. However, you must include the level two headings listed here. You must have at least ten sources in your reference list supporting the theoretical framework section of Chapter Two.

This section should discuss theories and concepts that arise from your CLED815, CLED820, CLED835, CLED845, and CLED855 courses that you believe lay a theoretical foundation for your project. Use the headings below to guide the development of this section. Ensure you connect the content discussion directly to your proposed praxis problem. Do not mention the courses directly, quote from the professors, or use the course numbers in your narrative.

Discuss the knowledge base, character qualities, and skillsets essential to leading the program, process, or product with your collaborating organization or context. Use the theory-based you studied in CLED815, CLED820, and CLED835 to provide appropriate content for this section. Supplement your course resources with leadership literature relevant to your praxis problem project creation. Do not mention the courses directly, quote from the professors, or use the course numbers in your narrative.

As appropriate, create level three and level four subheadings per APA 7 style requirements. This will add structure to your document.

You may have as many level-three, level-four, or even level-five subheadings as required to give your document the structure required. Remember the rule of outlining here. You never have subheading one without also having subheading two. Otherwise, you are not subdividing the content being presented. Of course, you may add additional subheadings and are not limited to just two; just be sure you follow APA 7 standards for heading levels.

This section will identify themes from CLED845 and CLED855 that apply to your project. In addition, this section should demonstrate your ability to synthesize teaching, learning, and group theory as foundational elements of effective leadership of your program, process, or product relevant to your praxis problem. Do not mention the courses directly, quote from the professors, or use the course numbers in your narrative.

As appropriate, create level three and level four subheadings per APA 7 style requirements. This will add structure to your document.

You may have as many level-three, level-four, or even level-five subheadings as required to give your document the structure required. Remember the rule of outlining here. You never have subheading one without also having subheading two. Otherwise, you are not subdividing the content being presented. Of course, you may add additional subheadings and are not limited to just two; just be sure you follow APA 7 standards for heading levels.

This section should discuss themes and models from your cognate courses relevant to your topic. These should be specific to your topic area and connect the content discussion directly to your proposed praxis problem. This segment of the chapter should be a minimum of 10 pages in length.

This section will provide an in-depth overview of the current literature as it informs the problem and potential solutions, especially in the context of organizations similar to the collaborating organization or context. The outline of this section will follow literature themes specific to the project and its context. Include a discussion of how this review will inform your approach to solving the problem. You may draw these themes from literature studied in your cognate courses and other relevant sources.

As appropriate, create level three and level four subheadings per APA 7 style requirements. This will add structure to your document.

You may have as many level-three, level-four, or even level-five subheadings as required to give your document the structure required. Remember the rule of outlining here. You never have subheading one without also having subheading two. Otherwise, you are not subdividing the content being presented. Of course, you may add additional subheadings and are not limited to just two; just be sure you follow APA 7 standards for heading levels.

This section will present any existing models the student is using to build their program, process, or product. Are there examples of similar solution-based praxis models currently employed in the field that can serve as a pattern or foundation for this project? Discuss these models even if they are not specific to your problem. Discuss how you plan to use those models as a framework for your own project design.

The following section will include your references for this assignment. References should be presented as illustrated below and must follow APA 7 formatting. References are to be single-spaced and separated by 12 points. This is an exception to APA 7. You can set this using the Word “paragraph” feature found under the “Format” tab at the top of the screen when in the MSWord program. You must have at least 30 sources listed in your reference list.

As appropriate, create level three and level four subheadings per APA 7 style requirements. This will add structure to your document.

You may have as many level-three, four, and even level-five subheadings as required to give your document the structure required. Remember the rule of outlining here. You never have subheading one without also having subheading two. Otherwise, you are not subdividing the content being presented. Of course, you may add subheadings and are not limited to just two; just be sure you follow APA 7 standards for heading levels.

Write a brief paragraph or two summary of your literature framework chapter. This should bring closure to the chapter.

This should be a brief introduction to the chapter. It should not be more than one to two paragraphs.

This should be a brief overview of the praxis problem being addressed through this project. This section should answer the question: What are you seeking to accomplish and why?

The vision statement for your program should be a clear and compelling statement of the preferred future that will be attained by implementing this strategic plan. What are you envisioning as the result of this proposed project? A project’s vision must align with the organizational mission, culture, and core values. Remember that this statement should be identical to the one used in Chapter One. If you make any changes, you need to go back to chapter one and make those adjustments to create identical wording.

The purpose statement should be a concise statement of the project’s purpose. Ensure your statement answers the question, “Why does this program, process, or product exist?” This should be a succinct statement focused on the program, process, or product. While it is aligned with the organization’s overall purpose, it is not the organizational purpose. Remember that this statement should be the same as used in Chapter One. If you make any changes, you need to go back to chapter one and make those adjustments to create identical wording.

This section will include three to five major objectives the project will seek to fulfill. Remember that this list should be the same as the one used in Chapter One. If you make any changes, you need to go back to chapter one and make those adjustments to create identical wording.

Discuss the immediate results of this effort in specific terms. These should be able to be quantified or assessed in some way using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method data. Remember that this list should be the same as the one used in Chapter One. If you make any changes, you need to go back to chapter one and make those adjustments to create identical wording.

Describe the results. What change or transformational outcomes are being sought through this project? How will you know this effort is successful? Remember that this section should be the same as in Chapter One. If you make any changes, you need to go back to chapter one and make those adjustments to create identical wording.

List any terms and definitions that readers of your document will need to understand to comprehend your proposed project. For example, are there terms in your purpose statement, vision statement, objectives, or that you anticipate in your strategic plan that will need to be defined?

Generally, definitions in this section also need to be supported by the literature, though, they may be original to the researcher when necessary. Terms should be defined when they play a critical role in understanding the title, purpose, and objectives of the project. Citations are needed when a term is based on the literature review. Definitions should be single-spaced. The term should appear in italics, followed by a colon and the definition. Dictionary definitions are not acceptable. Here are some examples:

1. Youth Minister: A paid church staff member whose primary duties are to provide pastoral care to adolescents .

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

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

Depending on your plan, this section describes how you will implement this project. What must be operationalized to make this a successful reality? This section might include who will be involved, resources that will be needed, a timeline or schedule, curriculum to be used, a budget, description of facilities and equipment required, needed promotion and publicity to be required, and training to be provided to staff or volunteers. This will be the most extended section of this chapter and should be specific to your program, process, or product that serves as the response to the problem presented in chapter one.

Identify the data or assessment criteria that will be utilized to benchmark the implementation progress. Include the anticipated outcomes or indicators of success. Are there quantitative measures that can be used to assess the outcomes of your project? Are there qualitative assessments that can be used to determine the effectiveness of your project? How will you know if you succeeded or not?

Quantitative assessments are evaluations that use numerical or statistical data to measure and analyze the results of your program. Examples of quantitative assessments include frequency counts, closed-end survey data, and standardized tests.

Qualitative assessments are evaluations of your program expressed in descriptive or narrative terms rather than numerical ones. These assessments can involve subjective interpretation and rely on in-depth observation, open-ended questions, and other forms of data collection that allow for a more nuanced understanding of the program’s impact. Qualitative assessments include interviews, focus groups, open-end questionnaires, and participant observations. You need to plan which methods you will use to assess your program before launching the program and describe these in this section.

This chapter summary is to be written in a concise, condensed manner. It should give your reader a general understanding of the chapter and the overall project. It is helpful to revisit the critical elements of your program to give the reader a sense of the project and its potential impact. This section provides a summary of the project and its importance. It provides effective closure to the proposal and highlights again why this project is essential and should be approved. Keep in mind that this document should be written in the future tense. It will be changed to the past tense for the dissertation.

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 capitalized, bold, and centered. Note that the reference list is to be single-spaced within each entry. Spacing between entries should be 12-point. See the examples below to learn how the reference page should be formatted. Please also reference the program handbook for instructions on citations and references.

Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (5th ed.). Saga Press.

Galvan, J. L., & Galvan, M. C. (2017). Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences (7th ed.). Routledge.

Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2016). Practical research: Planning and design (11th ed.). Pearson.

Lowe, S. D., & Lowe, M. E. (2010). Spiritual formation in theological distance education: an ecosystems model.  Christian Education Journal,  7, pp. 85–102.

Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2017). The literature review: Six steps to success (3rd ed.). Corwin.

Roberts, C. M. (2010). The dissertation journey: A practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation (2nd ed.). Saga Press.

Shields, J. B. (2008).  An assessment of dropout rates of former youth ministry participants in conservative Southern Baptist megachurches (Publication No. 3401805) [Doctoral dissertation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Smith, C. (2007, January 1). Evangelicals behaving badly with statistics. Books & Culture: A Christian Review. http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/janfeb/ 5.11.html.

Appendices must include a variety of artifacts. The appendix must include the IRB application (replace with the approval letter for the complete dissertation), informed consent/assent forms as required, surveys/questionnaires/interview protocols, and other assessment instruments should be included. If more than one artifact is included, each appendix should be labeled as Appendix A, Appendix B, etc. Each appendix must be addressed in the narrative text of your document. The appendix title should be capitalized, bold, and centered.