Project Summary: Discussion 1: Problem Statement, Purpose, and Background A proposed study with a clearly defined purpose is more likely to benefit from a more focused research problem, and a firmer research plan and design. The purpose statement defines whether the study will be of value: What information is needed? How likely is this information to influence decisions? How important and timely is the study? What is at stake (OSullivan, Rassel, & Berner, 2008)? Filling in the blanks in a simple sentence in the template below will help you to focus your purpose statement. Use this template to complete the Purpose section of your Prospectus: The purpose of this (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-design) study is to (understand, describe, develop, discover) the (central focus for the study) for (the unit of analysis, person, processes, groups, site). Use the Prospectus Guidebook as your guide, and the Historical Alignment Tool (HAT) matrix as a guide for your planned research focus. The purpose of the HAT is to support the creation of your dissertation Prospectus by documenting both the developmental evolution of and the alignment among the problem statement purpose, potential significance, research question, theoretical framework, research design and methodology (method of inquiry), data collection and analysis method, and implications for positive social change. Every decision that you make regarding one of the components of your Prospectus should be thoughtful and deliberate in order to ensure that it aligns with the components that both precede and follow it. To do this well often takes a number of iterations as you research, gather, digest, and analyze new information about your research topic. Use of the HAT will provide iterative documentation of your rationale for making key research design and methodology decisions. The HAT should be updated after each Ph.D. residency and at the end of every quarter, to (a) validate your choices, or (b) explain how new knowledge or thoughts have informed changes in your dissertation research design and methodology. To prepare for this Discussion, review the Dissertation resources in this weeks Learning Resources. QUESTION: Post your research problem statement, and then attach both the purpose statement and background sections of your Prospectus as a Microsoft Word document in the Discussion thread. Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Read a selection of your colleagues' postings. _________________________________________________________________________________ Discussion 2: Completing the Prospectus Draft One of your course texts, Rudestam and Newtons Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process (2015), dedicates a chapter to the process and experience of creating all pieces of a dissertation. Chapter 9, on overcoming barriers, includes the topics: working with your committee; and overcoming issues related to emotions, tasks, organization, working with others, and oral exams. Consider your experiences in this course so far. QUESTION: Post a brief statement about your experience in completing your Prospectus draft so far. Where are you in the process? What challenges are you experiencing? What questions do you have or support would you like? This is a chance to obtain feedback from your colleagues that may help you complete each of these sections of your Prospectus. It is not necessary to cite Learning Resources. Introduction As a result of your literature search, you have made progress in determining a statement of your research problem and your methodological approach for your Premise. These topics are not only required components for your Premise, but also for the Prospectus. This week you will review your problem statement, draft your purpose statement to align with that problem statement, and develop the background section of your Prospectus. Using a top-down approach requires that you move from a broad or general content area to a specific content area. In earlier weeks, you narrowed a broad area of interest to a specific researchable Dissertation topic, and then to a specific problem statement. The purpose statement in your Prospectus is an extension of the problem statement, which narrows the ideas of what, exactly, needs to be studied. In the Week 3 example of Samuel Isaiah Williamss Dissertation in SPPA, the purpose of his research was to investigate the citizens role with Congress. Finally, the background section requires that you excerpt a brief statement from your literature synthesis that you completed in Week 3, in order to support your problem statement. In the example of Dr. Williamss Dissertation, the background section covered (a) trust and confidence between the people and government; (b) the integrity of the democratic process; and (c) electronic technology and media as gauges of public opinion by elected officials. It also incorporated (d) lobbying of special interest groups; (e) deliberative democracy, citizen empowerment, and sustainable participation. Finally, the background section included (f) strategies for avoiding marginalization and exclusion; (g) classical writings of philosophers, scholars, and U.S. founders, related to democratic principles; (h) provisions of the 1st and 4th Amendments to the Constitution; (i) and concepts principles of federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances (Engaging Citizens in Democratic Governance and the Decision-making Process with Congressional Committees, Walden University, 2014). This week, you will complete your problem statement, purpose statement, and background sections of your Prospectus. The Dissertation Prospectus Guide explains the requirements for each section. Also, you will submit a draft of your entire Prospectus. Some of the readings focus on forming dissertation committees. These are resources for the time that you begin to identify and nominate committee members. Required Resources Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus. Readings Public Policy and Administration OSullivan, E., Rassel, G. R., & Berner, M. (2008). Research methods for public administrators (5th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson, Longman. o Chapter 1, Beginning a Research Project: The Preliminary Steps (pp. 1-24) Dissertation Rudestam, K. E., & Newton, R. R. (2015). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN: 978-1-4522-6097-6 o Chapter 4, Literature Review and Statement of the Problem (pp. 69-97) o Chapter 9, Overcoming Barriers: Becoming an Expert While Controlling Your Own Destiny, (pp. 241-258) o Chapter 10, Writing (pp. 259-279) Walden University, Center for Research Quality. (n.d.-f). Research resources and tutorials. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/resources/planning o Historical Alignment Tool (HAT) To access this document, click on Research Planning and Writing, then click on Research Planning. Then click on Historical Alignment Tool. Walden University, Center for Research Quality. (2012). Ph.D. dissertation process and documents.Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/osra/phd o Dissertation Guidebook o Dissertation Premise Guide o Dissertation Prospectus Guide o Dissertation Prospectus Rubric o Dissertation Student Process Worksheet Simon, M. K. (2011d). Writing a purpose statement. In Dissertation and scholarly research: Recipes for success (pp. 13). Lexington, KY: Dissertation Success. Retrieved fromhttp://dissertationrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Writing-a-Purpose-Statement.pdf Simon, M. K. (2011d). Writing a purpose statement. In Dissertation and scholarly research: Recipes for success (pp. 13). Lexington, KY: Dissertation Success. Retrieved fromhttp://dissertationrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Writing-a-Purpose-Statement.pdf Walden University, Student Publications. (2014). Welcome to the catalog, student handbook, and university guidebooks. Retrieved from http://catalog.waldenu.edu/ Prospectus Exemplars o Document: Exemplar 1 (PDF) o Document: Exemplar 2 (PDF) o Document: Exemplar 3 (PDF) o Document: Exemplar 4 (PDF) Writing Walden University, Online Writing Center. (n.d.-f). Writing Center home page. Retrieved fromhttp://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/home Media Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). Dissertation committee perspectives [Multimedia file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.