Evaluating Scholarly Resources 3 to 4 pages A brief summary of both your Dissertation topic and problem statement that you posted in Week 2. As explained earlier, you may have revised them, based on your literature search. Note: My dissertation topic is GUN CONTROL "THE GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968 AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES". Is this a good topic to write on. If not can you rephrase it to fit the criteria of a dissertation? An explanation of how you used and what you found in the research literature to: (a) narrow what may have been a broad subject in earlier weeks, down to potential, focused Dissertation topics; (b) focus and develop your research problem. A description of your proposed Dissertation research in the context of public policy and administration. Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Read a selection of your colleagues' postings. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Evaluating Scholarly Resources By now you may have the sense that the Dissertation process is not linear. You have identified a Dissertation topic, focused the problem statement, and read scholarly literature, all simultaneously. Last week, in addition to your annotated bibliography, you were asked to submit a draft Premise. As you take each of these steps and complete each of these components, it is very likely that you will need to circle back and refine your topicor change topics completelyfine-tune the problem statement, and make other changes. If, for example, your literature review does not support your Premise, then you may have to revise your Premise. This is to be expected. As you refine and narrow your problem statement, it is important that you consider the literature you have read so far and determine gaps in that literature. A gap in the literature does not mean there has never been research in a specific area. It simply suggests there is an opportunity for research to provide insight, a unique approach, or an expansion to your topic area. As stated earlier in the course, a gap in the literature, in and of itself, is not a sufficient justification for the selection of a research problem or purpose. Refer to the Prospectus Guide for an explanation of this. In order to determine whether the literature on your Dissertation topic is saturated with similar research or when there is a gap in the literature, you will find it useful to read the recommendations at the end of each scholarly article. Authors often identify further research that needs to be done on the topic. That may be your gap. Note, however, that a gap in the literature is not a substantive research problem in and of itself. For instance, the SPPAs Samuel Isaiah Williams was interested in citizen participation in democratic governance and the decision-making process with the Congress. His review of the literature highlighted the earlier writings of Madison and Hamilton, as well as the contributions of Adams and Jefferson as framers of respective state constitutions. In this review, he found, among other things, that the research had focused primarily on whether participation was sufficient through voting in the electoral process and citizen interaction with officials at the state and local levels of government. It had not, however, explored engagement at the federal level with the Congress, except to discuss public discontent and frustration with the institution. He found that one gap in the literature centered on ways in which it may be possible to sustain citizen participation to influence public policy. This gap informed the problem statement, which, in this example, was that the general public typically does not participate in the process while legislation is being formulated. His grounded theory research, then, focused on citizen involvement in decisions with Congressional committees, the current and most appropriate roles, and steps to enhance participation (Engaging Citizens in Democratic Governance and the Decision-making Process with Congressional Committees, Walden University, 2014). Your problem statement should be stated clearly, refer to a relationship between two or more variables, and be researchable, that is, you should be able to collect data about the problem. The majority of resources in your Dissertation should be from peer-reviewed (or refereed) journals. Peer-reviewed journals include articles that have been evaluated and approved by professionals in the field. With that said, no one journal article is perfect. Some articles may lack strong theoretical foundations while others may contain flawed research designs. In your literature review, it is important to point out both the strengths and limitations of articles related to your topic and state how your research seeks to address them. To prepare for this Discussion, review the Learning Resources for this week. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources 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 Step (pp. 124) 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. 6997) o Chapter 10, Writing (pp. 259279) Walden University, Center for Research Quality. (2012). Ph.D. dissertation process and documents.Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/osra/phd o Dissertation Premise Guide o Dissertation Prospectus Guide o Dissertation Prospectus Rubric o Dissertation Student Process Worksheet Writing Walden University Library. (2014a). Evaluating resources. Retrieved from hhttp://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/evaluating Walden University, Online Writing Center. (n.d.-e). Synthesis. Retrieved fromhttp://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/evidence/synthesis Temple University Libraries. (2014). General Internet and print resources: How to write a literature review or annotated bibliography. Retrieved from http://guides.temple.edu/content.php?pid=1282&sid=1509795 North Carolina State University, Writing & Speaking Tutorial Services. (2006). Writing a literature review and using a synthesis matrix. Retrieved fromhttp://tutorial.ncsu.edu/sites/tutorial.ncsu.edu/files/synthesis%20matrix_CC.pdf Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Research Guides. (n.d.-b). Write a literature review: Your first literature review. Retrieved from http://guides.library.vcu.edu/content.php?pid=207859&sid=1764753 Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Research Guides. (n.d.-a). Write a literature review: Literature review tools. Retrieved from http://guides.library.vcu.edu/content.php?pid=207859&sid=1732890 Bryant, N. (2013). The literature review. Retrieved from http://lgdata.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/docs/1128/946133/Literature_Review_handout.pdf Walden University, Center for Research Quality. (n.d.-e). Research Center home page. Retrieved fromhttp://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter Simon, M., & Goes, J. (n.d.). Recipes to recognize credible scholarly sources. Retrieved fromhttp://www.Dissertationrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/What-is-a-Scholarly-Source.pdf Ferfolja, T. and Burnett, L. (2002). Getting started on your literature review: A general guide for postgraduate research students. Sydney: The Learning Centre, University of New South Wales. Retrieved fromhttp://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/Literature%20Review%20%28Handout%201%29%20%28David%29.pdf Another tool to map visually a literature review and synthesis is shown here as questions to ask regarding the process. This helpful model can serve as a process checklist, after which you might use a mind map on issues related to your research topic. Document: Literature Synthesis Illustrations (PDF) Visual designs are useful in illustrating the concept and process of reviewing and synthesizing literature. As you apply these tools in your own work, you will find it easier to locate the intersection of the major topics in the literature that help you focus on your research topic. These illustrations may be helpful as you conceptualize your own process in synthesizing the research literature.

Evaluating Scholarly Resources 3 to 4 pages A brief summary of both your Dissertation topic and problem statement that you posted in Week 2. As explained earlier, you may have revised them, based on your literature search. Note: My dissertation topic is GUN CONTROL "THE GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968 AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES". Is this a good topic to write on. If not can you rephrase it to fit the criteria of a dissertation? An explanation of how you used and what you found in the research literature to: (a) narrow what may have been a broad subject in earlier weeks, down to potential, focused Dissertation topics; (b) focus and develop your research problem. A description of your proposed Dissertation research in the context of public policy and administration. Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Read a selection of your colleagues' postings. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Evaluating Scholarly Resources By now you may have the sense that the Dissertation process is not linear. You have identified a Dissertation topic, focused the problem statement, and read scholarly literature, all simultaneously. Last week, in addition to your annotated bibliography, you were asked to submit a draft Premise. As you take each of these steps and complete each of these components, it is very likely that you will need to circle back and refine your topicor change topics completelyfine-tune the problem statement, and make other changes. If, for example, your literature review does not support your Premise, then you may have to revise your Premise. This is to be expected. As you refine and narrow your problem statement, it is important that you consider the literature you have read so far and determine gaps in that literature. A gap in the literature does not mean there has never been research in a specific area. It simply suggests there is an opportunity for research to provide insight, a unique approach, or an expansion to your topic area. As stated earlier in the course, a gap in the literature, in and of itself, is not a sufficient justification for the selection of a research problem or purpose. Refer to the Prospectus Guide for an explanation of this. In order to determine whether the literature on your Dissertation topic is saturated with similar research or when there is a gap in the literature, you will find it useful to read the recommendations at the end of each scholarly article. Authors often identify further research that needs to be done on the topic. That may be your gap. Note, however, that a gap in the literature is not a substantive research problem in and of itself. For instance, the SPPAs Samuel Isaiah Williams was interested in citizen participation in democratic governance and the decision-making process with the Congress. His review of the literature highlighted the earlier writings of Madison and Hamilton, as well as the contributions of Adams and Jefferson as framers of respective state constitutions. In this review, he found, among other things, that the research had focused primarily on whether participation was sufficient through voting in the electoral process and citizen interaction with officials at the state and local levels of government. It had not, however, explored engagement at the federal level with the Congress, except to discuss public discontent and frustration with the institution. He found that one gap in the literature centered on ways in which it may be possible to sustain citizen participation to influence public policy. This gap informed the problem statement, which, in this example, was that the general public typically does not participate in the process while legislation is being formulated. His grounded theory research, then, focused on citizen involvement in decisions with Congressional committees, the current and most appropriate roles, and steps to enhance participation (Engaging Citizens in Democratic Governance and the Decision-making Process with Congressional Committees, Walden University, 2014). Your problem statement should be stated clearly, refer to a relationship between two or more variables, and be researchable, that is, you should be able to collect data about the problem. The majority of resources in your Dissertation should be from peer-reviewed (or refereed) journals. Peer-reviewed journals include articles that have been evaluated and approved by professionals in the field. With that said, no one journal article is perfect. Some articles may lack strong theoretical foundations while others may contain flawed research designs. In your literature review, it is important to point out both the strengths and limitations of articles related to your topic and state how your research seeks to address them. To prepare for this Discussion, review the Learning Resources for this week. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources 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 Step (pp. 124) 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. 6997) o Chapter 10, Writing (pp. 259279) Walden University, Center for Research Quality. (2012). Ph.D. dissertation process and documents.Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/osra/phd o Dissertation Premise Guide o Dissertation Prospectus Guide o Dissertation Prospectus Rubric o Dissertation Student Process Worksheet Writing Walden University Library. (2014a). Evaluating resources. Retrieved from hhttp://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/evaluating Walden University, Online Writing Center. (n.d.-e). Synthesis. Retrieved fromhttp://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/evidence/synthesis Temple University Libraries. (2014). General Internet and print resources: How to write a literature review or annotated bibliography. Retrieved from http://guides.temple.edu/content.php?pid=1282&sid=1509795 North Carolina State University, Writing & Speaking Tutorial Services. (2006). Writing a literature review and using a synthesis matrix. Retrieved fromhttp://tutorial.ncsu.edu/sites/tutorial.ncsu.edu/files/synthesis%20matrix_CC.pdf Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Research Guides. (n.d.-b). Write a literature review: Your first literature review. Retrieved from http://guides.library.vcu.edu/content.php?pid=207859&sid=1764753 Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Research Guides. (n.d.-a). Write a literature review: Literature review tools. Retrieved from http://guides.library.vcu.edu/content.php?pid=207859&sid=1732890 Bryant, N. (2013). The literature review. Retrieved from http://lgdata.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/docs/1128/946133/Literature_Review_handout.pdf Walden University, Center for Research Quality. (n.d.-e). Research Center home page. Retrieved fromhttp://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter Simon, M., & Goes, J. (n.d.). Recipes to recognize credible scholarly sources. Retrieved fromhttp://www.Dissertationrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/What-is-a-Scholarly-Source.pdf Ferfolja, T. and Burnett, L. (2002). Getting started on your literature review: A general guide for postgraduate research students. Sydney: The Learning Centre, University of New South Wales. Retrieved fromhttp://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/Literature%20Review%20%28Handout%201%29%20%28David%29.pdf Another tool to map visually a literature review and synthesis is shown here as questions to ask regarding the process. This helpful model can serve as a process checklist, after which you might use a mind map on issues related to your research topic. Document: Literature Synthesis Illustrations (PDF) Visual designs are useful in illustrating the concept and process of reviewing and synthesizing literature. As you apply these tools in your own work, you will find it easier to locate the intersection of the major topics in the literature that help you focus on your research topic. These illustrations may be helpful as you conceptualize your own process in synthesizing the research literature.