The Dissertation Process

1. The Dissertation Process FSE-ARC

2. Applied Research Center Faculty Soledad Argüelles-Borge, PhD Marcelo Castro, PhD Nydia Cummings, PhD Fawzy Ebrahim, PhDAlex Edmonds, PhD Elda Kanzki-Veloso, PhD Tom Kennedy, PhD James Pann, PhD FSE-ARC

3. Senior Research Associate (IRB) Jennifer Dillon, MA Research Associates (IRB) Natolyn Jones-Ferguson, MA Michelle Krantz, Med Silvia Orta, EdD Ashley Russom, EdD Research AssistantRobert Greene, BA Research Process Associates Camille Coke, BS Jennifer Mendez, BS Operations Manager Ruth Chernet Administrative Assistants Trenicia Brown Dominique Britt Katie Lyewsang FSE-ARC

4. reviews and helps resolve student concerns regarding dissertation committees and process • assigns student to a dissertation committee based on Dissertation Match results • completes a reassignment of student should the need arise Jack Billings, EdD Carolyn Buckenmaier, EdD Katrina Pann, PhD Liz Romero, PhD David Weintraub, EdD FSE-ARC

5. Program Professor Dissertation Services Associate AD Committee Chair & Member AD Committee Chair & Member AD Committee Chair & Member AD Committee Chair & Member Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student ARC Advising Framework FSE-ARC

6. ADRIANA and Dissertation Support Request System (DSRS) ADRIANA Chairs and members use this resource to track benchmarks throughout the dissertation process and document students’ progress toward those benchmarks.  DSRS Students submit requests for support via DSRS. This is a dedicated resource to resolve issues pertaining to the dissertation process. FSE-ARC

7. ADRIANA and Dissertation Support Request System (DSRS) ADRIANA • Students use ADRIANA to submit IRB documents and track the completed benchmarks of the dissertation. • Students access the DSRS system on this page. • Coming Soon – Students will be able to submit their dissertation for ARC final review and approval through this system. FSE-ARC

8. Major Dissertation Benchmarks FSE-ARC

9. Benchmarks Enroll in Methods of Inquiry Dissertation Match Committee Assigned Initial Contact Concept Paper Proposal IRB Final Review Applied Dissertation Report Conduct Research FSE-ARC

10. Obtaining a Committee The student will be invited to complete the Dissertation Match. DSA uses the information from Dissertation Match to assign the student to a committee and member with expertise in the student’s expressed area of interest. FSE-ARC

11. Create a personal calendar blueprint to guide work FSE-ARC

12. Initial Contact With Committee Chair • Be prepared to share with chair a draft problem statement. • Share current professional role and where study • will be conducted. • Discuss progress in Methods of Inquiry class. • Be candid about concerns relative to the upcoming process. • Engage in a positive ongoing relationship. FSE-ARC

13. Sample Table of Contents for the Concept Paper Chapter 1: Introduction Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Study Chapter 2: Literature Review Literature Review Research Questions Chapter 3: Methodology Participants Procedures Instruments Design Limitations References FSE-ARC

14. The Proposal Is • a comprehensive description of the focus of the proposed research investigation. • a “contract” between the student and the university regarding the specific design of the project. • built upon the foundation of the concept paper. • a document that cannot be altered without the consensus of all parties after approval.

15. Proposal Components • The proposal contains the same components as the concept paper: • Title Page • Abstract (optional, but recommended) • Table of Contents • Chapter 1: Introduction • Chapter 2: Literature Review • Chapter 3: Methodology • References FSE-ARC

16. Institutional Review Board Procedures • After the applied dissertation committee and the ARC have approved the proposal, the student should electronically forward, via ADRIANA, a copy of the approved proposal together with the completed IRB submission package to the ARC for review (see the IRB section of the ARC website). • It is suggested that the student begin preparing the IRB documents when the chair states that the proposal is near approval. Doing this will conserve time. • The chair must review all IRB documents before submission. FSE-ARC

17. Applied Dissertation Components • PRELIMINARY PAGES: • Title Page • Approval Page • Acknowledgments (optional) • Abstract • Table of Contents FSE-ARC

18. Applied Dissertation Components (continued) • Chapter 1: Introduction • Chapter 2: Literature Review • Chapter 3: Methodology • Chapter 4: Results • Chapter 5: Discussion • References • Appendices FSE-ARC

19. Approval Steps for Concept Paper, Proposal, and Applied Dissertation Report • Revisions are requested by the committee chair until the chair is satisfied that the student has met all ARC requirements for the benchmark. • The chair submits the benchmark to the committee member. The member sends comments to the chair, who forwards the comments to the student. • The committee chair, after consultation with the committee member, provides preliminary approval pending ARC review. FSE-ARC

20. Student Is Responsible for • contacting the chair at least once a month. • making all changes required by the chair. • informing the chair of any job changes that may affect the student’s dissertation work. • being proactive and candid about expectations. FSE-ARC

21. Chair Is Responsible for • Providing clear and detailed feedback on content, style, and format. • reviewing submissions and providing feedback within 10 business days. • assisting student in gaining access to ARC and university resources, such as the library, IRB documents, and final review procedures • being the conduit between student and committee member. FSE-ARC

22. The ARC Website • Research resources • Applied Dissertation Procedures Manual and template • ADRIANA • Resources for writing and preparing the applied dissertation • Research courses • IRB • Final-approval process • http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/ • applied-research/arc