The
Dissertation
Proposal
Guide
The Public Policy Student Guide
The Introduction
•History of the problem
•Origin of the problem
•Past and Current Standing Conditions
Genesis of the Problem
•Research Gap
•Identify with clarity the problem being investigated.
Statement of the Problem
•Must bring clarity.
•What is the aim of the study?
.
Purpose of the Study
•Must relate to the problem, be focused, concise and testable
•Includes the Hypothesis
Research Questions &
Hypothesis
•Graphically and Schematically summarize the problem.
•Demonstrates the knowledge and understanding the researcher possesses in addressing
the problem
Logic Model
•Define terms as they relate to this project.
Definition of Terms
This section discusses the history of the problem, the origin of the
problem, its past and current standing or conditions. Successes and
failures recorded in addressing the problem. What is the current
standing of the problem to be investigated? Citations are required to
support the factual presentation of the problem and issues
surrounding the problem. Based on the successes or failure of the
problem as presented, the researcher indicates what aspect of the
problem the researcher plans to address or investigate. This
paragraph leads to the statement of the problem. The genesis must
relate to the topic of the paper.
Genesis or background
of the problem
The statement of the problem should include the gap in research after
discussing the status of the problem in the genesis. This should lead to the
statement of the problem. This paragraph must identify with clarity what
the problem is that is being investigated. The statement of the problem
must be stated with clarity so that anybody reading the paper must
understand what is the problem that is being investigated – with no
ambiguity. It could be a sentence or a paragraph- whatever it takes to bring
out the clarity.
The statement
of the problem
The statement of purpose clearly summarizes
“why” the study should be done – the reason for
conducting the research. What is the purpose?
Sample Statement of
the Problem
– like the statement of the problem, must bring clarity in
declaring the purpose/s of the study. What are/is the aim
of the study? State with clarity and preciseness the
purpose – for example, the purpose of the study is to
investigate, to analyze, to compare, to synthesize, to
evaluate, to explain a phenomenon, etc. The purpose must
be amenable to analysis with data.
Purpose of
the study
The research questions must relate to the problem, and be
focused, concise and must be amenable to testing. There must
be data to test the questions (see examples that follow). Any
research question that can be answered with one or two
sentences is not a good research question. Again, research
questions must be clear and focused; the research questions
must be amenable to data collection for evaluation or analysis,
must be amenable to empirical testing.
Research
questions
Research Questions:
Why was Government Street overrun by chickens for the second time last year? This
question is not focused or precise and can be easily answered in one or two sentences.
Revised:
What are some of the environmental factors in Baton Rouge in 2019 that might have
caused the chickens to cross Government Street in Baton Rouge? It is precise, focused
and can be analyzed using environmental data
Research questions
example I
Research Questions:
Why are social net networking sites harmful? This question is unfocused, not precise. It
also has taken the position that net workings are harmful.
Revised:
How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social networking
sites as Facebook and Twitter?
Hypothesis:
H
O
: {Null]. Users of the networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are more likely to
support regulation of the networking sites to safeguard privacy, abuses, false harmful
propaganda to harm users and individuals and the public.
H
I
: [ Alternative]. Users of the networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are not likely to
support regulation of the networking sites to safeguard privacy, abuses, false harmful
propaganda to harm users and individuals and the public.
Research questions & Hypothesis
example II
Research Questions:
Are females smatter than males? This is not a good research question; how will intelligence be
measured? It is not focused or precise.
Revised:
Do females aged 17-34 score higher than males aged 17-34 on the WAIS? [WAIS is a
standardized intelligence test]. It is precise and amenable to date collection.
Research questions
example III
Finally, as you consider the kind of questions/problems you wish to address or research
on, it should aim to accomplish one of these four goals:
a) Define or measure a fact or gather facts about a specific phenomenon
b) Match facts and theory
c) Evaluate and compare two theories, models, or hypothesis/ programs or policies
d) Affirm that a certain method is more effective than other methods
A Hypothesis is a statement or a proportion that
expresses a relation between two or more
variable that are measurable or capable of being
operationalized.
Hypothesis
Hypothesis:
H
O
: [Null]. Are males aged 25-40 more likely to be promoted to managerial positions
than females aged 25-40 because of intelligence, education, skills, and gender roles.
H
I
: [Alternative]. There will be no difference amongst males and females aged 25-40
in promotion to managerial positions based on intelligence, education, skills, and
gender roles.
Hypothesis
example
- The Logic Model is simply a clean graphic presentation
tool that provides the reader with a clean picture –
graphically/schematically - summary of the problem,
events, variables and order of sequence, relationships that
will be considered in addressing the problem. The
variables, events, steps, input, related to the problem and
the expected outcome. Construct the logic model to reflect
a clean summary of what you plan to do. Build your model
to fit the problem. A good logic model demonstrates the
knowledge and understanding the researcher possesses in
addressing the problem.
The Logic Model
Outcomes
Outputs
Activities
Inputs
Rationale /
Context
Goals
Problem /
Situation
• Visual model that shows the relationships between the
problem under investigation/situation and the processes or
activities required to achieve the desired outcomes.
Logic Model Visual
The problem statement, research questions, and review of related
literature are the foundation of the theoretical framework. Here, the
researcher uses theories that supports the research. This shows the
research is grounded on established ideas.
The steps are focused on using theory-driven and emphasizing on the
relation of a theory to a selected topic. You are advised to explore
theories being used in completed dissertations, doctoral studies,
encyclopedias, other literatures, and handbooks. This chapter may stand
alone or combined with the literature review. Apply the steps below.
Theoretical framework
The steps are as follows:
1. Identify your key concepts and the key terms from your problem statement and
research questions.
2. Identify policy frameworks that have been used.
3. List the constructs and variables that might be relevant to your study.
4. Have a list of theories and take notes on how and where they were used.
5. Review past related literature to find theories related to your research work.
6. Select a theory.
7. Test whether the theory fits your study.
8. Search out good seminal works related to those theories to learn how they were been
used.
9. Show how your research fits in the selected theory.
10.You may combine different theories in a new and unique way, evaluating and
explaining its relevance.
11. Use the theory as a basis for interpreting your research results.
12.Identify and learn more about relevant theories.
Note the term related literature. The review must be related to the problem
being investigated. This section in the proposal phase should outline
literature you have reviewed that addresses the historical, past, the current
issues, theories related to the problem being investigated. Past and present
methodologies related to the study and gaps in the literature should be
discovered during this phase of research. Again, note the emphasis on
related and relevant literature. It must relate to the topic or problem being
investigated. The issues and the gaps reviewed should provide rich fodder
for developing or improving the hypothesis in relation to the problem
identified in the statement of the problem. It’s very important that a
thorough knowledge of the literature is provided in the outline.
Outline The Related
literature
Usually, it’s after the literature review that the hypothesis is developed, and the variables
identified. It may however be developed in chapter one.
Here, you are expected to outline fully the steps that will be utilized to answer the
questions and the hypothesis posed. It may be necessary to restate the questions/hypothesis.
In this chapter, the method and the explanation of the model that may be used are stated.
The method and the steps that will be involved must be clearly presented. [ You are expected
to research deeply on different research methodologies]. In this section you are expected to
clearly explain how you will answer your research questions.
methodology
The methodology must address the research questions or hypothesis. The
methodology ties together the thread that began with the problem statement,
the purpose of the study, the research questions or hypothesis together. They
must be connected.
Types of Research
Applied Research: It involves immediate action to develop plans, programs, or
activities – Develop a new program, improve a current program: When a current need
is identified then research can be planned to satisfy it.
• Action Research – Action research seeks to find a solution to a current problem.
Action is needed to make a change.
• Quantitative – Using numbers to conduct an analysis. By the researcher.
• Qualitative Research Approach – This research - Studies what is happening in
a more complex manner. Subjectivity is the essence in interpreting what occurs
within the study. Hence the research develops a specific hypothesis but not a null
hypothesis.
Descriptive Research or Statistics
The research obtains data for analysis or testing. Descriptive Statistics do exactly that –
describable values of a variable.
Four commonly used descriptive statistics include (a) central tendency (means, averages) (b)
relative position (c) variation or dispersion and (d) correlation
Research Methodology do the following:
1) Indicate the instrument to be used or the equation if there is one. For example, the
instrument might be a survey instrument, if so, state an example of the questions used in
the survey, or the instrument might be using a Chi Square test, or a mean or mode to test
the data. After indicating the instrument follow with procedure – explain the steps that
will be used in conducting the study including data collection.
