EDUC 850 Literature Review for Applied Research

This course provides education practitioners in the doctoral program with research skills and strategies for conducting a literature review for applied research. Critical thinking skills, synthesis of information, and application of the literature are emphasized to support the feasibility and relevance of a capstone project.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Selecting a capstone research topic early in the doctoral journey is essential for timely completion. It is also important for the doctoral candidate to be able to show the practical contribution his/her research will make to the field. This course will help the candidate narrow and refine his/her research focus through developing an argument for his/her proposed research that is grounded in a literature review.

Textbook Readings and Presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Topic Identification Assignment

The student will provide evidence of having received consent to proceed with their proposed applied research topic from their EDUC 816 professor by completing the Topic Identification Assignment template. The template will also include examination of the research study topic through the Christian worldview. The EDUC 850 professor will then review the core elements of the study and provide further feedback and guidance. The research study topic and other core elements must receive consent to proceed from the EDUC 850 professor in order for the student to move forward in the course. (CLO: A, B, F)

The student will identify 1 theory that is related to and appropriate to frame the selected research study topic. The student will write 2 paragraphs discussing the theory and its relevance to the research study topic. The first paragraph will identify and explain the theory using the primary theorist’s publication(s) and at least one other scholarly, peer-reviewed source. The second paragraph will justify how the theory is directly related to the research topic and why it should serve as the framework of the research study. While completing this assignment, the student will use the Literature Review Theory Identification Sample in the Canvas assignment portal. (CLO: A, B)

The student will submit a document containing a one-paragraph overview of the literature review content. The overview will follow the Literature Review Overview Template and Literature Review Overview Sample provided in the assignment portal in Canvas. The overview must clearly and concisely describe the contents and organization of the literature review, identify the education-based topic, address the theory framing the study, and have a logical flow of constructs/themes. (CLO: A, B, E)

Literature Review: Outline Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to help the student update the Overview section, develop and logically organize the Theoretical Framework and Related Literature sections, and draft the Summary section of the literature review. The student will build on the previous coursework buy developing an outline that identifies the APA headings of the literature review and includes at least 10 scholarly, peer-reviewed sources published within the past 5 years. (CLO: A, B, C, E)

The student will write an initial draft of the Theoretical Framework section of the literature review for this assignment. This section should provide the reader with a thorough overview of one theory and directly relate the theory to the topic by demonstrating how it will effectively guide the study and allow the findings to be situated within a greater context. The student will utilize the Literature Review: Theory Identification Essay Assignment as the foundation for this assignment, building on that assignment by incorporating and addressing the professor’s previous feedback. (CLO: A, B, E)

The student will demonstrate their understanding of and ability to effectively summarize, paraphrase, and synthesize scholarly, peer-reviewed literature related to their selected research study topic. Using the Literature Review: Outline Assignment as a guide, the student will identify two themes (two of the Level 2 APA headings from the outline) and then synthesize at least five relevant, scholarly sources from peer-reviewed journals that have been published within the past five years as they discuss those themes. (CLO: A, B, D, E)

The student will begin to assemble the writing assignments they have developed throughout the course as they compile the various sections of the literature review into a single rough draft. The rough draft must include at least 5 pages, excluding the title and reference list pages, and it must include at least 10 scholarly, peer-reviewed sources published within the last 5 years. (CLO: A, B, D, E)

The student will build upon the Literature Review: Rough Draft Assignment by completing the final draft of a literature review. The student will continue developing the content of the literature review and refining the writing style, usage, and standards of their work as they address all previous professor feedback provided throughout the course. The final draft must be at least 10 pages long, excluding the title and reference list pages, and it must include at least 15 scholarly, peer-reviewed sources published within the last 5 years. (CLO: A, B, D, E)

Biblical Integration Essay Assignment

This assignment provides the student with an opportunity to reflect upon their applied research study topic and ethical considerations related to their topic, particularly in relation to biblical principles. For this final assignment, the student will create a 2-3-page essay that succinctly summarizes the topic and relevant scholarly, peer-reviewed literature that justifies the need for this study and examines their topic through the lens of the Christian worldview. (CLO: A, D, F)