EDUC 880 Applied Research Concepts & Methodology

The doctoral candidate will complete his or her capstone prospectus with a specific focus on alignment among his or her research problem, question(s), design, and analysis. The final outcome of the course is a capstone prospectus ready to be developed into a full capstone proposal under the guidance of the candidate’s faculty mentor.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

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

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 350–400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge as well as integration of biblical principles. In addition to the thread, the candidate is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 150–200 words. (CLO: D, E)

The candidate will submit a document listing and briefly describe the three data collection approaches planned for his/her applied research report. The first approach must be an interview with a minimum of five participants. The second and third approaches must be drawn from the remaining five approaches described in the course textbook (focus groups, quantitative surveys, qualitative questionnaires, observations, or documents). The draft will be only 1 page and include the title of the assignment, the candidate’s name, the date, the central research question, and the three data collection approaches, along with 1-2 sentences briefly describing each approach. Spelling and grammar rules apply, but there is no need to conform to APA format. (CLO: C)

The candidate will upload either a screenshot of the research topic approved in EDUC 816 or a PDF of a downloaded email chain in which an instructor has granted approval. The evidence submitted for this assignment requires specific core elements and the instructor’s approval statement be clearly apparent. (CLO: A)

Prospectus Assignments (5)

1. Part 1 – Introduction Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the Introduction section, including a title page, the overview, organizational profile, and introduction to the problem. The Introduction – Part 1 draft will be a minimum of 1.5 pages, excluding the title page and references page.  (CLO: A)

2. Part 2 – Introduction Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the Introduction section, expanding upon the previous Part 1 submission, including the significance of the problem, purpose statement, central research question, definitions, and a summary. The Introduction – Part 2 draft will be a minimum of 2 full additional pages, excluding the title page and Part 1 submission. (CLO: B)

3. Part 3 – Procedures Approaches Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the Chapter Three: Procedures portion of the prospectus, expanding upon the previous Part 1 and Part 2 prospectus submissions. The Chapter Three submission will also include an overview, interview procedures, and interview questions sections. A minimum of 10 interview questions are required and each question must be grounded in the topic literature. The draft will be a minimum of an additional 4 full pages. (CLO: C)

4. Part 4 – Procedures Approaches Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the Procedures Approaches 2 and 3 of the prospectus. The candidate will include a title page and add to the Parts 1, 2, and 3 submissions by choosing 2 approaches from among focus groups, quantitative surveys, qualitative questionnaires, observations, or documents. At least one approach must be quantitative. The draft will be a minimum of an additional 7 full pages. (CLO: C)

5. Part 5 – Final Submission Assignment

The candidate will submit a fully developed prospectus aligned with the course textbook and the Capstone Handbook. The final prospectus must be at least 14 pages (including only the Introduction and Procedures chapters) and address all instructor feedback on the previous submissions. The candidate will revise and improve upon every section of his/her prospectus and incorporate 4 new sources. (CLOs: A, B, C)