Applied Research Concepts & Methodology – EDUC 880

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

Review of the doctoral candidates' proposed capstone project concepts and methodology under the supervision of a consultant.

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

Rationale

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.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

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, and definitions. The Introduction – Part 2 draft will be a minimum of 2 full pages, excluding the title page and Part 1. (CLO: B)

3. Part 3 - Procedures Approaches Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the Procedures section of the prospectus, including a title page, an overview, interview procedures, and interview questions. A minimum of 10 questions are required and each must be grounded in the topic literature. The draft will be a minimum of 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 Approach 1 submission by choosing two approaches from among focus group, survey, documents, and/or artifacts. A focus group requires a minimum of 10 questions. A survey requires a minimum of 3 demographic questions and 10 survey questions of similar type. The draft will be a minimum of 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, especially the Example Educational Report (chapter nine of the textbook). The final prospectus must be at least 14 pages (including only the Introduction and Procedures sections) and address all instructor feedback on the previous section submissions. The candidate will revise and improve upon every section of his/her prospectus and incorporate new sources. (CLOs: A, B, C)