Course Description
This course provides doctoral students with advanced research skills and strategies for conducting a literature review. Critical thinking skills, synthesis of information, and application of the literature are emphasized to support the feasibility and relevance of a research study.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Course Guide
View this course’s outcomes, policies, schedule, and more.*
*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.
Rationale
Selecting a dissertation topic early in the doctoral journey is essential for timely completion. It is also important for the doctoral candidate to be able to defend the practical and empirical 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.
Course Assignment
Textbook readings and lecture 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.
Discussions (5)
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 400–500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the candidate is required to reply to at least 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 150–250 words. The candidate should not reply to their classmates until he/she has posted their thread. Where applicable, the candidate must use references to support his/her points using current APA format. (CLO: A, D, F)
Video Discussion: Class Introduction
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate will complete the Video Discussion: Class Introduction in a visual presentation format. The visual presentation must include a 2-minute minimum recorded presentation. The candidate is to be creative with the presentation. It is recommended that candidates use Kaltura to create the presentations. If a candidate is not comfortable with Kaltura, a technology medium must be used that allows the presentation to include the candidate’s face and audio. In addition to the initial video thread, the candidate must post 2 replies of at least 150 words.
Forms Assignments (2)
Forms: Research Review Assignment
The candidate will submit a document containing 5 original research articles that pertain to his/her research topic for the dissertation. Research articles must be no more than 5 years old, must be from peer-reviewed journals, and must be cited using current APA format where applicable. Each form must be 2–3 pages, and all the forms must be submitted as 1 document. (CLO: B)
Forms: Theory Review Assignment
The candidate will create a detailed theory review. The candidate will submit a document containing 4 theoretical articles or books centered on 1- 2 well-established theories that may guide his/her dissertation research. The template for this assignment is available in Canvas. All articles and books for this assignment must be as current as possible and must be cited using the current APA format. Each form must be 1- 2 pages, and all the forms must be submitted as 1 document. (CLO: B)
Literature Review Assignments (3)
Literature Review: Outline Assignment
The candidate will create a detailed outline that will serve as a guide for the Literature Review. The outline will follow the basic structure of the Dissertation Handbook template (quantitative or qualitative) for Chapter 2 and must have at least 3-level headings within the Related Literature section. The outline must follow current APA format and utilize at least 15 empirical, scholarly sources that have been published within the last 5 years. The outline must be 1,000–1,500 words. The assignment, as a whole, must be at least 6 pages. The candidate must use a variety of respected sources in his/her Literature Review. An example of this assignment is available in Canvas. (CLO: C)
Literature Review: Rough Draft Assignment
The candidate will create a rough draft of his/her literature based on the submitted Literature Review Outline and feedback given. The rough draft will follow the basic structure of the Dissertation Handbook template (quantitative or qualitative) for Chapter 2. The Literature Review Rough Draft must: have a title page; have at least three levels of headings – including Overview, Theoretical Framework, and Related Literature; follow current APA format; demonstrate synthesis of the literature; and have a reference section of at least 10 empirical, scholarly sources that have been published within the last 5 years. The paper must be at least 1,750 words and at least 5 pages, not including the title, abstract, and reference pages. (CLO: D, E, F)
Literature Review: Final Assignment
For this assignment, the candidate will create a narrative review of the literature on his/her research topic. The Literature Review must follow the basic structure of the Dissertation Handbook template (quantitative or qualitative) for Chapter 2 and be at least 10 pages, excluding the title and reference pages. The Literature Review must include relevant citations from the Review Forms and Literature Review: Outline, follow current APA format, and consist of at least 15 empirical, scholarly sources that have been published within the last five years. The entire paper must be at least 3,500 words, not including the title, abstract, and reference pages.
Quizzes (2)
One quiz will cover the APA format, and one quiz will cover the literature review material read, watched, or discussed in this course. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain multiple-choice and/or true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: E)
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