Introduction

[A quality Research Prospectus presents a well-aligned Study Problem, Study Purpose, and Research Question, clearly articulated, and substantiated through citation of the appropriate theoretical, conceptual, and empirical peer-reviewed literature. In this introduction to the Research Prospectus provide enough context for the reader to understand the importance of your proposed study topic and its relationship to your doctoral field and concentration. Also include a reflexive discussion of how your positionality (e.g. race, gender, religion, culture, education, profession) may influence your approach to your study topic. The Research Prospectus with Level 1 headers for each required section. The References, and any appendices headers (known as front and back matter in scholarly publishing) also use a Level 1 header. The introduction is no longer than.]

Start introduction here...

Study Problem

[This study problem statement is one paragraph of text of between 250-350 well-supported words to describe and elaborate upon the study problem that is your focus. The University requires dissertation problems to be both practice-based and scholarship-supported, so the description of the problem must include both practice considerations and the current research. This section begins with the sentence: The problem to be addressed by this study is...]

The problem to be addressed by this study is...

Study Purpose

[This section begins with one sentence to introduce the study: The purpose of the [research approach] [design choice] study is to.... Following this short statement of your study purpose, the Study Purpose section will introduce a brief rationale for the choice of study design followed by an overview of research methods (e.g. possible research site, target population, sampling method, proposed sample size, data collection method, data analysis method). The Study Purpose section will close with a statement of the potential contributions of the study findings to professional practice and scholarship.]

The purpose of the proposed study is...

Research Question

[An introduction to the question or questions will be offered here and will be formatted as a Level 2 APA header as shown below. Clear alignment must be demonstrated between the problem, purpose, and research question(s).]

The study research question(s)....

Q1

[Phrasing for the research question or questions must align with the traditions and conventions of the study design choice]?

Q1a

[Optional sub-research questions will be presented for quantitative or mixed methods studies and formatted using Level 4 APA headers as shown]

Q1b

Research Rationale

[The Research Rationale section will present a continuation of the brief design rationale from the Study Purpose section above to fully describe the research traditions and paradigmatic perspectives that justify the choice of the research design as appropriate to address the study problem. In addition, provide a justification for how and why the research approach (i.e., qualitative, quantitative, design science, action research) and research design choice (e.g., case study, phenomenology, exploratory, correlational, quasi-experimental) align with the degree program discipline and area of concentration as supported by the current scholarship of the respective field.]

The research tradition and design(s) selected for this study are...

Ethical Assurances

[In this section, present a summary of the assurances you will employ to support principles of ethical research, which require researchers to minimize risk to human subjects. Specify how your proposed study aligns with principles of ethical research expected within the program discipline, and indicate what you expect to be the potential benefits of study findings to the discipline. Check the ethical assurances for responsible research expectations as indicated by the CTU Institutional Review Board.]

Review of the Literature Plan

[This section will begin with a brief introductory paragraph followed by a topical outline to present the primary areas of research as aligned with the study problem you plan to explore in your literature review. Be sure to consider the theoretical, conceptual, and seminal writings with an emphasis on empirical peer-reviewed literature as well as pertinent grey literature (e.g., government reports, white papers, conference proceedings, policy documents), as you categorically plan out the areas of the literature to be reviewed for your dissertation study. The topical outline will be formatted as Level 2 APA headers.]