Fillable Printable Sample Dissertation Proposal Outline

Sample Dissertation Proposal Outline

Sample Dissertation Proposal Outlines (Should Be Confirmed with Advisor)

by Mark Warschauer, 11 January 2010

These two sample dissertation proposal outlines – one for a standard dissertation and one

for a three-article dissertation – are being provided as examples only. There is no

standard dissertation proposal outline for the UCI Ph.D. in Education program. Students

must consult with their own advisors about what content and format the advisor finds

suitable.

Standard Dissertation

I. Introduction

A. Background (background to the problem)

B. The Study (briefly introducing the study and research questions)

C. Significance (briefly explaining who your study will be of value to and

why)

II. Conceptual Framework (situates your work within a conceptual framework,

explains key constructs, introduces or clarifies any theoretical models

involves, and situations your work within prior theory and research on the

question; begin with an introductory paragraph introducing the elements of the

conceptual framework and conclude with a summation that helps review the

need for your study and thus transitions to the methodology)

III. Methodology

A. Overall Research Approach (with justification and citations of other

research using that approach or to theorists of that approach) [usually

needed for qualitative, possibly for quantitative]

B. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/Participants

C. Instruments/Measures/Sources of Data

D. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used in qualitative]

E. Data Analysis

F. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, not

quantitative]

IV. Timeline (for proposal defense, completion of the dissertation, and

dissertation defense)

V. Outline of Dissertation Chapters [optional] (usually Introduction, Conceptual

Framework, Methodology, Findings, and Conclusion)

VI. Dissemination [optional] (plans for journal articles, conference presentations,

or other forms of dissemination)

VII. References

Three-Article Dissertation

I. Introduction

A. Background (background to the problem)

B. The Studies (briefly introducing the collection of studies and overall

research questions)

C. Significance (briefly explaining who your dissertation will be of value to

and why)

II. Conceptual Framework (situates your work within a conceptual framework,

explains key constructs, introduces or clarifies any theoretical models

involves, and situations your work within prior theory and research on the

question; begin with an introductory paragraph introducing the elements of the

conceptual framework and conclude with a summation that helps review the

need for your study and thus transitions to the methodology)

III. Methodology

A. Overall Research Approach (with justification and citations of other

research using that approach or to theorists of that approach) [optional]

B. Overall Research Site or Population (if this is consistent across the three

studies) [optional]

C. Study A

i. Research Approach

ii. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/Participants

iii. Instruments/Measures/Sources of Data

iv. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used in

qualitative]

v. Data Analysis

vi. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, not

quantitative]

D. Study B

i. Research Approach

ii. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/Participants

iii. Instruments/Measures/Sources of Data

iv. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used in

qualitative]

v. Data Analysis

vi. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, not

quantitative]

E. Study C

i. Research Approach

ii. Research Sites/Population/Sampling/Subjects/Participants

iii. Instruments/Measures/Sources of Data

iv. Procedures [usually needed for quantitative; less often used in

qualitative]

v. Data Analysis

vi. Trustworthiness and Credibility [usually needed for qualitative, not

quantitative]

IV. Timeline (for proposal defense, completion of the dissertation, and

dissertation defense)

V. Outline of Dissertation Chapters [optional] (Usually Introduction, Conceptual

Framework, Study A, Study B, Study, C, and Conclusion) (Methodology will

be integrated into each of the three Study chapters; umbrella information

about Methodology can be integrated into the Introduction or the Conceptual

Framework or included in an additional chapter inserted after the Conceptual

Framework)

VI. Dissemination [optional] (plans for journal articles, conference presentations,

or other forms of dissemination)

VII. References