NURS 8551 Week 1 Introduction to the Dissertation Essay Assignment
NURS 8551 Week 1 Introduction to the Dissertation Essay Assignment
Welcome to the first week of Preparing for Dissertation.
Embarking on the dissertation phase of doctoral studies is an exciting and daunting prospect for most scholars. The opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a field of study is an inspiring responsibility, indicative of a scholar’s academic expertise, curiosity, and passions. Developing a dissertation is a journey; however, it’s a journey that requires planning, patience, and a comprehensive awareness of process.
You certainly will not write your dissertation in a day, or for that matter, a week, a month, or maybe even a year, because the process involves developing and executing a research project. There are, however, strategies you can use to maximize your efficiency and productivity, which ultimately may reduce the time it takes you to complete your dissertation. One such strategy is to understand the components, or pieces, of the dissertation and their purposes before you begin writing. Doing so will minimize your risk of completing certain pieces incorrectly and, thus, prevent you from unnecessary re-writes.
This week, you begin to familiarize yourself with the pieces of the dissertation. Specifically, you consider how the Premise, Prospectus, and Proposal fit into the dissertation process. You will also begin development of your Dissertation Premise.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Justify the importance of research topics
- Analyze the role of the Premise, the Prospectus, and the Proposal in the dissertation process
- Create a Dissertation Premise for proposed research*
Discussion: Developing a Research Premise
Writing a dissertation is an iterative, multi-step decision-making process that relies on feedback from your supervisory committee. The first step is developing the Dissertation Premise, in which you first define your topic based on initial research that you have conducted. The completed Dissertation Premise is composed of a title, a problem statement, a description of your approach for the study, and a listing of your preliminary references. The Premise leads to the next step in the process, the development of the Prospectus, which is followed by the Proposal.
In this Discussion, you will begin developing your Dissertation Premise by posting your proposed topic, problem statement, and the research approach that you plan to use in your study. As you consider the research problem you might address, review the Dissertation Premise Guide (provided in this week’s Learning Resources through the “Office of Student Research Administration: Ph.D. Dissertation Program” resource). This document will be a useful resource over the next three weeks as you complete your Premise. Pay particular attention to The Litmus Test, which defines the Walden University “hallmarks” of the doctoral research problem. Consider how well topics and problem statements in which you are interested align to these hallmarks.
By Day 3
Post a draft of your proposed topic, problem statement, and the research approach you plan to pursue. Also, include a brief statement supporting the importance of this research topic.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ postings providing feedback on their topic, problem statement, and proposed research approach.
Note: This Discussion provides you with an opportunity for peer review. You may revise your own proposed research topic and problem statement based upon the feedback you receive from your colleagues. As such, ensure that you provide thoughtful and well-reasoned feedback to your colleagues. You may find it useful to review and apply the Dissertation Prospectus Rubric and the “Quality Indicators” section of the Dissertation Prospectus Guide as you craft your feedback to each other. (Both of these documents are located through the “Office of Student Research Administration: Ph.D. Dissertation Program” resource.) Pay particular attention to how the Premise leads to the Prospectus, which leads to the Proposal.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues have made.
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