CMP-9702E v2

Dissertation Center. (2021). Worksheets and Guides: Alignment of Problem, Purpose, and Research Questions.
Located in the Dissertation Center, this handout offers a helpful guide to considerations for alignment between the problem, purpose, and research questions for a dissertation-in-practice.

Dissertation Center. (2021). Research Questions: Common Research Question Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
This document, located in the Dissertation Center, will help you to avoid common mistakes in developing your research questions.

Bloomberg, L. D., & Volpe, M. (2019). Completing your qualitative dissertation: A road map from beginning to end (4th ed.). SAGE.
This text offers comprehensive guidance and practical tools for navigating each step in the qualitative dissertation process, including the planning, research, and writing phases. Blending the conceptual, theoretical, and practical, the book becomes a dissertation in action—an explanation and illustration of both content and process. There is also a companion website at (https://edge.sagepub.com/bloomberg-qualitative-5e)
Read Chapter 2 (“Gearing Up: There is Method in the Madness”). Read the section on identifying and developing a researchable topic. This chapter addresses identifying and developing a sound, researchable topic, which is the starting point for any research study.
Access the Redshelf book from your course, in the Getting Started module or from the Bookshelf link, on the top navigation bar.

Cassibba, J. (2021). The effect of difficulty orientation and self-efficacy on performance in STEM: A quantitative correlational study (Order No. 28720200). Available from Dissertations & Theses @ Northcentral University. (2585939494).
Please refer to the Ph.D. dissertations written by NU alumni. This week as you are thinking about a viable research topic, review the first chapter of each dissertation to gain an idea of how the researchers explored a broad topic area, and then went on to define a narrower research focus, which becomes the research problem. Jump ahead to the literature review chapter and take a look at what theoretical or conceptual framework was selected. Keep this framework in mind as you review the broad topic area. Here is an example.

Mertler, C. A. (2019). Introduction to educational research (2nd ed.). SAGE.
Designed for the beginning educational researcher, this text covers all aspects of the research process and addresses both qualitative and quantitative designs and research methodologies.
Read Chapter 1 (“What is Educational Research?”). This chapter offers a broad overview of what educational research entails, and how to go about articulating a focused area as a topic for research.
Access the Redshelf book from your course, in the Getting Started module or from the Bookshelf link, on the top navigation bar.

Academic Success Center. (2021). Writing resources: PowerPoint presentation tips.

Dissertation Center. (2021). Chapter 1: Purpose Statement Overview.
This resource, located in the Dissertation Center, supports the development of the purpose statement for your proposed doctoral project.