This course was designed to bridge the student’s previous journey of development to work towards preparing a solid draft of the first three chapters of the dissertation. A review of how to create problems, purpose statements, research questions, writing a literature review, creating a conceptual and theoretical framework, and choosing an appropriate methodology that aligns with the problem, purpose, research questions, and themes is reinforced. Students are asked to review their previous work and adjust as needed to align with the topics reviewed. IRB requirements and CITI training will also be addressed in this course.
The assignments in this course will help you to review and revise Chapters 1, 2, and 3 using the new Five Chapter Dissertation Template. These assignments include:
Problems, Purpose, Research Questions Worksheet: this activity will help with crafting and focusing a problem statement, a purpose statement, and research questions.
Dissertation Template: this document provides the required formatting; please copy current content into this template.
Infographic: this assignment is a visual representation of the themes found in the literature review (4-5) and how these themes relate to your purpose, problem, research questions, and conceptual/theoretical framework.
Conceptional and Theoretical Framework Paper: describe your personal interest in the topic, include a topical research summary, and explain the theoretical framework.
Research Approach Worksheet: this assignment will help to align the research methodology with the research purpose, problem, research questions, and conceptual and theoretical framework.
CITI Training/Certificate: if your CITI Training is expired or will expire in the next six months, please visit the UNE Doctor of Education Program Handbook and select the section “CITI IRB Registration and Training Course Instructions” to complete this training.
Research Draft Proposal: Submit your complete revised Working Proposal Draft for a review by your instructor.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade item | Points |
---|---|
Week 1: Introduction Discussion | 1 |
Week 1: PPQR Worksheet | 5 |
Week 1: Dissertation Template | 4 |
Week 2: Infographic | 5 |
Week 3: Conceptual and Theoretical Framework Paper | 5 |
Week 4: Research Approach Worksheet | 5 |
Week 4: CITI Certificate | 5 |
Week 6: Research Proposal Draft Revisions | 15 |
Week 8: Revised Working Research Proposal | 50 |
Week 8: Self Assessment | 5 |
Total | 100 |
The criteria for all courses in the Ed.D. program are described in the modules and/or rubrics. Assignments will include guidelines with rubrics, descriptions of expectations, or examples, and include point values. Coursework will be assessed and graded using individual evaluation protocols that are provided for the three major assignments. Final “grades” will reflect the following schema:
Grade Scale: 95 = HP; 80-94 = P; 70-79 = LP
Note: The instructor will determine if an assignment may be revised and resubmitted for rescoring. Candidates may proceed to subsequent courses in the curriculum with one LP grade, and although there is no failing grade, a second LP course grade results in termination from the doctoral program.
All assignments are to be completed in a timely manner with appropriate accuracy, detail, thought and reflection fitting of doctoral-level degree candidates. All assignments (done in writing or with other media applications) are graded on the basis of faculty assessment of your ability to accurately apply concepts from readings, organization, and mechanics. Please note that you must save all submitted documents in Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint in order for them to transmit successfully. All work must be properly identified and include author(s)’ name(s). Submit all written work in APA style (Refer to the APA Publication Manual for guidance and Help with Citations on UNE Library Services web page under Research Help).
Week 1: Oct 25 – Oct 29
Week 2: Oct 30 – Nov 5
Week 3: Nov 6 – Nov 12
Week 4: Nov 13 – Nov 19
Week 5: Nov 20 – Nov 26
Week 6: Nov 27 – Dec 3
Week 7: Dec 4 – Dec 10
Week 8: Dec 11 – Dec 17
Week | Topic | Assignments and Activities | Assignments Due (by 11:59pm ET on day indicated) |
Week 1 | Problem, Purpose, Research Questions, and Sampling |
Discussion, PPRQ worksheet, Dissertation template Learning Activity (ungraded): Review Chapter 2 |
Due Sunday |
Week 2 | Reviewing the Literature Review |
Infographic Learning Activity (ungraded): Continued Review of Chapter 2 |
Due Sunday |
Week 3 | Reviewing the Conceptual and Theoretical Framework |
Conceptual and Theoretical Framework Learning Activity (ungraded): Complete Review of Chapter 2 |
Due Sunday |
Week 4 | Reviewing the Methodology |
Research Approach Worksheet CITI Training/ Certificate Learning Activity (ungraded): Complete Review of Chapter 3 |
Worksheet Due Wednesday Due Sunday
|
Week 5 | Methodology – Data Collection and Analysis |
Learning Activities (ungraded): Review Chapter 3 Recruitment Method (submit for feedback) Review Research Proposal Draft |
Chapter 3: Due Wednesday |
Week 6 | Working Proposal Draft |
Proposal Draft Revisions: Chapters 1-3 |
Due Sunday |
Week 7 | Proposal Draft Revision |
Learning Activity (ungraded): Revise Proposal Draft |
No assignment submissions this week. |
Week 8 | Revised Working Proposal |
Submit Revised Working Proposal Draft Self Assessment |
Proposal due by Wednesday Self Assessment due Friday |
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the Turnitin Student quick start guide.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.