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These guidelines provide an overview of the general requirements applicable to MA theses and PhD
dissertations at CIHS. 

The specific format and style will be dictated by the nature and design of the research and the
requirements of different programs. The c

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5th edition (2001)¦ should be consulted for all questions of form and style. A useful summary of APA
format by Plonsky is provided by University of Wisconsin free on their
website: http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/apa4bs.htm.

Students who are unfamiliar with research and writing up research projects may often feel intimidated by
the process¦ but if they familiarize themselves with the requirements and begin discussing ideas during
their coursework particularly in methodology classes¦ there is no need for it to be any more challenging
than writing a long course paper¦ particularly if they begin planning discussing it as early as possible.

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A Masters thesis is intended to demonstrate that the student is capable of completing and writing up a
research project¦ while a Doctoral dissertation requires conducting an original piece of research and a
written presentation that follows the guidelines of the APA publication standards. Although the thesis is
optional for some programs¦ for those students intending to proceed to the doctoral level it provides an
excellent opportunity to develop research and writing skills that will make completing a doctoral
dissertation less challenging.

While a dissertation requires a committee of three¦ a thesis requires a supervisor who can be a Dean¦
Program Director or a faculty member as a supervisor. If the supervisor is a faculty member a dean or
program director will also be required to read and sign the final acceptance.

The format of dissertations and theses are similar¦ therefore the information regarding chapters and
format is applicable to both. The procedure is however different as the masters degree does not require
the planning or predissertation courses but students are required to get a draft outline approved by their
supervisor.

The following suggestions could help you in preparing for the dissertation process: 

xrowse through this outline and manuals for which links have been suggested;

xrowse through dissertations in the CIHS library and other schools

xDeflect on topics that interest you;

xIn methodology class discuss your ideas and the methodology that may best suit your topic
interests and inclinations. CIHS accepts quantitative¦ qualitative and theoretical dissertations
or the use of combined methods.

xecome competent in using APA format when writing course papers.

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 Additional useful tips and guidelines can be found
at:http://www2.hmc.edu/www_common/writing/centweb/diss.htm

As each university has its own dissertation process and procedures the following overview describes the
process at CIHS:

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For doctoral students this requires the completion of the     and
obtaining      (see catalogue). The dissertation process begins with two pre
dissertation courses (896 and 897)¦ which involve the preparation of a draft or preliminary proposal
outlining the topic and methodology. This will provide an outline for the formal proposal¦ which comprises
the first three chapters of the final dissertation that the committee will evaluate before data is collected
and the final chapters are completed.


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The dissertation process and overall format is fairly similar for the types of dissertation design CIHS
accepts: quantitative¦ qualitative and theoretical designs as well as a combination of methods. The main
characteristics of these approaches include:

å   
 which most students are familiar with¦ involves collecting statistical data about
phenomena or variables that are being studied to establish specific hypothesized effects or relationships
among variables. It is used in experimental and correlation designs in laboratory investigations or in the
evaluation of interventions in some clinical studies. 

å     
 collects data using observation¦ interviewing or records
such as biographies or case histories¦ or a combination or these sources of data. The data is analyzed
using concepts and themes in order to build theories or conceptual models. 


 

 
usually involve the critiquing or analysis of current theories or of varying
definitions of concepts within a particular discipline¦ and in common qualitative research¦ theoretical or
conceptual models are developed. It is important for students to be aware that qualitative approaches
can often be as challenging as quantitative research and not simply a soft option that offers an escape
from statistics.

    
are used where researchers want to present a broader and a more
integral approach to the topic¦ rather than simply confirming a limited hypothesis. This approach is
increasingly popular and there are several texts available on the subject.

The choice of design requires careful consideration based on its suitability of the method or methods for
the development of meaningful research objectives and for the topic chosen. 

 
 
 
 
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These classes begin once students have completed their coursework and Comprehensive examination.
The classes numbered 896 and 897 for the doctoral programs are conducted with the Academic Dean¦ a
Program Director or Consultant¦ and represent the planning phase of the dissertation.

 
 is a discussion of the topic with the faculty member conducting the course to ensure the
topic is clear and focused¦ relevant as well as practical and most important realistic and µdo-able¶. It
requires the preparation of a draft proposal that will be an outline for the first chapter or Introduction of the
dissertation. This draft will outline the topic; describe reasons for this choice¦ and the possible value of the
proposed research (or rationale). It will also clearly identify the main concepts or constructs that will be
investigated in qualitative research¦ or the variables that will be measured in the case of quantitative
research. 

The main theoretical foundations of the study need to be briefly mentioned¦ but theses will be elaborated
in detail in chapter two of the formal proposal¦ the Literature Deview. The draft will provide a summary of
the research objectives¦ and the underlying hypothesis for quantitative studies or assumptions that are
the basis of qualitative research.

 
 - focuses on the research methods that will be appropriate for the particular topic and will
provide a draft outline for the third chapter of the dissertation; this describes the design and how data will
be collected and analyzed.

nce these two courses have produced an adequate draft proposal the student will decide on and
arrange for the appointment of a committee which will guide the writing of the first three chapters of the
dissertation¦ or the formal proposal.

When the proposal has been reviewed and approved by the committee¦ the final phase of data collection
and analysis can proceed and after this has been satisfactorily completed and adequately documented
the oral defense is arranged.

‰

 !"

This outline of the content of the initial three chapters identifies the common features of both qualitative
and quantitative dissertations; but draws attention to some obvious areas of dissimilarity. A separate
document will be provided with the characteristics and format for theoretical dissertations as these have
more divergent features.

A typical dissertation/research proposal consists of the first three chapters of the dissertation:
Introduction¦ Deview of Delated Literature and Methodology. 

When these chapters have been completed they are sent to the committee members¦ and a meeting is
arranged for approval before the data is collected. Students who do qualitative dissertations that use
biographical or archival data will already have their data¦ but committee approvals necessary before
proceeding with the data analysis.

 #  $this chapter comprises the following sub sections:

x %  ´ is the µwhat¶ and µwhy¶ of the topic¦ it is an introduction to the nature and theme of
the study¦ or the  & the reason for your interest in it¦ and the possible value of the
research. It will also briefly refer to the main theoretical basis of the research that relates to the
main concepts or variables that encapsulate the basis of the investigation.

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 x J´ a concise statement of the nature and areas of the investigation
and conceptualization of the phenomena studied
x D
'( 
´ describe what it is intended or hoped that the research aims to establish
x 3

´ in )   
 the assumptions regarding outcomes identified in the
objectives¦ must be stated as clear hypotheses that encapsulate the assumed interaction
between or among the identified variables.

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do not usually state hypotheses. It may present
assumptions also referred to pre-assumptions¦ but usually only research objectives are stated.

It is not essential to state hypotheses or assumptions at the end of this chapter as they need to be
restated at the end of Chapter 3¦ the Methods chapter. It is sufficient to state research objectives.

*+  D ,$this chapter reviews the literature that provides a theoretical basis for
research objectives and the key concept to variables that have been identified and are contained in the
hypotheses or assumptions that have been proposed

For theoretical dissertations this chapter represents the µdata¶ which will be subsequently analyzed;
therefore this chapter will be the most substantial section of theoretical dissertations.

The following link provides some useful guidelines for writing literature reviews

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html

! $consists of the following sections:

x ô
 which may be theoretical¦ qualitative¦ quantitative and provides details about the design
and reasons for the choice of design and its suitability for the particular study.
x J (
$where human subjects areusedthe selection method and sample frame needs to be
discussed. If archival data such as records or journals are used¦ how the records were selected
must be detailed. For qualitative data¦ if a snowball method of selection was used in conjunction
with data analysis this requires mention.
x ô $the way in which data is obtained must be fully described for both qualitative
and quantitative research methods
x 

$in addition to describing how data is obtained;all physical or psychological
assessment instruments including devices or rating scales¦ tests or questionnaires that are
utilized in quantitative research¦ must be outlined in detail.
x   this describes the procedure used in each step of the data collection process.
x ô

$ the method used in data analysis for both quantitative and qualitative designs
needs to be elaborated. For quantitative studies the statistics utilized require detailed description
x 3

$these are usually restated at the end of Chapter 3 even if they have been given in
the introduction.

 ô

  ‰ 


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This constitutes the addition of the final three completed chapters that present and discuss research
findings and provide conclusions and recommendations.

The completed work is sent to the committee to read¦ and the oral defense is arranged for final approval.
These chapters comprise: Findings¦ Discussion¦ Conclusions and Decommendations. 

-‰  
$This involved factual reporting of the findings (without discussion) in terms of the
research hypothesis¦ or the research objectives in the case of a qualitative proposal. In the case of a
theoretical dissertation this chapter analyses the theories presented in the literature revise in relation to
the research objectives

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 ´ this chapter discusses and comments on¦ and discussed the findings¦


/

 D  
´ gives a summary of the conclusions derived from
the findings and makes recommendations for further research. These two aspects may be presented in
one chapter or two separate chapters depending on the amount of information offered in the two different
areas. 

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These guidelines are a summary and overview of the research process and dissertation writing
requirements¦ there are a number of resources that provide in depth information about dissertations
writing: 

 


 ,  http://www2.hmc.edu/www_common/writing/centweb/diss.htm

00‰1,  
  
  %


A useful summary of APA format can be found on the website mentioned

earlierhttp://.uwsp.edu/psych/apa4b.htm

UNC gives a brief free handout on citations and references as well as to other useful web links to other
resources and their own web links to free handouts on writing style and other aspects of dissertation
advice.

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/apa.html

Web pages recommended by UNC:

x If you're wondering how to cite a book¦ email¦ or movie¦ Western Carolina's Writing Center lists
examples of many resources¦ especially e-
sources:http://www.wcu.edu/writingcenter/isource.asp?page=apa_format.html
x If you are worried about APA style for the whole paper¦ University of Indiana's page is almost as
extensive as the APA manual itself:http://www.ipfw.edu/casa/WC/NavarLinks/handouts.html

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 x If you need to find more examples of quirky sources (like listservs¦ newsgroups¦ and FTPs)¦ the
edford/St. Martin's publishing company website is easy to navigate and also gives guidelines for
MLA¦ Chicago and other styles:http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/citex.html

The Writing Center¦ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


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