The
Dissertation
Guide
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue – Carl DeSantis Building
Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida 33314-7796
800-986-2247
954-262-2000
compu
ti
ng@nova.edu
computing.nova.edu
©September
2025
Nova
Southeastern
University.
All
rights
reserved.
Table of Contents
List of Figures iv
Sections
1. Section 1: Overview 1
Scholars Before Researchers: Pre-Dissertation Coursework 1
The Dissertation 2
The Five-Chapter Model 3
Writing Skills 3
2. Section 2: The Dissertation Process 4
Overview 4
Initiating the Dissertation Process 4
Working with Your Potential Dissertation Chair 5
Producing the Dissertation Documents 6
Defending the Dissertation 8
Completing the Dissertation Report 8
Publishing the Dissertation Results 9
3. Section 3: The Dissertation Relationship 10
The Doctoral Student 10
The Dissertation Chair 11
The Committee Member 11
4. Section 4: Guidelines for Dissertation Deliverables 12
The Dissertation Idea Paper 12
The Dissertation Proposal 14
The Dissertation Report 16
5. Section 5: Document Preparation – Form and Style 19
References and Citations 19
Margins 20
Line Spacing 20
Paragraph Spacing 20
Page Numbering 20
Type Style 21
Title Page 21
The Abstract 21
Chapter Title Heading, Subheadings, and Sub-Subheadings 21
Tables and Figures in the Text Body 22
Appendices 22
6. Section 6: Additional Resources 24
ii
Books 24
Journal Articles 26
Additional Links – Web Sites 25
Appendices 27
A. Sample Dissertation Title Page 28
B. Dissertation Approval Page 29
C. Sample First Page of Abstract 30
D. Sample Second Page of Abstract 31
E. Sample Acknowledgements Page 32
F. Sample Table of Contents 33
G. Sample List of Tables 34
H. Sample List of Figures 35
I.
Sample of the Format for Headings in the Chapters 36
J. Sample of Appendix Cover Page 37
K. Sample of Appendix Without Separate Cover Page 38
L. Doctoral Research / Idea Paper Rubric 39
M. Dissertation Proposal Rubric 40
N. Dissertation Research Rubric 41
O. Dissertation Final Report Rubric 42
iii
List of Figures
Figures
1. From Coursework to Dissertation 2
2. The Dissertation Process 4
3. Working with Your Potential Dissertation Chair 5
4. The Dissertation Documents 7
iv
1
Section 1: Overview
The Dissertation Guide covers the dissertation process as well as the form of
dissertation documents for the College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity (CCAC). This
guide describes:
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what a dissertation is
how to get started
how to find a dissertation chair
how to form the dissertation committee
how to prepare and submit each of the three dissertation documents: the Idea Paper, the
Dissertation Proposal, and the Dissertation Report
what to do if human subjects are involved in the study
where to find additional dissertation resources
For matters regarding the dissertation that are not covered in the Dissertation Guide, you should
follow the advice of your dissertation chair. Official versions of the Dissertation Guide will be
posted to the school’s website (computing.nova.edu). The guide posted most recently to the
website supersedes previous web and printed versions.
Scholars Before Researchers: Pre-Dissertation Coursework
You are expected to have expertise in your selected area including a solid understanding of the
literature in your field before you delve into solving a specific research problem within that field.
The 600-level and 700-level courses are designed for you to develop as a scholar in your chosen
field. That is, you will develop knowledge in your domain and strengthen your research skills.
The Doctoral Research courses place more emphasis on your role as a researcher and are
intended to help you develop your dissertation idea to the point where it can be supported by a
committee. You are required to take at least two sections of Doctoral Research in sequence, not
parallel, as part of attaining candidacy. We recommend that you take your Doctoral Research
courses at the end of your coursework and with a professor with whom you have developed a
good relationship and have mutual research interests. A recommended pre-requisite is that you
complete the 600/700-level course with the requested professor with a grade of B+ or higher.
While taking Doctoral Research, you will work closely with your professor to identify a specific
research area and a specific research problem within that area. Further, you will develop your
dissertation idea paper under the guidance of your professor, your potential dissertation chair.
2
Figure 1 illustrates the process from coursework to the final Dissertation Report. Although you
will write your Dissertation Report and secure its preliminary committee approval prior to the
Dissertation Defense, the final approval on the report is by your advisor after you have
successfully defended your dissertation. More information about this process is in Section 2.
Figure 1. From coursework to dissertation.
The Dissertation
The dissertation is the most important culminating requirement for the Ph.D. degree. It represents
a significant extrapolation of new knowledge from a base of solid experience and knowledge in
your area of concentration. The dissertation must be of sufficient strength to be able to distill
from it a paper worthy of publication in a journal or conference proceedings, or to use it as the
basis for a textbook or monograph. Although publication is not a requirement for the Ph.D., you
are strongly encouraged to submit your dissertation research work for publication. At the
CCAC, the dissertation accounts for a substantial portion of the credit hours of each Ph.D.
program. You are encouraged to learn about the dissertation process as early as possible.
3
The Five-Chapter Model
CCAC uses the five-chapter model as its framework for documenting dissertation research. Any
departure from this model must be approved in advance by your dissertation committee. The five
chapters include:
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Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Review of the Literature
Chapter 3: Methodology
Chapter 4: Results
Chapter 5: Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary
Additional information regarding how these chapters need to be incorporated into each of the
dissertation documents is presented in Section 4 of this guide.
Writing Skills
You are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language in all work
submitted during the dissertation process. Dissertation documents that contain grammatical and
spelling errors are unacceptable. Your dissertation committee will not provide remedial help on
writing skills. You are responsible for proofreading and editing your work, which, in both form
and content, should be letter-perfect. Refer to Section 6 for a listing of books that contain general
guidelines for form, style, and writing. You may use an editor or proofer; however, the editor
must not assist in conducting the investigation or writing the report.
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Section 2: The Dissertation Process
Overview
The dissertation process begins with identifying a suitable research topic and ends with
publishing your final dissertation research (see Figure 2). Section 2 includes general guidelines
on each phase in this process. Your dissertation chair will guide you through specific steps
associated with each phase.
Initiating the
Dissertation
Process
Figure 2. The dissertation process.
Producing the
Dissertation
Documents
Working with
Your Dissertation
Mentor
Initiating the Dissertation Process
Submitting
Dissertation to
ProQuest/UMI
Defending the
Dissertation
Publishing
Dissertation
Results
Although some students may begin the program with an idea for a dissertation, it is through the
course work and subsequent registrations for Doctoral Research where you develop a potential
dissertation topic. Listen for the current research items mentioned by your professors in the
600/700- level courses. These are often starting points for your guided research effort, continued
with Doctoral Research registrations.
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Working with Your Potential Dissertation Chair
The following process describes what happens after your initial meeting with a professor
regarding your proposed dissertation research problem. Note that the potential dissertation chair
does not become your official dissertation chair until the Dissertation Idea Paper is approved by
the chair and two readers, who become your dissertation committee.
Figure 3. Working with your potential dissertation chair.
1. Potential Dissertation Chair contacts Department Chair to register the relationship.
From that point on, all communication pertaining to your dissertation will be
communicated via the designated web-based communication system. You are
responsible for accessing that system regularly to ensure you are receiving all
communications, and to log (as appropriate) office and telephone meetings. Notice that
initially your relationship is with a potential dissertation chair. The professor becomes
your official dissertation chair only after your Dissertation Idea Paper has been approved
and your committee formed.
2. Student works with potential chair on dissertation idea. Initially you will work
directly with your potential chair to focus your problem area, develop the research
problem and rough approach, and write an idea paper acceptable by your potential chair.
3. Potential chair initiates formation of the dissertation committee. When the potential
dissertation chair is comfortable with the idea paper, he or she will solicit the input of two
readers, who will ideally become members of the dissertation committee. Usually
solicitation of readers (committee members) is decided mutually by you and your
potential chair. Because the committee members work directly with the chair, he or she
makes the final decision regarding the committee members. The approval of each
committee member will be required for formal approval of the Dissertation Proposal and
the Dissertation Defense.
Dissertation committees include the chair and a minimum of two other faculty members;
one committee member must be a qualified external member (not a full-time CCAC
faculty member). Such appointments must be approved by the committee chair and the
department chair prior to committee formation. As a general rule, outside committee
members cannot serve as committee chairs.
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4. Potential chair keeps committee informed. The dissertation committee operates under
the leadership of the committee chair. Your chair will be your point of contact for your
dissertation work. The chair will keep the committee informed about your progress and
will ensure that the committee, as a unit, provides the guidance, evaluation, and
consultation necessary to mentor your study. You should avoid taking or assuming
direction from a committee member or other resource unless coordinated and approved
by your dissertation committee chair.
5. Dissertation students and faculty complete end-of-term status reports. Every term
you are registered for dissertation, you will complete a status report on your dissertation
progress. Twenty days prior to the end of the term, you will receive an auto-generated
notice that the status report is available to complete. You will have the next ten days to
complete the status report.
Your dissertation chair will also evaluate your progress at the end of the term. In addition
to assigning a grade of PR (Progress) or NPR (Inadequate Progress), the chair will use a
rubric (See Appendices L – O) to summarize where you have made progress during the
term. You are advised to check with your dissertation mentor/advisor regarding specific
communication guidelines he or she might have during the term (e.g., updates weekly,
monthly, bi-monthly).
6. Faculty meet to review dissertation student progress. After the close of each term, the
faculty in each discipline will meet to discuss the progress of that discipline’s students.
This meeting provides the venue for the faculty to discuss and propose a variety of
student actions, most commonly resulting in a group-composed status letter to the
student.
Producing the Dissertation Documents
There are three major deliverables that are part of the dissertation process including the
Dissertation Idea Paper, the Dissertation Proposal, and the Dissertation Report (see Figure 4).
Each time you submit one of the three dissertation documents through the web-based
communication system, you will receive a prompt to certify authorship of your dissertation work.
The Certification of Authorship acknowledges the following three statements are true:
1. I am the author of the document submitted and any assistance received in its preparation
is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the document;
2. I cited all sources from which data, ideas, or words that are copied directly or
paraphrased in the document were obtained; and
3. I prepared the document for the stated purpose.
Following is a brief description of each document. Sections 4 and 5 include additional
information about the contents and form and style of each document.
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Figure 4. The dissertation documents.
1. Dissertation Idea Paper: The Dissertation Idea Paper presents your proposed
dissertation research. When this document is approved by your potential dissertation
chair, and your committee is formed, you can progress to the Dissertation Proposal.
2. Dissertation Proposal and IRB Approval: The Dissertation Proposal builds on the
information presented in the Dissertation Idea Paper and functions as a detailed blueprint
for conducting the proposed research. The Dissertation Proposal must be successfully
defended (i.e., receive full committee approval) before you begin your research and
collect data. If your study entails the use of human participants in any fashion, you must
obtain permission from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). When IRB approval is
required, it must be obtained before the Dissertation Proposal can be approved. More
information about IRB is available at: http://.nova.edu/research/irb.html
3. Dissertation Report: The Dissertation Report is a detailed, accurate, and cohesive
account of a research effort accomplished to investigate a problem and reveal new
knowledge. At the close of the Dissertation Defense (see next subsection), if the
committee unanimously approves the dissertation, the Dissertation Report will be
approved by the chair (possibly after minor changes) and forwarded to the dean for final
approval. Without unanimous approval, the Dissertation Report is returned to the student
with comments from the committee.
Time Expectations for Dissertation Progress
The three deliverables mark the major phases of your dissertation research. You should complete
the first phase, idea paper approval, within one year of your first registration for Doctoral
Research.
You should have a committee-approved proposal within 18 months of securing an approved idea
paper and forming the committee.
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Time required to complete the dissertation research will vary depending on the nature of your
research. You will work with your dissertation chair to make sure that your progress is adequate.
Time spent on formal leave does not count toward these expectations; program time limits as
stated in the Graduate Catalog still apply.
Defending the Dissertation
Prior to the final approval of your Dissertation Report, you will prepare and present a
Dissertation Defense. You will be okayed to hold your defense only after the committee
approves your readiness, based on its assessment of your Dissertation Report. The defense itself
is an oral presentation of the results of your study and serves three purposes. First, it fulfills the
institution’s responsibility of examining your dissertation work. Second, it provides you with a
unique opportunity to present your dissertation, to discuss the work with thoughtful people who
are familiar with it, and to address questions and issues for further thought and study. Last, it is
the culminating experience for you as a doctoral candidate, providing closure to an intensive
period of study.
For the defense, you should prepare a presentation that includes:
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Identification of the problem
Explanation of the research methodology and its rationale
Discussion of the findings and their interpretation, the contribution to knowledge and
professional practice, and suggestions for future research
You should be prepared to address questions that arise during the defense. Typically, a defense
runs about one hour; the first 30-35 minutes are devoted to your presentation, and the rest of the
time is open to questions. Your committee chair will serve as moderator and will be prepared to
raise questions and issues if the need arises.
Defenses are ideally scheduled within six weeks of the completion of the Dissertation Report.
They are scheduled at a mutually agreeable time for you and the committee. A schedule
of dissertation defenses (along with abstracts) is available on the CCAC web site. Students
and faculty are welcome to attend.
Completing the Dissertation Report
After the committee has approved your dissertation defense, your chair will work with you to
ensure that the final Dissertation Report is acceptable. Once the chair accepts the report, you will
receive specific instructions on how to submit your dissertation to ProQuest Dissertations and
Theses (required for graduation) and complete your degree.
Publishing Dissertation Results
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Publication of dissertation results is not required but is encouraged. Publication promotes
professional recognition and is valuable to the new graduate’s professional career and also
to CCAC. Consider publishing with your dissertation chair. He or she is familiar with the
publishing process and can recommend several appropriate professional or scholarly journals for
submission of your work. Publication in a refereed journal is the best way to validate the
value of your work.
For details about graduation and commencement, refer to the CCAC Graduate Catalog.
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Section 3: The Dissertation Relationship
The following information is provided to help you understand your role as a dissertation student
and the roles of your chair and committee members.
The Doctoral Student
Throughout the dissertation process, you are expected to:
1. Be continuously registered in coursework, research, or dissertation credits (Fall, Winter,
and Summer, unless on approved leave of absence) in order to receive advising and other
dissertation services.
2. Abide by the CCAC governing documents including the NSU Student Handbook and
Graduate Catalog. You must follow the highest standards of scholarly and intellectual
integrity and honesty throughout the dissertation process. To this end, you should submit
only original, scholarly work that conforms to CCAC policies on plagiarism and original
work and to applicable laws and regulations (e.g., copyright laws).
3. Communicate and submit dissertation documents to your chair via the web-based
communication system. You are also expected to document in the system a summary of
face-to-face meetings and phone conversations if directed by your chair.
4. Submit work that conforms to the CCAC guidelines for format and style as described
in this guide.
5. Document and maintain a reasonable timeline for completing your research and provide
updates on your progress as required by your chair.
6. Be willing to receive constructive feedback from your chair and committee members and
clearly document how you will incorporate the feedback in your dissertation.
7. Put forth your best work each and every time. Submit work that is free of typos and
grammatical errors, reflects feedback provided on earlier iterations of the document, and
represents clearly written, logical, and carefully edited work. Submitting work that
contains grammatical errors, format errors, or that does not address previous suggestions
from the committee, could severely slow down your progress and extend the review
process.
8. Inform your dissertation chair about any changes in your position, address, and other
contact information, as well as professional and personal changes that might affect your
progress.
9. Follow the policies and procedures established by NSU’s Institutional Review Board
(IRB) for research with human subjects and the regulations that your own agency or
institution may have concerning the protection of human subjects in research.
10. Be current with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative’s (CITI) certification
course in the protection of human subjects (See http://www.nova.edu/irb/training.html).
11. Take personal responsibility for your dissertation and getting the work done.
11
The Dissertation Chair
Throughout the dissertation process, the dissertation chair will encourage you and give you
support. Specifically, the chair will:
1. Challenge your thinking and rationale for conducting the dissertation research both
during verbal and written communications. The chair will critically challenge your ideas,
analysis, logic, and arguments.
2. Evaluate and provide constructive written feedback as you move forward in completing
the Dissertation Idea Paper, Dissertation Proposal, and Dissertation Report.
3. Provide timely feedback.
4. Maintain a professional and collaborative relationship with you.
5. Use the designated web-based communication system for all dissertation-related
correspondence.
6. Monitor your progress toward completion of the dissertation.
7. Be your advocate.
The Committee Member
Dissertation committee members support the dissertation chair in reviewing dissertation
documents, providing timely and constructive feedback, and ensuring dissertation quality. They
do not interact directly with you unless directed by your chair. Your chair will coordinate
communication from committee members and provide committee feedback to you.
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Section 4: Guidelines for Dissertation Deliverables
Following are general guidelines for each of the three dissertation documents: the Dissertation
Idea Paper, Dissertation Proposal, and Dissertation Report. Always consult with your
dissertation chair regarding specific requirements.
Although these are three distinct documents, they are not unrelated. The Dissertation Idea Paper
serves as the core upon which the Dissertation Proposal is built, and the Dissertation Proposal,
with updates and adjustments, constitutes the first three chapters of the Dissertation Report.
Check with your dissertation chair for guidance on how to migrate content from the Dissertation
Idea Paper to the Dissertation Proposal and the Dissertation Proposal to the Dissertation Report.
The Dissertation Idea Paper
The Idea Paper is the first formal deliverable in the dissertation process in which you identify
and describe a research worthy problem and outline a preliminary plan for your research. The
Idea Paper is developed by the student under the mentorship of a faculty advisor and must be
accepted by the dissertation committee members. Acceptance of the idea paper indicates that the
faculty members agree that the research problem identified presents potential for dissertation
level research and warrants further exploration and development through the dissertation
proposal. Acceptance of an Idea Paper does not imply acceptance of the dissertation proposal.
The Idea Paper is not intended to be a one-time or static document. As your dissertation work
proceeds, goals and approaches may evolve, and the original Dissertation Idea Paper may have to
be updated in order for it to accurately track the dissertation study, independent of the state of the
study.
The Dissertation Idea paper is written in the future tense and includes the following elements.
Problem Statement
In this section, present a succinct, clear, and literature supported description of a research-worthy
problem to be addressed and the need for more work. Follow the statement of the problem with a
literature-supported discussion that supports the problem and need with peer-reviewed sources
such as edited journals or conference proceedings, recent sources, and applicable sources. The
discussion of the problem should include: what the problem is, why it is a problem, how the
problem evolved or developed, and the issues and events leading to the problem.
Dissertation Goal
In this section, make a succinct and measurable statement of the goal for your study. A
discussion should follow the goal
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statement and include: establishing a conceptual and/or theoretical framework for the proposed
work, why the proposed approach would have a realistic chance of addressing the problem, and
providing adequate support for that goal such as effective use of the proposed solution in other
instances, or, ideally, instances of similar solutions used to solve similar problems.
Relevance and Significance
This section contains a brief review of the literature that provides the necessary support for both
your problem statement and goals. All statements made must be supported by citations from
appropriate literature. In general, you need to address three topics: (1) the scope of your problem,
(2) why is it a problem, and (3) why does your proposed solution offer promise as a resolution to
the problem. You must also address how your proposed research will add to the knowledge base.
Approach
This section should be concise and should summarize how you propose conducting the research.
You also need to identify the type of research being proposed to address the research problem.
Your approach section must (1) clearly identify how you will conduct your study to reach the
goals identified, and address the problem identified, and (2) provide adequate detail to
demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed study, the appropriateness and rigor of the proposed
methodology, and the availability of access to the data necessary to conduct the proposed
research.
Resources
In this section, concisely identify the resources you will need to be able to conduct the research
being proposed. You must include all resources you will need, such as:
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Hardware
Software
Networks
Data communications
Access to students
Access to experts in the field
Access to peers
Standardized tests, surveys, or other forms of instrumentation
References
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Follow the most current version of APA to format your references. However, each reference
should be single-spaced with a double space in between each entry. Make sure that every citation
is referenced and every reference is cited.
The Dissertation Proposal
The Dissertation Proposal provides the framework within which your research will be conducted
and presents evidence of your qualifications to pursue the research. You must articulate the
concepts and theories underlying the study, clearly state the problem, specify goals that are
measurable, present a thorough review of the literature, delineate the methods for conducting the
research, and present a strategy to achieve the goals. The Dissertation Proposal is written in the
future tense and includes the following elements.
Front Matter
The front matter includes the following:
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Title Page
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter is an expansion of the Dissertation Idea Paper and generally includes the following
sections:
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Background
Problem Statement
Dissertation Goal
Research Questions and/or Hypotheses
o Note: Some studies have research questions and hypotheses while others have one
or the other.
Relevance and Significance
Barriers and Issues
Assumptions, Limitations and Delimitations: Assumptions are the unprovable factors that
are accepted as true within the context of the study. Limitations are factors that are
beyond your control and potentially impact the internal validity of the study.
Delimitations are factors that you intentionally impose to constrain the scope of the study
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to make it manageable. Delimitations impact the generalizability of the results of the
study.
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Definition of Terms
List of Acronyms (if needed)
Summary
Chapter 2: Review of the Literature
In Chapter 2, you will expand and develop the review you presented in your Dissertation Idea
Paper. The review can include:
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Overview of the topics included in the review.
Justification of the criteria for what is included and excluded as part of the review.
Identification of what has been done before including the strengths and weaknesses of
existing studies.
Identification of the gaps in the literature.
Analysis of research methods that are used in similar studies and determine whether these
methods were valid and reliable.
Synthesis of the literature and present it in a way that helps the reader gain a new
perspective on the literature.
Summary of the chapter.
Chapter 3: Methodology
In Chapter 3, you will delineate, in detail, how the investigation will be conducted. This chapter
requires significant enhancement over the scope described for the Approach section in the Idea
Paper. Enough detail should be provided to enable replication of your work by other researchers.
The following topics are intended to serve as a guide:
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Overview of research methodology/design: Explain exactly what type of research study
you will do and outline briefly how the study will be conducted.
Specific research method(s) to be employed: Describe in detail the specific research
methods you will use to answer the research questions and/or test the hypothesis(es).
Explain how these methods will be carried out both conceptually and operationally.
Instrument development and validation: If applicable, identify the instrument(s) that will
be used and how each construct will be measured. Discuss the threats to validity and
reliability and how these threats will be addressed. Address internal validity, external
validity, instrument validity, and construct validity.
Proposed sample: Describe the sample population, how many participants will be part of
the study, and anticipated response rate.
Data analysis: Explain how data will be analyzed in order to answer the research
questions and/or test hypothesis(es). Use the research literature to support your decisions.
Formats for presenting results
Resource requirements
•
Summary
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Back Matter
The back matter includes the following:
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Appendices
References
The IRB Application (Research Involving Human Subjects)
If you plan to conduct surveys (email, telephone, regular mail), interviews, testing, or any other
type of assessment involving human subjects as part of your dissertation, the instruments and
protocols must be reviewed and approved by the university’s Human Research Oversight Board
(Institutional Review Board or IRB) prior to beginning the research. The mission of the IRB is to
protect human subjects involved in research and ensure appropriate practices are being carried
out at NSU. It is recommended that you initiate the IRB review process after you have received
approval of your Dissertation Idea Paper and you are instructed by your chair.
The college has a faculty representative to the IRB who can help you with the review
process. There are three levels of review: center-level, expedited, and full review. The CCAC
representative can guide you regarding the level of review required and can assist with any
paperwork and procedures that might be required. Most research at CCAC falls into the
center-level review category, which requires a simple process, but it must be logged
appropriately.
More
information
is
available
online
at:
http://computing.nova.edu/research/irb.html. Students may obtain additional information from
the IRB’s home page: http://www.nova.edu/irb/index.html. You should check the websites
frequently in order to ensure that you use the most current version of the required IRB
documents. A signed, approved IRB form must be filed with the IRB before the Dissertation
Proposal is approved.
The Dissertation Report
The Dissertation Report should be a complete but concise document that establishes your
credentials as an expert in the domain of your study. Although the Dissertation Proposal serves
as the core of the first three chapters of the Dissertation Report, you must do more than just
change the verb tense of the proposal (where appropriate) to migrate it to the report. In almost all
cases, a lengthy period of time has elapsed between the literature review developed for the
proposal and the completion of the dissertation study; it is vital that you continue to stay current
in the literature germane to the study you are conducting and update your Review of the
Literature chapter accordingly. It is also a very rare study that is executed exactly as planned;
frequently changes to the research questions and the methods proposed to derive answers to them
must be made as the study progresses. These changes must be discussed with your dissertation
chair before being implemented and, if approved, must be reflected in the applicable sections of
Introduction and Methodology chapters. Following is the general structure of the Dissertation
Report. Sample pages and templates are in Section 5.
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Front Matter
• The front matter includes the following:
• Title Page
• Approval/Signature Page
• Abstract
• Acknowledgements
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables
• List of Figures
Chapters
Primarily written in the past tense, the Dissertation Report includes the first three chapters as
described in the Dissertation Proposal. These chapters must be updated to accurately reflect your
actual dissertation work activities. In addition, following is a brief description of elements that
should be included in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Dissertation Report.
Chapter 4: Results
Chapter 4 includes an objective description and analysis of the findings, results or outcomes of
the research. Limit the use of charts, tables, figures to those that are needed to support the
narrative. Most of these illustrations can be included as part of the appendices.
The following topics are intended to serve as a guide:
• Data analysis
• Findings
• Summary of results – If the research has been guided by hypotheses, make a statement as
to whether the data supported or rejected these hypotheses.
Chapter 5: Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary
In this chapter, interpret, examine, and qualify the results of the investigation and draw
inferences from them.
The following topics are intended to serve as a guide:
• Conclusions: Clearly state the conclusions of the study based on the analysis performed
and results achieved. Indicate by the evidence or logical development the extent to which
the specified objectives have been accomplished. Discuss alternative explanations for the
findings, if appropriate. Delineate strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of the study.
• Implications: Discuss the impact of the work on the field of study and its contributions to
knowledge and professional practice. Discuss implications for future research.
•
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Recommendations: Present recommendations for future research or for changes in
research methods or theoretical concepts. As appropriate, present recommendations for
changes in academic practice, professional practice, or organizational procedures,
practices, and behavior.
•
Summary: Present a summary of the entire paper, written so that it could serve as a stand-
alone document. It should be about four or five pages in length.
Back Matter
The back matter includes the following:
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•
Appendices
References
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Section 5: Document Preparation – Form and Style
Form and style guidelines for a dissertation serve a number of purposes: to ease adaptation of the
document for publication in whole or part, to ensure a level of professional appearance, and ease
the burden on the readers of the document by presenting material in a logical, consistent fashion.
Nevertheless, form and style guidelines should not be burdensome for either the student or the
dissertation committee. The bulk of the effort in developing and mentoring a dissertation should
certainly be directed toward the quality of the thoughts being presented, not the appearance of
that presentation.
The current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association serves
as the primary guide for format and style. Since that manual focuses primarily on publication in
journals, some exceptions are necessary for a dissertation report. The following sections detail
those exceptions to the form and style guidelines applicable to the three major dissertation
products: the Dissertation Idea Paper, Dissertation Proposal, and Dissertation Report. These
guidelines are amplified with examples of:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sample Dissertation Title Page (Appendix A)
Dissertation Approval Page (Appendix B)
Sample First Page of Abstract (Appendix C)
Sample Second Page of Abstract (Appendix D)
Sample Acknowledgement Page (Appendix E)
Sample Table of Contents (Appendix F)
Sample List of Tables (Appendix G)
Sample List of Figures (Appendix H)
Sample of the Format for Headings in the Chapters (Appendix I)
Sample of Appendix Cover Page (Appendix J)
Sample of Appendix Without Separate Cover Page (Appendix K)
References and Citations
One of the most important tasks in writing a dissertation is to reference other works and sources
in the text body. You must provide a formal reference citation for each idea or statement taken
from the work of an individual or organization (see the section Crediting the Words or Ideas of
Others in the CCAC Graduate Catalog). Failure to provide a reference citation, when one is
appropriate, is plagiarism, which is a violation of the university’s Code of Student Conduct and
Academic Responsibility. An act of plagiarism will subject the student to disciplinary action
including suspension or expulsion from the university (see the section Standards of
Academic Integrity in the CCAC Graduate Catalog). Always err on the side of caution
when writing any formal paper. As you conduct your work, keep accurate records that
indicate which portions of your dissertation are not your own words and ideas. If you attempt to
do this as an afterthought, you run the risk of losing the source of the information and
committing plagiarism.
Reference citations in the text should use the author-date citation system specified in the current
edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. All reference
20
citations must be listed alphabetically in the References section at the end of the document, again
following the format specified in the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association. However, each reference should be single-spaced with a double
space in between each entry. Make sure that every citation is referenced and every reference is
cited.
Margins
The left-hand margin must be 1.5 inches (4 cm.). Margins at the right, top, and bottom of the
page should be 1.0 inch. (See exception for chapter title pages below.) The dissertation text may
be left-aligned (leaving a ragged right edge) or may be both left- and right-aligned (justified).
Line Spacing
Double-spacing is required for most of the text in documents submitted during the dissertation
process. Pages for the abstract, acknowledgments, and parts of the table of contents, however,
must be single-spaced in the Dissertation Proposal and the Dissertation Report. Single-spacing
also can be used for table titles and headings, figure captions, references (but double-spacing is
required between references in the list), footnotes, and long quotations. Long quotations may be
indented five spaces. Judicial triple- or quadruple-spacing can improve appearance and
readability and is appropriate after chapter titles, before major subheadings, before footnotes, and
before and after tables in the text; however, avoid open white spaces.
Paragraph Spacing
The text of the document is double-spaced. There should be no extra spaces between paragraphs
in sections; however, indent the first line of paragraphs five spaces. Chapters must begin on new
pages.
Page Numbering
Page numbers for the front matter, starting with the Table of Contents, should be lowercase
roman numerals, centered at the bottom of the page. All pages following the front matter should
have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner. The page order and
numbering for the front matter is:
1. Title page is page i, but the page number is not printed.
2. Approval Signature page (Dissertation Report only) is page ii, but the page number is not
printed.
3. Abstract is page ii (Dissertation Proposal) or iii (Dissertation Report), but the page
number is not printed.
4. Acknowledgements (Dissertation Report only) is page iv (it could be page v, when the
Abstract extends beyond a single page), but the page number is not printed.
5. Table of Contents (Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation Report) is page v (or vi), and
the page number is printed, bottom center.
21
6. List of Tables (Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation Report) (only present if the
document contains tables) is given the next number in sequence, printed bottom center.
7. List of Figures (Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation Report) (only present if the
document contains figures) is given the next number in sequence, printed bottom center.
Type Style
For body text, you should use 12-point Times New Roman. Text for the cover page may be
larger but should not exceed 14-point size. Text for the chapter title text should be 14-point size.
Be consistent in your use of typefaces throughout the document. Do not use a compressed
typeface or any settings on your word processor that would decrease the spacing between letters
or words. Sans serif typefaces such as Helvetica or Arial may be used for relatively short blocks
of text such as chapter headings and captions but should be avoided in long passages of text.
Title Page
Every document that is submitted, from the Dissertation Idea Paper through the Dissertation
Report, must have a title page. The title page includes the exact title of the dissertation, date of
submission, your name, and name of your Ph.D. program. Use the format of the Sample
Dissertation Title Page provided in Appendix A.
Approval Page
The approval page should be included only as a placeholder within the Dissertation Report (See
Appendix B). This page will be generated by CCAC staff.
The Abstract
The abstract (see Appendices C and D) is single-spaced. The second page of the abstract, if
needed, carries your name as a top right side heading. An abstract is a stand-alone document and
therefore should not include citations because it would then need references. Note that the
abstract must meet the length standard of UMI Dissertation Abstracts International, which
requires abstracts to be shorter than 800 words. Abstracts are published in Dissertation Abstracts
International, which is published by University Microfilm Incorporated (UMI).
Chapter Title Heading, Subheadings, and Sub-Subheadings
It is preferred that dissertations use no more than three levels of headings in the body text. All
headings should have only the first letter of each word capitalized except that non-major words
shorter than four letters have no capital letters. See Appendix I for a sample page for a first page
of a chapter. Instructions for heading levels follow:
Level 1: Chapter Title Heading
22
This heading starts two inches from the top of the page, is centered on the page, and is set in 14-
point type. The first line contains the chapter number (e.g., Chapter 4). The second line is blank.
The third line displays the chapter title, is centered on the page, and is set in 14-point type.
Level 2: Subheading
Start the subheading at the left margin of the page, four spaces (i.e., two returns when your
document is set for double-spacing) down from the title, set in bold 12-point type. Double-space
(one return) to the subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text five spaces.
Level 3: Sub-Subheading
Start the sub–subheading at the left margin of the page, double-spaced (i.e., one return when
your document is set up for double-spacing) from the subheading, set in 12-point italics. Double-
space (one return) to the sub-subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text five
spaces.
Tables and Figures in the Text Body
Charts, graphs, diagrams, figures, and summary tables that significantly enhance reading of the
dissertation should be placed in the text body. Tables and figures must be properly cited and you
must also obtain permission to reproduce copyrighted materials. Only include material in the text
body that is needed by the reader to understand the point(s) you are trying to make. Other
material should be placed in appendices. Tables that summarize large amounts of data are best
placed at the end of the dissertation. If you have included data in your text related to some point,
then the full table containing such data belongs in an appendix. When using tables and figures in
the body of the paper, remember that the horizontal center of the body is not at the center of the
paper. It is 0.25″ to the right of center due to the 1.5″ left binding margin. All tables and figures
that are less than body width must be centered properly. Additional guidelines are provided in
the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Appendices
Place in appendices all analytical tables, evaluation instruments, and other material important in
the determination, evaluation, analysis, and description of your research that is not contained in
the text body (see section above). Use an appendix to present material that supplements the text
or may be of interest to readers but is too detailed or distracting for inclusion in the main body of
the text. Surveys, evaluation instruments, original data, complicated mathematical tables, new
computer programs, computer printouts, and data collection forms are examples of materials that
are most appropriately appended. Do not exclude material that would be necessary for another
researcher to replicate your work and that is not available elsewhere. Include copies of IRB
approval letters from the sponsoring organization and from the study site. Present copies of all
letters and e-mails that allow you to use and modify materials belonging to others. If appropriate,
23
you may use a titled cover sheet for an appendix. Samples of appendices appear in Appendices J
and K.
24
Section 6: Additional Resources
Following are additional resources that might be helpful in formulating and writing your
dissertation.
Books
American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association. (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
Booth, W., Colomb, G., & Williams J. (2004). The craft of research (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: The
University of Chicago Press.
Bryant, M. T. (2004). The portable dissertation advisor. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches.
(2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Creswell, J.W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approaches. (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Davis, G. B., & Parker, C. A. (1997). Writing the doctoral dissertation: A systematic approach.
(2nd ed.). Hauppauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series.
Fowler, F.J. Jr. (2009). Survey research methods. (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2009). Educational research: Competencies for analysis
and applications. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Hart, C. (2005). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research imagination.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Kamler, B., & Thomson, P. (2006). Helping doctoral students write: Pedagogies for supervision.
New York, NY: Routledge.
Krathwohl, D., & Smith, N. (2005). How to prepare a dissertation proposal: Suggestions for
students in education and the social and behavioral sciences. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse
University Press.
Locke, L., Spirduso, W. W., & Silverman, S. (Eds.). (2007). Proposals that work: A guide for
planning dissertations and grant proposals. (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
Lovitts, B. (2001). Leaving the ivory tower: The causes and consequences of departure from
doctoral study. Lanham, UK: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
25
Lovitts, B. (2007). Making the implicit explicit: Creating performance expectations for the
dissertation. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
Mittelbach, F., Goossens, M., Braams, J., Carlisle, D., & Rowley, C. (2004). The LaTeX
companion: Tools and techniques for computer typesetting. (2nd ed.). Reading, MA:
Addison-Wesley.
Newman, I. Benz, C., Weis, D., & McNeil, K. (1997). Theses and dissertations: A guide to
writing in the social sciences. University Press of America.
Punch, K. F. (2006). Developing effective research proposals (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage Publications.
Roberts, C. M. (2004). The dissertation journey: A practical and comprehensive guide to
planning, writing and defending your dissertation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Rocco, T., & Hatcher, T. (Eds.). (2011). The handbook of scholarly writing and publishing. San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Terrell, S. R. (2012). Statistics translated: A step-by-step guide to analyzing and interpreting
data. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Truss, L. (2003). Eats, shoots & leaves: The zero tolerance approach to punctuation. New York:
NY: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Tufte, E.R. (2001). The visual display of quantitative information. (2nd ed.). Cheshire, CT:
Graphics Press.
Walker, M., & Thomson (Eds.). (2010). The Routledge doctoral student’s companion:
Supporting effective research in education and the social sciences. New York, NY:
Routledge.
Wong, D. (2010). The Wall Street Journal guide to information graphics: The dos and don’ts of
presenting data, facts, and figures. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.
Yin, R. (Ed.). (2004). The case study anthology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Yin, R. (2009). Case study research: Design and methods. (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Zinsser, W. (2006). On writing well: The classic guide to writing nonfiction. (7th ed.). New York,
NY: Harper-Collins Publishers, Inc.
Journal Articles
26
Boote, D., & Beile, P. (2005). Scholars before researchers: On the centrality of the dissertation
literature review in research preparation. Educational Researcher, 34(6), 3-15.
Ellis, T. J., & Levy, Y. (2008). Framework of problem-based research: A guide for novice
researchers on the development of a research-worthy problem. Informing Science
Journal, 11, 17-33.
Ellis, T. J., & Levy, Y. (2009). Towards a guide for novice researchers on research methodology:
Review and proposed method. Journal of Issues in Informing Science and Information
Technology, 6, 323-337.
Kennedy, M. M. (2007). Defining a literature. Educational Researcher, 36(3), 139-147. Levy,
Y., & Ellis, T. J. (2006). A systems approach to conduct an effective literature review in
support of information systems research. Informing Science Journal, 9, 181-212.
Lovitts, B. (2005). Being a good course-taker is not enough: A theoretical perspective on the
transition to independent research. Studies in Higher Education, 30(2), 137-154.
Straub, D.W. (1989). Validating instruments in MIS research. MIS Quarterly, 13(2), 147-169.
Additional Links – Web Sites
APA Style Guide – http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/DocAPA.html
International Journal of Doctoral Studies – http://www.ijds.org/
MISQ’s ‘living document’ of information systems constructs and classical information systems
studies – http://people.ucalgary.ca/~newsted/constructs.htm
PhinishED (www.phinished.org). An international discussion forum for students who are
working on their dissertation or thesis as well as those who have already “been there.”
Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/. Free resources on
writing, grammar, research, ESL, job searches, and professional writing.
University of Indiana Writing Center – http://www.ius.edu/writingcenter/
University of Wisconsin-Madison writing center writer’s handbook – http://writing.wisc.edu/
27
Appendices
28
Appendix A: Sample Dissertation Title Page
An Examination of SLA Components
that Influence Cloud Computing Adoption
by
Howard Hamilton
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
in
Information Systems
College of Computing, AI, and
Cybersecurity
Nova Southeastern University
2025
Note: This is page i but the number should not be printed.
Appendix B: Approval Page
29
Do not provide this page. It will be generated by the College.
Note: This is page ii but the number should not be printed.
30
Appendix C: Sample First Page of Abstract
An Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted to Nova Southeastern University
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Dissertation Title
by
Kelly A. Doe
June 2015
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Curabitur vitae metus vel felis iaculis
molestie. Donec et sapien. In sed elit scelerisque ipsum aliquet mollis. Sed vel nisi sed lectus
lacinia sagittis. Sed feugiat. Vestibulum diam turpis, placerat rutrum, elementum eget, aliquam
ut, velit. Maecenas laoreet lorem non leo. Nullam ligula augue, tempus sed, consectetuer et,
malesuada ut, ligula. Vivamus ac purus id ante porttitor placerat. Nulla lorem. Pellentesque vel
libero. Nulla facilisi. Nulla facilisi. Donec venenatis. Etiam sem lectus, interdum eget, tristique
id, faucibus nec, lacus. Duis lacinia mauris in tortor.
Integer in augue vel nisi vehicula vehicula. Phasellus ut arcu sit amet eros vehicula volutpat. Sed
felis nisi, auctor nec, luctus eget, ultrices eget, felis. Cras vestibulum posuere arcu. Vestibulum
ultrices dolor at ante. Aliquam est ligula, posuere at, aliquet in, eleifend non, magna. Nulla eget
augue. Proin semper tempus neque. Proin mauris lectus, ornare sed, porta sed, mattis ut, dolor.
Pellentesque rhoncus tortor sit amet lacus. Vestibulum fringilla vestibulum nunc. Donec vel
justo. Nullam tincidunt viverra est. Aenean lacus ante, elementum in, venenatis eget, euismod a,
neque.
Donec scelerisque, dolor et dictum fringilla, nulla mi feugiat purus, vitae interdum odio enim
quis massa. Nam vel sem. Ut nisi lectus, bibendum non, porta quis, semper ac, neque. Fusce quis
leo in lacus egestas sagittis. Ut dignissim ligula dapibus ipsum. Donec euismod ligula quis enim.
Ut id ante. Ut aliquam tellus. Suspendisse pharetra lectus quis est. In sit amet elit ut nulla
venenatis tempor. Aliquam nibh velit, tempor et, elementum in, tempus non, ante.
The abstract must be single-spaced, fewer than 800 words
and should not exceed two pages in length. Abstracts do not include citations.
Note: This is page iii but the number should not be printed.
31
Appendix D: Sample Second Page of Abstract (if needed)
Kelly A. Doe
Vivamus nec erat nec purus consectetuer mollis. Nam nibh pede, bibendum adipiscing,
egestas nec, porta at, lorem. Sed vitae felis. Vivamus ullamcorper tellus consequat
magna. Donec mattis adipiscing libero. Fusce tortor. Integer eu arcu. Maecenas
bibendum. Nulla dolor. Nullam porta, quam non congue vehicula, lacus neque congue
tortor, ac ultrices ante eros quis ligula. Fusce eleifend, elit ut porta volutpat, risus tortor
sodales mi, vitae tempus arcu dolor sed est. Nam accumsan commodo magna. Phasellus
ac dolor non tellus porttitor fringilla. Sed leo ipsum, auctor in, luctus egestas, vestibulum
id, sapien. Pellentesque ornare erat non libero. Vestibulum porta libero ut ante. Sed nec
magna.
On the second page of the Abstract, the author’s
name should be spaced in from the right hand
margin as a right-aligned side header
Note: If needed, this will be page iv but the number should not be printed.
32
Appendix E: Sample Acknowledgements Page
Acknowledgments
Suspendisse sollicitudin velit. Nam nunc. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient
montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam sed turpis non erat auctor cursus. Sed scelerisque auctor
pede. Nulla ac tellus non nibh adipiscing rhoncus. Proin aliquam vulputate justo. Quisque
lobortis. Proin lobortis, nibh in egestas bibendum, arcu magna cursus diam, sit amet rutrum ante
elit sit amet enim. Aenean pulvinar lacus non leo. Nam porta enim ut nibh. Proin auctor
adipiscing tellus. Curabitur sagittis. Nulla aliquet leo at velit. Phasellus non mi. Maecenas
eleifend viverra tellus.
Nam laoreet diam. Fusce lobortis felis quis enim. Quisque at est eget est blandit volutpat.
Vestibulum blandit, arcu eu tincidunt porta, sapien eros interdum tellus, cursus dapibus nisi justo
sit amet nulla. Etiam augue. Aliquam vestibulum dignissim magna. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nulla
venenatis metus sit amet erat. Vivamus elit. Curabitur nunc. Nulla ac metus sit amet purus
porttitor fringilla.
Acknowledgments should be in good taste and
should not exceed one page in length.
Note: Count as the next Roman numeral, but do not print the number.
33
Appendix F: Sample Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Abstract iii
List of Tables (if necessary) viii (your actual page number may be different)
List of Figures (if necessary) ix (your actual page number may be different)
Chapters
1. Introduction 1
Background 1
Problem Statement 4
etc.
2. Review of the Literature 16
Context 16
The theory and research literature specific to the topic 18
etc.
3. Methodology 33
Overview 33
Research Methods Employed 35
etc.
4. Results 60
Data Analysis 60
Findings 78
etc.
5. Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary 108
Conclusions 108
Implications 123
etc.
Appendices
A. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 140
B. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 148
etc.
References 198
Note: Count and print the number of this page centered here in lowercase Roman.
Appendix G: Sample List of Tables
34
List of Tables
Tables
1. MPC 2.0 Standard for a Multimedia PC 20
2. Summary of Experimental Designs Used for XYZ 21
3. Results of Alpha Evaluation 96
4. Results of Beta Evaluation 101
etc.
Note: Count and print the number of this page centered here in lowercase Roman.
35
Appendix H: Sample List of Figures
Figures
List of Figures
1. XYZ Conceptual Framework 52
2. OLC Design Model 76
3. Confirmatory Factor Analysis 100
4. Organization Flowchart 121
etc.
Note: Count and print the number of this page centered here in lowercase Roman.
36
Appendix I: Sample of the Format for Headings in the Chapters
Chapter 3
Methodology
Research Methods Employed
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Curabitur vitae metus vel felis
iaculis molestie. Donec et sapien. In sed elit scelerisque ipsum aliquet mollis. Sed vel nisi sed
lectus lacinia sagittis. Sed feugiat. Vestibulum diam turpis, placerat rutrum, elementum eget,
aliquam ut, velit. Maecenas laoreet lorem non leo. Nullam ligula augue, tempus sed, consectetuer
et, malesuada ut, ligula. Vivamus ac purus id ante porttitor placerat. Nulla lorem. Pellentesque
vel libero. Nulla facilisi. Nulla facilisi. Donec venenatis. Etiam sem lectus, interdum eget,
tristique id, faucibus nec, lacus. Duis lacinia mauris in tortor.
Donec scelerisque, dolor et dictum fringilla, nulla mi feugiat purus, vitae interdum odio enim
quis massa. Nam vel sem. Ut nisi lectus, bibendum non, porta quis, semper ac, neque. Fusce quis
leo in lacus egestas sagittis. Ut dignissim ligula dapibus ipsum. Donec euismod ligula quis enim.
Ut id ante.
Procedure for Pawn Tern Dare Worsted Ladle Gull
Aliquam nibh velit, tempor et, elementum in, tempus non, ante. Pellentesque eu mi. Nam
commodo lobortis tortor. Nulla iaculis dictum libero. Ut aliquam tellus. Suspendisse pharetra
lectus quis est. In sit amet elit ut nulla venenatis tempor.
37
Appendix J: Sample of Appendix Cover Page (when used)
Appendix N
Questionnaires
38
Appendix K: Sample of Appendix Without Separate Cover Page
Appendix Q
Officials Granting Permission to Use Facilities
Suspendisse sollicitudin velit. Nam nunc. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient
montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam sed turpis non erat auctor cursus. Sed scelerisque auctor
pede. Nulla ac tellus non nibh adipiscing rhoncus. Proin aliquam vulputate justo. Quisque
lobortis. Proin lobortis, nibh in egestas bibendum, arcu magna cursus diam, sit amet rutrum ante
elit sit amet enim. Aenean pulvinar lacus non leo. Nam porta enim ut nibh. Proin auctor
adipiscing tellus.
39
Appendix L: Doctoral Research / Idea Paper Rubric
# Item Minimal Partial Adequate
1 Student has communicated regularly with advisor 0 0
2 Student has identified current research efforts in the topic area 0 0 0
3 Student has identified topic area of interest 0 0 0
4 Student has identified relevant and adequate literature 0 0 0
5 Student has conducted initial literature review of topic area 0 0 0
6 Student has defined a valid research problem 0 0 0
7 Student has synthesized and critically analyzed relevant literature 0 0 0
8 Student has completed annotated bibliography related to research
topic 0 0 0
9 Student has sufficient academic references to support research 0 0 0
10 Student has adequately supported research problem from refereed
literature 0 0 0
11 Student has identified well-defined and measurable research goals 0 0 0
12 Student has established the originality and significant contributions to
the relevant literature 0 0 0
13 Student has identified current research approaches used in similar
research 0 0 0
14 Student has presented a reasonable and appropriate approach to
achieving the identified research goals 0 0 0
15 Student has developed appropriate research milestones to complete
research 0 0 0
16 Student has developed an acceptable timeline for completion of
research 0 0 0
17 Student has presented well-organized, professional, and scholarly
writing, 0 0 0
18 Student writing complies with all prescribed style and formatting
requirements 0 0 0
19 Student prepares Idea Paper in compliance with the structure
specified in Dissertation Guide 0 0 0
20 Student responds to advice and guidance from advisor in a timely and
thorough manner 0 0 0
40
Appendix M: Dissertation Proposal Rubric
41
Appendix N: Dissertation Research Rubric
Appendix O: Dissertation Final Report Rubric
42
Evan John