June 22, 2012


Dear Readers,


NOVA has updated its web site.  I have now updated this blog
Dr. Auton

Choosing Your Research Topic

June 22, 2012


There are many books and articles written on selecting a research topic and there are courses in the NOVA curriculum that also address this issue.  One resource is The Applied Dissertation Procedures Manual that provides required information about the applied dissertations 


http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/ADS_Manual.pdf

In these comments, I want to give you several of the suggestions I use with my students for choosing an area of study:

(1)   Pick an area of study that interests you
(2)   Pick an area of study that interests your supervisor or administration, if you are employed, or that interests others in your field
(3)   Pick an area of study that can benefit your organization or your educational field.
(4)   Pick research questions for which you can actually collect current data.

I have found these to be basic considerations in helping students focus and stay on a path that will lead to a successful dissertation.

Sometimes it can be bewildering to students on how to select an area for study.  I usually ask them to look at the problems or issues that they are facing in their work and then pick one or two small pieces of a problem to investigate.  I also ask them to talk with their supervisors and/or the staff that approves research projects about the kinds of data that can and cannot be collected.

Finally, I ask them to read literature in broad areas of interest to them to explore the current state-of-the-field.

Once a student has some sense of a problem area and possible data sources, then we can work on narrowing the student’s thinking on specific research questions.

Usually this is an iterative process where the student and I work back and forth to formulate the problem and the research questions.

Before doing any significant writing on a concept paper I want my students to first identify the problem and research questions.

A Quick Guide to the Nova Dissertation Planning Process

A Quick Guide to the Nova Dissertation Planning Process
(Revision 17, June 22, 2012)

Student:____________________________

Chair: _____________________________       

Member: ___________________________

Date: ______________________________

Note: The Nova Applied Dissertation Procedures Manual (ADPM) is your official guide to your dissertation planning.  Should there be any inconsistency between the comments below and the Nova guide, you are to use the Nova guide.  This guide is a quick introduction to the process written as an overview for my students.

A.  Role of the Chair

A detailed description is provided in the Nova ADPM, page 6.
http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/ADS_Manual.pdf

I will advise and assist you on all phases of the dissertation process; provide you with timely responses (Nova has a 10 business-day turnaround for feedback to you); and encourage you to work consistently to complete the dissertation.

B.  Your Role

 Your role is also specified in the ADPM, page 5.  You will need to address a topic that   interests you and that has a practical application of scientific theories and models. 

You want to learn how to do research, to write a dissertation, and at the same time provide value to yourself, to your organization, and to the field. 

You will need to persevere on a consistent basis, with a timeline that is agreed to by you and me.  For working adults, it is often easy to let dissertation work slide because of other commitments.  

 You should email me at least once a month and we can also communicate by telephone.  I  will be happy to call you if we set a mutually acceptable date and time.

C. Benchmarks

 There are three major benchmarks in the process. 

I am making a special note on the first benchmark, the concept paper (Page 9 of the ADPM).  It is a solid beginning in which you demonstrate that you have the concept of the dissertation well in hand.  In 10-12 pages you can demonstrate that knowledge and then go on to the proposal.  You receive 2 credits for the concept paper.  It is a good first step in developing your dissertation.

See this website:
http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/ADS_Manual.pdf

The following information appears in the ADPM.

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1.  The Concept Paper

                

Concept Paper (ARC 8966, 2 Credits)

Description. The concept paper is typically 10-12 pages in length and presents the student’s proposed research agenda. To meet this benchmark, the concept paper must receive full committee approval, after which the committee chair posts a grade.

Submission procedures. The student submits the concept paper electronically to the committee chair as an attachment using Microsoft Word and e-mail. The chair reviews the submission, and after careful review and multiple iterations, forwards the document to the committee member for review.  (Note: Only the first two chapters are now required for the concept paper.  6/22/12)

2.  The Proposal

Proposal (ARC 8967, 5 Credits), ARC Review, and IRB Submission

Description. The proposal builds on the concept paper and represents the first three chapters of the applied dissertation (including the problem, a review of the literature,  and the methodology). The literature review in Chapter 2 of the Proposal must be exhaustive. Most literature reviews contain, at a minimum, 30 references from recent peer-reviewed research articles. Exhaustive literature reviews usually   exceed 25-30 pages in length. To meet this benchmark, the proposal must receive full  committee approval. Students are highly encouraged to use NSU Library Help to conduct a comprehensive search for recent published articles  

Submission procedures for ARC review. Once the student receives preliminary  approval from his or her dissertation committee, the proposal should be sent (by the student) to the ARC for review. At this point a program professor also reviews the proposal.  The submission is completed through an online  procedure located on the student page of ADRIANA. The ARC will review the proposal  utilizing an electronic assessment form (see Appendix C). The student and dissertation  committee will receive feedback from the ARC; if additional changes are required after the review the student should work with his or her committee, address the deficiencies, and resubmit the proposal. After receiving approval, the student can move forward to the IRB    

Submission procedures for IRB review. After receiving ARC approval, the dissertation committee will submit an approval date in ADRIANA. Next, the committee chair (named  co-investigator on the IRB submission) will direct the student to submit the study for IRB  approval. The submission is completed through an online procedure located in ADRIANA.  Approval by the IRB to conduct research is a federal requirement for the protection of  human subjects. Before any dissertation research is conducted (i.e., collecting data), the  student must have a recent CITI certificate and IRB approval. review process.


NOTE: 

All investigators should continue to refer to http://www.nova.edu/irb/manual/policies.html for IRB policies and procedures. (Revision 9/21/11) 
 For submission-related forms they may refer to  
http://www.nova.edu/irb/manual/forms.html  (Revision 1/18/11)

3.  Final Report (ARC 8968, 5 Credits) and Final Approval

Description. The final applied dissertation report includes the research plan and design (as described in the first three chapters of the proposal and IRB submission), followed by the Results section (Chapter 4) and the Discussion section (Chapter 5). Refer to Appendix A for answers to specific questions related to the final report.

Submission procedures. After receiving a recommendation of the final report from the dissertation committee, the student submits the applied dissertation manuscript to the ARC for final approval. The steps in the final-approval process are described at the ARC website. Final approval includes the following: content review by an ARC program professor, format review by ARC staff, and the approval of the executive dean. The ARC  will notify the student of the final approval. The notification will include instructions for the paper and electronic manuscript copies and for signatures on the approval page.

4.  Applied Dissertation Services

Students who have completed all doctoral course work in 2 years will register for ADS 8090: Applied Dissertation Services I for the three terms in Year 3. Students who have not completed course work will still be required to register for ADS. If the applied dissertation has not been completed by the 36th month in the program, the student must register for ADS 8091: Applied Dissertation Services II. All doctoral students are subject to the Continuing Dissertation Services fee if they have not achieved final approval for their applied dissertation by the time they have completed their regular academic (course work) schedule. A student must be registered to receive services from the dissertation committee and ARC.

********************

There are many other important sections in the ADPM.  Read it thoroughly and  review it  from time to time.

Also, please note that there are credits attached to each milestone (see above) and both the committee member and I will sign off on each milestone before the credit is awarded to you.  

D.  The Dissertation Format

You need to follow the dissertation template as you begin your concept paper and then continue through your completed dissertation. The template can be found in the ADPM

By following the template you will help yourself with a logical organization and you will save time in redoing your document. 

Use the ADPM, as well as the Nova style guide, to help you.  The ADPM has an annotated sample of the dissertation format in Appendix D that should be very useful   to you. 

E.  Nova Web Site

Become familiar with the Applied Research Center (ARC) web site


http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/applied-research/arc

In particular, see


http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/applied-research/procedures_and_resources

Take time to thoroughly review all the links on the page.  Make copies for yourself if you like to read a paper copy.  This information is important.

    

F.  Nova Library

Use the Nova Library for your literature searches in addition to any other sources you have.  Review the following web sites:

http://www.nova.edu/library/main/

http://www.nova.edu/library/help/video/apa/apa_advanced/DOI_tools/

G. Abstracts of completed dissertations

If you have not yet become familiar with the Nova library, start now.  The library is an excellent resource and the librarians are very helpful.  Read dissertations that pertain to your area of interest.  Read dissertations so that you become familiar with the thinking and writing styles.  Read dissertations from many different graduate programs so you get a broad knowledge of the depth of dissertation work. 

http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/ericdissertations/

H. Literature Review

Your literature review should be a comprehensive review of current related research.  See The Proposal section above for more information on the literature review.  Note that it must be a recent review, primarily of peer-reviewed publications. You will submit the review, get feedback, revise your review, get feedback, and revise again. It is very common to have several revisions.

Both the length of the proposal and the length of the final document will vary across dissertations.  Your specific work will determine the final length.  However, as you review  other Nova dissertations you will get a broader perspective and a greater insight about writing a dissertation.

I.  APA and Nova Style Guide

 On page 10 of the ADPM you will find information about the dissertation format. Both the Nova style guide and the 6th edition of the American Psychological  Association (APA)  style guide are used in writing your dissertation.  It is your responsibility to know how to use these two guides.  The new APA Style Library Guide is

 http://nova.campusguides.com/apa  

http://schoolofed.nova.edu/arc/res_writing_and_preparing

If there is a dispute between the two, follow the Nova style guide.

J.  Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

Complete the IRB (CITI) training as soon as you can.  Have your records indicate you have completed the training. See: https://www.citiprogram.org/default.asp 

K. Institutional Review Board (IRB)

No data collection or other formal procedures may be undertaken until the final approval of the proposal by the chair, committee member, ARC, and the IRB for Protection of Human Subjects.  This is a Nova requirement and a very important one.  You should visit the website  


http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/applied-research/institutional-review-board
 to learn abut the IRB.  Note that all documents are submitted electronically. 

L.  Personal Folders

It is helpful to set up both paper and electronic folders to easily retrieve information.  Use whatever system is easy for you, but keep good records.  All of our correspondence and all documentation needs to go through the Nova website.  Only use the Nova email for correspondence.  I encourage students to put a date in the file name of each document they send to me, for example: 'Your Name' Concept Paper June 7 10.doc.  That way I am sure I have the latest copy and you are sure that you sent the latest copy.

Let me know if you have any questions about anything in this document or anything at this  stage in your dissertation process.

I congratulate you on beginning this educational process and you can be assured of my full support.

 Developed by Dr. Sylvia Auton auton@nova.edu

June 22, 2012, Rev 17

Proposal Review Process and the IRB

Proposal Review Process and the IRB

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

I received this information from my group leader, Dr. Carolyn Buckenmaier.  I hope it will be of use you as you submit your proposal to the IRB.

(1) After your proposal has a pre-approval by the chair and the committee member, you will sign into ADRIANA and you will email your proposal to arcproposal@nova.edu for review.

(2) Once your proposal is approved by ARC, the chair and the committee member will approve the IRB document.

When you sign into ADRIANA,  you will enter the title of the applied dissertation.  You will be asked to upload eight separate documents (so be sure you have put them in separate files):

Document 1: Protocol submission
Document 2: Consent and Assent Forms
Document 3: Data Collection Instruments
Document 4: Flyers and recruitment materials
Document 5: Applied Dissertation Proposal
Document 6: Administration Letters
Document 7: CITI documents
Document 8: Other documents

(3) The IRB will review these documents and will make a decision about your submission.