EDDR 915 Quantitative Dissertation Topic and Planning

This course assists candidates in selecting their dissertation topic, research question(s), and appropriate design and method for a quantitative study.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Course Guide

View this course’s outcomes, policies, schedule, and more.*

*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.


The doctoral dissertation is the final academic requirement for your degree. This course is designed to equip the candidate with a deeper understanding of research design and data analysis as well as the skills and knowledge necessary for writing and publishing a doctoral dissertation.


Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 400–500 words, include recent scholarly citations in the current APA format, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the candidate is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 150–250 words and incorporate 1 scholarly citation in current APA format. (CLO: B, C)

Research Plan Assignments (3)

Research Plan: Chapter 1 Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the first chapter of his/her research plan, including all front matter found in the template. The candidate should include at least 10 full pages of content and 25 scholarly sources in current APA format. (CLO: B, C)

Research Plan: Chapter 3 Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the third chapter of his/her research plan. The candidate will create every section based on the template and demonstrate mastery of the primary research design. The candidate should include at least 10 full pages of content in current APA format. (CLO: D)

Research Plan: Final Submission Assignment

The candidate will submit a fully developed research plan aligned with the Dissertation Handbook, especially the template. The final research plan must be at least 20 pages of content and address all instructor feedback on the previous chapter submissions. (CLO: B, C, D)

IRB Training Modules Assignment

The candidate will complete training modules via the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative Program. Upon completion of all modules, the candidate will receive a certification to upload to the IRB Library as well as to Canvas for a grade. (CLO: E)

Journal Cover Letter Assignment

The candidate will demonstrate the ability to identify an appropriate journal for publication of an article based on the developing dissertation. The candidate will create a cover letter and locate the author guidelines for the journal. The candidate is not required to submit an article to the journal. The candidate will upload a cover letter in Canvas with the name of the journal and the journal’s submission guideline link. (CLO: F)

Quiz: Quantitative Designs

The quiz covers quantitative research designs commonly used in quantitative dissertations. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 5 multiple-choice questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: C, D)

Quiz: Dissertation Process

The quiz will cover the Dissertation Handbook. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 multiple-choice questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A)

Quiz: Plagiarism Awareness

The quiz will cover the LU Academic Honesty Policy and the current APA Manual’s plagiarism policy. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 4 questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A)

Quiz: SOE Doctoral Community

The quiz will cover the SOE Doctoral Community course information located in the SOE Doctoral Community Canvas course. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 true/false questions, and have no time limit. (CLO: A)

Quiz

This quiz covers statistical analyses commonly used in quantitative dissertations. The quiz will be open book/open notes, contain of 5 multiple-choice questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: C, D)

Quiz: Writing for Publication

The quiz will cover the writing for publication as explained in the article, Writing for Publication While in Graduate School: An Accessible Reality by Joshua C. Collins. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 6 multiple-choice questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: F)


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