Purpose
The new Dissertation Criteria Assessment (DCA) is a developmental and progression feedback tool that students, faculty members, and committees can use to monitor students in meeting dissertation assessment criteria throughout the Doctoral Journey Life Cycle and Dissertation Phases. For more on the Phases, please visit the Doctoral Journey tab on the College of Doctoral Studies Central: https:
li
ary.phoenix.edu/doctoral_guide
Doctoral ACCESS, content, and research courses use Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) to assess the degree to which students meet course objectives, while the DCA uses criteria to assess the degree to which students achieve dissertation designing, executing, and reporting on empirical social science research.
Approach and Outcome Descriptors
The DCA uses the following two metrics in which faculty assess students in achieving criteria:
· Meets Criterion: Students develop the required criterion.
· Does Not Meet Criterion: *Students did not develop the required criterion or *Required criterion is missing.
*When Faculty scores “Does Not Meet Criterion,” Faculty should provide clear qualitative feedback in the Tk20 textboxes on how students can meet the criterion.
Some statements may not apply to the study. In these cases, check N/A (not applicable).
Meets Criterion
Does Not Meet Criterion
NA
Students develop the required criterion.
*Students did not develop the required criterion or *Required criterion is missing.
Statement does not apply to the study.
Background
One of the most compelling aspects of conducting and analyzing original research projects is the prospect of contributing new information to the literature in a field. Whether these contributions are theoretical, empirical, methodological, or practical, these contributions may enhance the available meaning around concepts, aid future researchers in extending the boundaries of inquiry and knowledge and influence the lives of practitioners at all organizational levels and in daily life. However, as an effect of this requirement for novel approaches, research in all fields is difficult to assess from any perspective founded in standards and models, particularly dissertations. Traditionally, the dissertation has served as an evaluative marker of a doctoral candidate’s passage into a field of inquiry, but because dissertations take on numerous permutations and approaches, these evaluations have largely been the sole purview of one’s chair—an individual typically possessing a wealth of knowledge about the field of study. Although this apprenticeship model has benefited doctoral learning since its inception, little information has been shared to describe how these evaluations are made, what criteria are
ought to bear on the research, or how a chair’s approval translates to successful publication and the foundation of a larger research agenda. Lovitts (2007, 2006) described a growing need in doctoral education for explicit criteria students and faculty can use to improve research pedagogy, practice, and outcomes.
To address this need in doctoral education, the College of Doctoral Studies (CDS) developed a new comprehensive Dissertation Criteria Assessment (DCA) tool to assess the quality of dissertations at various Phases in their preparation. The DCA aligned with the Standards for Reporting on Empirical Social Science Research in American Educational Research Association Publications (American Educational Research Association, 2006), a document that details the elements of a quality research report as defined by the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the leading organization for educational research and one of the largest and most diverse research organizations in social science. These criteria provide a robust baseline for dissertations while enabling the flexibility needed to address the various methodologies and approaches used by dissertation writers. These criteria align with the publication standards of a prestigious external research organization; their application enhances students’ dissertations and contributes to the successful publication of dissertation-related research.
References
American Educational Research Association XXXXXXXXXXStandards for reporting on
empirical social science research in AERA publications. Educational Researcher, 35(6), 33-40.
Lovitts, B. E XXXXXXXXXXMaking the implicit explicit: Faculty’s performance expectations for
the dissertation. In P. L. Maki & N. A. Borkowski (Eds.). The assessment of doctoral education (pp XXXXXXXXXXSterling, VA: Stylus.
Lovitts, B. E XXXXXXXXXXMaking the implicit explicit: Creating performance expectations for
the dissertation. Sterling, VA: Stylus.
Phase 1: PRospectus
Meets Criterion
Does Not Meet Criterion
N/A
DEGREE PROGRAM AND TOPIC ALIGNMENT
1. The proposed dissertation topic aligns to the student’s degree program.
☐ ☐ ☐
Problem Statement
2. The draft problem statement is clear, concise, and should be cited. Recent citations within the last five years.
☐ ☐ ☐
Purpose of the Study
3. The draft purpose statement is clear and aligns with the problem.
☐ ☐ ☐
4. A proposed research method and design are stated and are appropriate to the proposed objectives of the study.
☐ ☐ ☐
5. The proposed study objectives are clearly stated.
☐ ☐ ☐
POPULATION AND SAMPLE
6. An appropriate and feasible study population and/or data source is identified.
7. Describes sample size and provides rationale for sample size
☐ ☐ ☐
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
8. Discusses why the proposed study may be important and what this research may contribute to knowledge.
☐ ☐ ☐
METHODOLOGY (PROPOSED METHOD AND DESIGN)
9. Proposes a research method (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed) and discusses why the proposed method might be appropriate.
☐ ☐ ☐
10. Proposes a research design and discusses why the proposed design might be appropriate to accomplish the study objectives.
☐ ☐ ☐
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
11. Includes proposed research questions that align with the purpose and objectives of the study.
Note that quantitative and mixed method studies will require hypotheses to be added during Phase 2.
☐ ☐ ☐
TOPIC LITERATURE
12. Provides 5 to 10 references and 1 to 2 sentences with each reference to describe relevance of the literature.
☐ ☐ ☐
TOPIC THEORIES
13. Discussion on 1 to 3 relevant theories associated with topics.
☐ ☐ ☐
RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION STRATEGY
14. Describes process for collecting data from research sample and from any archival sources.
☐ ☐ ☐
Phase 1: PROSPECTUS Assessment Ru
ic
Phase 2: PRÉCIS Assessment Ru
ic
Phase 2: PRécis
Meets Criterion
Does Not Meet Criterion
N/A
Degree Program and topic alignment
1. The dissertation topic is introduced and aligns to the student’s degree program and specialization.
☐ ☐ ☐
Problem Statement
2. The problem is clear, concise, reflective of the purpose statement, and is cited. Recent citations within the last five years.
☐ ☐ ☐
Purpose of the Study
3. The purpose is clear and aligns with the problem.
☐ ☐ ☐
4. Research method and design are stated and are appropriate to the proposed study.
☐ ☐ ☐
5. The study objectives are clearly stated.
☐ ☐ ☐
6. Geographic location of study is identified without compromising confidentiality.
☐ ☐ ☐
7. Quantitative and mixed method: Research variables are identified.
☐ ☐ ☐
8. Qualitative: Central Phenomenon or Center of Interests are identified.
☐ ☐ ☐
Population and Sample
9. Population(s) and justification for participant sample size or other sources of proposed data are identified.
☐ ☐ ☐
Significance of the Study
10. Discusses why the study is important and what this research may contribute to knowledge.
☐ ☐ ☐
Nature of the Study
11. Discusses the appropriateness of the research method (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed).
☐ ☐ ☐
12. Discusses the design appropriateness and how the design will accomplish the study objectives.
☐ ☐ ☐
Research Questions / Hypotheses
13. Research questions align with the problem and purpose of the study. Research questions fully encompass the purpose; they are not
oader or na
ower than the stated objectives.
☐ ☐ ☐
14. Quantitative and mixed-method studies: Hypotheses are well developed, include both null and alternate hypotheses, and the null and alternate statements are testable.
☐ ☐ ☐
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework
15. Discussion reflects theories and/or concepts that align with and are relevant to the study topics.
☐ ☐ ☐
Topic literature
16. Discussion reflects
ief overview of topic literature.
☐ ☐ ☐
Phase 3: Concept Review Assessment Ru
ic (Chapters 1 and 2 focused)
CHAPTER 1: Introduction
Meets Criterion
Does Not Meet Criterion
N/A
Introduction
1. The dissertation topic is introduced and the introduction reflects the chapter contents.
☐ ☐ ☐
Background of the Problem
2. Discussion reflects why the research problem is of important social concern or theoretical interest.
☐ ☐ ☐
Problem Statement
3. The problem is clear, concise, reflective of the purpose statement, and is cited.
☐ ☐ ☐
Purpose of the Study
4. The purpose is clear and aligns with the problem.
☐ ☐ ☐
5. Research method and design are stated and are appropriate to the proposed study.
☐ ☐ ☐
6. The study objectives are clearly stated.
☐ ☐ ☐
7. Geographic location of study is identified without compromising confidentiality.
☐ ☐ ☐
8. Quantitative and mixed method: Research variables are identified.
☐ ☐ ☐
Population and Sample
9. Population(s) and participant sample size or other sources of proposed data are identified.
☐ ☐ ☐
Significance of the Study
10. Discusses why the study is important and what this research may contribute to knowledge.
☐ ☐ ☐
Nature of the Study
11. Discusses the appropriateness of the research method (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed).
☐ ☐ ☐
12. Discusses the design appropriateness and how the design will accomplish the study objectives.
☐ ☐ ☐
Research Questions / Hypotheses
13. Research questions align with the purpose of the study. Research questions fully encompass the purpose; they are not
oader or na
ower than the stated objectives.
☐ ☐ ☐
14. Quantitative and mixed-method studies: Hypotheses are well developed, include both null and alternate hypotheses, and the null and alternate statements are testable.
☐ ☐ ☐
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework
15. Discussion reflects a few theories that align with and are relevant to the study topics.
☐ ☐ ☐
Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations
16. Assumptions, limitations, and delimitations of the study are described.
☐ ☐ ☐
Chapter Summary
17. Discussion summarizes key points presented in Chapter 1, includes citations, and includes a transition to Chapter 2.
☐ ☐ ☐
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Meets Criterion
Does Not Meet Criterion
N/A
Introduction
18. Discussion reflects
ief overview of what is contained in the chapter.
☐ ☐ ☐
Title Searches and Documentation
19. Describes the approach used to search for relevant documentation including key words used to search for publications.
☐ ☐ ☐
Historical Content and Cu
ent Content Sections
20. Organization is presented in a logical and flowing manner from
oad topics to na
ow, making use of APA Level Headings 3 and 4.
☐ ☐ ☐
21. The literature review topics align with