Dissertation Research Plan:

Scientific Merit Criteria for the Research Plan

1. Advances the scientific knowledge base.  

2. Makes a contribution to research theory. 

3. Meets certain "hallmarks" of good research methodology.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Complete the following steps to request Scientific Merit Review (SMR) approval for your dissertation:

• Residency Learners: Your Residency Instructor will facilitate this process.

• Dissertation Learners: Your Mentor will facilitate this process.

Section 5: Research Data

Data Collection - Sampling Procedures

Describe in detail each step that you will take from the beginning of recruitment to consent from the participants to participate.  You must provide specific details and present the details in the order in which they will occur.  You must include all of the following (if applicable):

• The recruitment site(s), acknowledgement of any permissions needed from the sites, and if there is an IRB at any of the sites.
• All of the means by which recruitment will occur (i.e., flyers, e-mails, social media)
• How potential participants will contact you.
• How the potential participants will be screened and how you will proceed if they do qualify and if they do not qualify for the study.

Data Collection Procedures

Describe where and how will you get the data and describe the exact procedure(s) that will be used to collect the data.  This is a step-by-step description of exactly how the research will be conducted. This should read like a recipe for the data collection procedures to be followed in your study. Be sure to include all the necessary details so that someone else will be able to clearly understand how you will obtain your data.

Guiding Interview Questions

Describe the interview method will you use and how you will conduct the interviews.  List the guiding interview questions to be used in the qualitative interviews with the participants. Provide a rationale for how and why you are using the interview technique you will use to address the primary research question. Be sure to discuss the results of any field test that was conducted as a part of the process of developing the final version of the guiding interview questions.

Data Analyses

Provide a step-by-step description of the procedures to be used to conduct the data analysis. Support this process by identification and reference to primary descriptive sources, such as Moustakas, Giorgi, Stake Yin, Charmaz, or Braun et al.  Check that that the data analysis process is consistent with the accepted analytical steps for the specific qualitative methodology chosen to conduct this study.  If you plan to use Qualitative data analysis software, list the software you will use and describe how it will be used. 

Role of the Researcher

Provide a description of the researcher's pre-understandings, preconceptions and biases about the topic and about how the researcher will set them aside? 

Credibility, Dependability and Transferability

Present a strategy to ensure credibility, dependability, and transferability in the proposed study. Because the researcher is the primary instrument of research in qualitative studies, describe how you will establish credibility for the research.  Describe the training and experience you have in regards to your methods for collecting and for analyzing your data.  Credibility refers to confidence in the accuracy of the data as reported as well as a systematic and thorough interpretation by the researcher.  Credibility involves carrying out the study in a way that enhances the believability of the findings of the data over time and over conditions. Credibility is assessed by how well you demonstrate your understanding of your research methodology and how well you apply the methodology to data collection and data analysis. Credibility is assessed by how well you demonstrate your understanding of your research methodology and how well you apply the methodology to data collection and data analysis. Describe how you will demonstrate your expertise in regards to your research design. Transferability is demonstrated by showing that the sample fairly represents the target population, as well as by showing that the sample participants have the knowledge, experience, or expertise necessary to provide information that the discipline or field and the target population would find meaningful in regard to the topic. Dependability is demonstrated by providing clear, detailed, and sequential descriptions of all procedures and methods, such that another researcher could repeat each of them faithfully.

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar