Dissertation: The proposal provides the foundation for the dissertation. The purpose of the proposal is to illustrate the study, argue for its ability to address research questions, and demonstrate the proposed study as an ethical research plan. Successfully developing the proposal demonstrates the student's ability to command key elements of research design while building an ethical research project. Further, the proposal shall follow the formatting and structures presented by Chapters 1-3 in the dissertation template; available as a downloadable Word document in GRC 641. All elements of the proposal are discussed in GRC 641-GRC 645 Reading and Writing Goals.

Chapter 1 provides the foundational concepts of the topic, problem, and nature of the dissertation. The chapter is oft approximately 15 pages in length. Further, it shall contain the following elements:

• Introduction and Background of the Problem. The introduction presents the content and organization of the chapter along with a historical introduction leading into the problem statement. History is supported with the proper citations as to show a progression leading to the currently experienced problem.

• Problem Statement. The problem statement appears as one or two paragraphs clearly describing the problem motivating the study. The problem statement clearly states the problem, the context, cited previous studies, mentions stakeholder groups, and the selected research method.'

• Purpose Statement. The purpose statement clearly states the research method, analysis goals, stakeholder groups, the context of the study, and handling of data.

• Nature of the Study. The nature of the study clearly states why the researchers chose a particular methodology, briefly illustrates participants, concisely describes the instrument(s), mentions the data collection procedure, and offers a short mention of validity and reliability for instrumentation.

• Research Questions and Hypotheses. There are at most three research questions. Additionally, the questions are simple, focus on the appropriate stakeholder groups, emerge from the problem and purpose statements, somehow relate the relevant variables, and are compatible with the study.

• Brief Review of the Literature. The review illustrates the problem, explains why the study is a suitable contribution to the literature, argues why the study may help solve the problem, explains how the study adds to a gap in the literature, and how the study relies on previous studies.

• Conceptual Framework. The conceptual framework and its graphical presentation offer a systems thinking effort integrating key factors into the researcher's perspective.

• Assumptions, Limitations, Scope, and Delimitations. The assumptions, limitations, and delimitations integrate literature and practical expectations. Limitations include at least one limitation involving the study method. Delimitations are practical and fair as to keep the study feasible.

• Significance of the Study. The study indicates at least three sound points of significance. The significance of the study identifies the audience for the study, explains how the study adds to the literature and mentions how stakeholders may benefit from the completion and dissemination of the results. Reasons remain grounded in business, social, socioeconomic, scientific, medical, or other relevant contexts.

• Summary and Transition. Summary and transition appear as one or two paragraphs summarizing and concluding the chapter.