TITLE OF DISSERTATION CENTERED WITH UPPERCASE LETTERS IN

BOLD WITH EVERY SUCCEEDING LINE SLIGHTLY

SMALLER THAN THE PREVIOUS LINE
SINGLE SPACED

A Doctoral Dissertation Research Proposal

Submitted to the
Faculty of Argosy University, Phoenix Campus
in Partial Fulfillment of
the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Education

Note: List your campus. AUO students list the Phoenix campus.

By

Your Full Name

Argosy University

Month, Year

Dissertation Committee Approval:

__________________________________________________________________
Joe Smith, Ed.D., Chair

__________________________________________________________________
Jane Johnson, Ph.D., Member

__________________________________________________________________
John Doe, Ed.D., Program Chair
 TITLE OF DISSERTATION CENTERED WITH UPPERCASE LETTERS

IN BOLD WITH EVERY SUCCEEDING LINE SLIGHTLY

SMALLER THAN THE PREVIOUS LINE

DOUBLE SPACED

A Doctoral Dissertation Research Proposal

Submitted to the
Faculty of Argosy University, Phoenix Campus
College of Education

In Partial Fulfillment of
the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Education

by

Your Full Name

Month, Year

Notes: (1) In the Proposal, the signature and title pages are “counted” but not “numbered.” (2) List your
campus.(AUO students list the Phoenix campus). (3) List your college (i.e. Education, Business,
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..................................................................................1

Problem Background...........................................................................................................#
Purpose of the Study............................................................................................................#
Research Questions..............................................................................................................#
Limitations and Delimitations..............................................................................................#
Definitions............................................................................................................................#
Importance of the Study.....................................................................................................##

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE......................................................##

Introduction........................................................................................................................##
List Your Heading Titles....................................................................................................##
Number of Heading Titles Will Vary.................................................................................##
Subheadings are Indented............................................................................................##
Subheadings are Indented............................................................................................##
List Your Heading Titles....................................................................................................##
List Your Heading Titles....................................................................................................##

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY..........................................................................##

Research Design.................................................................................................................##
Selection of Participants..............................................................................................##
Instrumentation............................................................................................................##
List Instrument Name............................................................................................##
List Instrument Name............................................................................................##
Methodological Assumptions.......................................................................................##
Procedures....................................................................................................................##
Data Processing and Analysis............................................................................................##

REFERENCES..................................................................................................................##

APPENDICES...................................................................................................................##
A. Title of Appendix..........................................................................................................##
B. Title of Appendix...........................................................................................................##
C. Title of Appendix.......................................................................................................... ##

Notes: (1) Use a Table of Appendices if the Proposal includes more than 4 Appendices.
(2) If a Table of Appendices is used, then REFERENCES would be the last entry.) (3)
For ease of formatting, you can use this page like a template, replacing your own
headings and subheadings.
iv
 0

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

The introduction and problem background present the global problem that has led

you to the specific purpose of your study.

Level One Headings Are Bold and Centered

Chapter one should describe the nature and purpose of the study, present the

guiding research question(s), provide the definitions of terms, identify the limitations and

delimitations, and explain the significance of and justification for conducting the study.

Level Two Subheadings are Bold and Flush Left

The reader should be satisfied after reading The Problem section that (a) a case is

made for the existence of a problem or appropriateness of the topic and it is clearly

delineated, and (b) the problem or topic has intellectual merit worthy of dissertation

research. A framework for writing a solid introduction, regardless of the approach used,

should include these nine key components:

1. some introductory material to present the topic;

2. the research problem or topic;

3. the purpose of the study;

4. the research question;

5. the research hypothesis or hypotheses (if appropriate);

6. the definitions of terms;

7. the limitations and delimitations of the study;

8. the anticipated significance of the study

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CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The foundation of the dissertation begins with a review of the relevant literature.

The relevant theories and the methodological and measurement considerations will be

found in the literature. The literature review is extensive but not necessarily exhaustive

and should provide the foundation to frame the argument explaining why the study is

necessary and relevant.

The sources for the literature review include government documents, appropriate

databases, books, professional journals, previous research on the topic, dissertations, and

other information about previous investigations and existing theories that form the

rationale for the current undertaking. Information must be evaluated and interpreted,

properly referenced and presented to build an argument for the importance of the research

and the appropriateness of the methods used in the dissertation to add new and original

information to the existing knowledge on the subject being explored.

One of the deviations of Argosy University from standard APA format is the use

of single spacing in some areas, including block quotes. Per the Argosy University

Guide to the Doctoral Dissertation Research Process (2011):

Block quotations, table titles, figure captions, notes to the tables and figures, and
references in the reference list should be single-spaced with an extra space dividing
these individual items from text or entries above and below them. All other parts of
the doctoral dissertation research should be double-spaced. (p. 25)

Refer to the complete list of AU deviations from APA style within the dissertation guide.

After reading the Review of the Literature chapter, the committee should be confident

that:

 the essential literature supports the existence of the problem;

 2

 the literature review presents fully what is already known concerning the research

questions or hypotheses;

 the pattern of inquiry as presented in the literature is related to the topic of the

Proposal;

 the proposed methodological directions reflect the patterns in the literature. In

addition, the literature must be extensive and relevant;

 it includes contrary or controversial opinions fairly and objectively;

 it includes past studies, theory, methodology and measurement issues;

 it is well organized and written to provide a framework for the proposed study;

 it is analytical, and not just a presentation of what has been done by others;

 it provides an historical context for the current investigation;

 it discusses how the investigation fills a void in the literature. (p. 20)

Subsequent to the body of the literature review, chapter two usually closes with

a summary, or recapitulation of the literature, where study results are presented in

aggregate form. A sentence or paragraph to lead into Chapter Three ends the chapter.

Note: Each new chapter begins on a new page, even if blank space exists on the last page

of the previous chapter.

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CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

In this chapter, the design, procedures, and analysis plan for carrying out the

purpose of the study are presented. When it is completed, this chapter will include all

aspects of the methodology, both proposed and what actually occurred during the course

of the research, in replicable detail. Prior to the proposal defense, discussion of what will

be undertaken in the research should be written in future tense. Subsequent to

completion of the research, these same items will be changed, describing them as having

been done.

The methodology chapter begins with a brief restatement of the nature and

purpose of the study. This includes a description of the methodology employed (e.g.

quantitative, qualitative, action) and why it was chosen to address the research’s topic or

problem statement. Although there will be different sections and headings for studies of

varying approaches, the most common sections are (a) an introduction, (b) a description

of the research design, (c) the population and sampling procedures, (d) access and

permission information, (e) assumptions or limitations, (f) data collection, (g)

instrumentation, (h) procedures, (i) data analysis, and (j) interpretation (Argosy

University, 2011, pp. 20-22). Each of these sections would be described fully in Chapter

Three.
 4

REFERENCES

Addington, J., Piskulic, D., & Marshall, C. (2010). Psychosocial treatments for
schizophrenia. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(4), 260-263.
doi: 10.1177/0963721410377743

Adebimpe, V. R. (1981). Overview: White norms and psychiatric diagnosis of black

patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 279-285.

Aguilera, A., Lopez, S. R., Breitborde, N. J. K., Kopelowicz, A., & Zarate, R. (2010).
Expressed emotion and sociocultural moderation in the course of schizophrenia.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 119(4), 875-885. doi: 10.1037/a0020908

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental

disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychiatric Association. (2010). DSM-5 development. Retrieved from

http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx

American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and

code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57(12), 1060-1073. doi: 10.1037//0003-
066X.57.12.1060

American Psychological Association. (2003). Guidelines on multicultural education,

training, research, practice, and organizational change for psychologists.
American Psychologist, 58(5), 377-402. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.58.5.377

Anglin, D. M., Alberti, P. M., Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2008). Racial differences in
beliefs about the effectiveness and necessity of mental health treatment. American
Journal of Community Psychology, 42, 17-24. doi: 10.1007/s10464-008-9189-5

Anglin, D. M., & Malaspina, D. (2008a). Ethnicity effects on clinical diagnoses

compared to best estimate research diagnoses in patients with psychosis: A
retrospective medical chart review. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69(6), 941-
945.

Argosy University. (2011). Guide to the doctoral dissertation research process. [A

manual for planning and writing a doctoral dissertation at Argosy University].
Retrieved from www.myeclass.com.

Note: This page should be titled “REFERENCES” (in bold). It should not be titled
“Works Cited” or “Bibliography” or “List of References” Please note that one of the
deviations of AUO from standard APA is the use of single spacing for the reference list.
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APPENDICES
 6

APPENDIX A

Type Appendix A Title Here

 7

APPENDIX A

Name of Appendix A

Precede the content of each appendix with a title page. Use ALL CAPS and bold

for the appendix and identifying number, center the level one title below it, also in bold.

The page number on the title page should correspond to the entry in the Table of

Contents. Begin typing the Appendix title page eight spaces below the top margin (line

10). Number the pages in the appendices consecutively.

 8

APPENDIX B

Type Title of Appendix B Here

 9

APPENDIX B

Name of Appendix B

Information for appendix B appears here.