Qualitative case study dissertation proposal

Most universities offer comprehensive guidelines within their dissertation manuals on how to setup and organize the dissertation and also the proposal. Within the Social Sciences, most dissertations are organized into 4 or 5 chapters. However, there are lots of variations around the nature of those chapters, and also the facts are left to the discretion from the Dissertation Committee. Within the Social Sciences, the dissertation proposal generally includes the very first three chapters (inside a five-chapter format) or even the first couple of chapters (inside a four-chapter format).

Dissertation Outline

This is a generic outline for any five-chapter dissertation. The 3rd chapter on methodology varies for any qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method design. A four-chapter dissertation incorporates the literature review in to the first chapter.

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Introduction
• Reputation of the issue
• Statement from the Problem
• Reason for the research
• Research Questions
• Value of the research
• Meaning of Terms
• Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations
• Conclusion

Chapter 2: Overview of the Literature

• Introduction
• Search Description
• Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
• Overview of Research (organized by variable or styles)

Chapter 3: Methodology (Qualitative)

• Introduction
• Research Design
• Research Questions
• Setting
• Participants
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Conclusion

Chapter 3: Methodology (Quantitative)

Introduction
Research Design
Research Questions and Ideas
Population and Sample
Instrumentation
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Conclusion

Chapter 3: Methodology (Mixed)

• Introduction
• Research Design
• Research Questions and Ideas
• Setting and Sample
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Conclusion

Chapter 4: Research Findings

• Introduction
• Findings (organized by Research Questions or Ideas)
• Conclusion

Chapter 5: Conclusions, Discussion, and Recommendations for Future Research

• Introduction
• Review of Findings
• Conclusions (organized by Research Questions or Ideas)
• Discussion
• Recommendations for Future Research
• Conclusion