A well-designed and well-implemented study is necessary in order for you to be able to make a convincing argument about the meaning and significance of your research findings. If your design is poor, your findings may be interpreted or explained in multiple plausible ways, limiting the value of your study to your field.

Prepare a paper reflecting on the appropriateness of the research design proposed for your dissertation research ? including a restatement of the problem, purpose, proposed research design and appropriateness of a proposed research method, research questions, and definition of variables/constructs. For quantitative research, this will include discussion of the operationalization and measurement of variables, precise statements of hypotheses, etc. For qualitative research, this will include discussion of the definition of constructs, criteria for assessment, etc. The proposed mode of data collection and analysis must be discussed for all proposed designs.