ABSTRACT
Title of the Dissertation:
Subtitle of the Dissertation
Student Name
An abstract basically provides brief summaries of thesis and content of the
dissertation.
DISSERTATION APPROVAL SHEET
This dissertation, entitled
Dissertation Title:
Dissertation Subtitle
written by
Student Name
and submitted in candidacy for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
has been read and approved
by the undersigned members of the faculty of
William Carey International University
________________________________
Major Advisor Name
________________________________
Committee Member Name
________________________________
Committee Member Name
January 2011
WILLIAM CAREY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERISTY
TITLE OF THE DISSERTATION:
SUBTITLE OF THE DISSERTATION
A DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF
WILLIAM CAREY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
BY
STUDENT NAME
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
MONTH YEAR
Copyright 2011
Student Name
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
CONTENTS
CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................... i
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. iii
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... iv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ..............................................................................................v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... vi
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1
Problem Statement ...................................................................................................1
Research Questions ..................................................................................................2
Background of the Study .........................................................................................2
Significance of the Study .........................................................................................3
Definitions................................................................................................................3
Assumptions.............................................................................................................3
Limitations ...............................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ..............................................................5
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................6
Categorizing Research .............................................................................................6
Descriptive Research ...................................................................................7
Experimental Research ................................................................................7
Evaluative Research .....................................................................................7
CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER TITLE ........................................................................................9
First-Level Heading .................................................................................................9
First-Level Heading Sample: Research Topic Selection .......................................10
Second-Level Heading ...............................................................................10
Third-Level Heading ......................................................................10
CHAPTER 5 TEMPLATE TOOLS AND TIPS ................................................................12
Styles 12
Contents and Lists of Figures, Tables, and Maps ..................................................13
Numbered Lists Renumbering Themselves ...........................................................13
CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER TITLE ......................................................................................15
i
CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER TITLE ......................................................................................16
CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER TITLE ......................................................................................17
CHAPTER 9 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................18
APPENDIX A APPENDIX TITLE ..................................................................................19
APPENDIX B APPENDIX TITLE ..................................................................................20
APPENDIX C APPENDIX TITLE ..................................................................................21
GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................................22
REFERENCE LIST ...........................................................................................................23
Single author or editor ...........................................................................................23
Multiple authors .....................................................................................................23
Editor, translator instead of author.........................................................................24
Editor, translator in addition to author...................................................................25
Edition number.......................................................................................................24
Single chapter in an edited book ............................................................................24
Article in a print journal .........................................................................................24
Article in an online journal ....................................................................................25
Online databases ....................................................................................................25
ii
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1
TABLE TITLE ...........................................................................................16
iii
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1
FIGURE TITLE .........................................................................................15
iv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
Occasionally, an author will use abbreviations through a text to facilitate the
reading speed. If more than ten abbreviations are used, an author should include a list of
abbreviations along with the tables of lists. If the reader is not familiar with the
abbreviations, a single explanation in the text may not be adequate for a rarely occurring
abbreviation. Your list of abbreviations may appear as following:
AAA
Abbreviation
AAA
Abbreviation
AAA
Abbreviation
AAA
Abbreviation
v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Indented Paragraph.
vi
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Your introduction begins with an Indented Paragraph (START YOUR PAPER
HERE by replacing this sentence with your own words.) (Style = “¶ Indented”)
Problem Statement
A “problem statement” is a technical research term that we use to identify the
central research issue—the central question that is to be addressed. Write a sentence (or a
short paragraph) here that begins with a clause such as, “The problem to be addressed in
this study is…” or “The central research issue to be addressed in this study is….” The
research problem is the central focal issue of a research project. It identifies the key
variables and the relationships among them which are to be studied.
The researcher who does not carefully consider the focus of the central research
issue will find many unmanageable problems arising all the way through the process.
Some of these problems include: ambiguity in every part of the study, an inability to
know why, what, where, how much, when or whom to ask.
The problem statement should define, clarify, and set the limits of the research
intent. The problem statement should provide that unifying issue around which
everything else is built. It should be simply stated to the point. It should be stated in a
way that will advance knowledge in the field that the research is being done.
A problem statement will be expanded and addressed by a set of research
questions. A thesis statement should NOT be included if a problem statement has been
used.
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Research Questions
The problem statement should suggest the issues to be addressed in the research
questions. These three to five questions should be comprehensive, i.e., they should cover
all the issues raised in the problem statement.
List here your research questions up to five, but no less than three. Good research
questions usually begin with such clause “What is…?” Research questions are those
questions which are implied by and logically derive from the problem statement. Their
answers will solve the research problem and form the framework for the investigation.
The function of this section is to expand on the nature of the problem and the types of
information needed to address it.
Research questions will suggest both categories for reviewing precedent research
and for methods of collecting and analyzing data. These questions may suggest multiple
methods or a multi-disciplinary approach if the topic is complex. For example, some
WCIU students will do work that requires research in history, theology, and international
development—three different methods. The research question may also suggest the
categories for the findings chapters in the final research report.
Background of the Study
State here the background of your research. This may a background that has
motivated to conduct your research or a historical background of your proposed theory.
A description of the context of the study provides a justification for the study and
a perspective of understanding the research. In many cases some research is required to
describe the context in which the study is set. Writing the background section often
requires the researcher to draw on both personal experience as well as secondary sources
(precedent research) to set the stage for the study. One’s personal experience always
shapes perceptions and the approach toward an issue.
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Significance of the Study
State here why your study is significant. Studies are significant when they make a
contribution to a new theory or deal with some practical issues such as a root of a
problem.
Significance statements are “goal” statements for the application of the study after
it has been completed. The significance should be reported in at least in three ways:
personally, for one’s ministry and for building of theory depending on the kinds of degree
program one pursues. In the case of MA writing project of WCIU, the significance
should bear out on the application of theory in given ministry setting. In the case of a
Ph.D. dissertation, the significance should be in contribution of a new theory, or a new
understanding of theory in the research area of the student.
Definitions
Another kind of assumption is a definition. Often one needs to define a set of key
terms that will be used throughout the study. These definitions should be provided early
in the study. If terms are used in a unique way even though they are common words they
should be defined.
Define here some technical words your dissertation employs if you find they
might be unfamiliar terms to your audience. In other words, any terms that are technical
or specific to the area under investigation or that are given meaning in the study other
than the way they are ordinarily used should be defined in this section.
Assumptions
Clearly state here your assumptions for your study. The sentence often begins
with the clause such, “It is assumed in this study that….”
Assumptions serve as the non-debatable foundational perspectives for the study.
They are not the issues to be addressed in the research. They provide the readers of the
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research with the essential perspectives that they would not otherwise know and without
which they would not be able to interpret the study appropriately.
Limitations
Describe here any conditions, restrictions, or constraints that may affect the
validity of the study. Regardless of the method or combination of methods used one may
expect risks to validity and reliability along the way. These risks in the research method
may limit the study in terms of its reliability and validity. Given any method or
combination of methods, the research will be expected to seriously consider the potential
limitations before initiating the study. These potential limitations or weaknesses should
be described in the proposal along with the measures that are expected to be taken to
ameliorate them.
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
List and review all the precedent research related to your dissertation topic. The
review of the precedent research derives its categories from the research questions.
Your doctoral research begins with the review of the precedent research because
(1) it demonstrates he significance of the research issue, (2) it describes the theoretical
base(s) which undergird the study, and (3) it identifies the boundaries if the research
which are relevant to the research issue.
One should ask, “Is what I am about to research just new to me or is it a new
contribution to my academic/work arena? A major purpose of reviewing precedent
research is to answer this question.
A researcher should review two kinds of literature: secondary sources and
primary sources. Secondary sources are sources written about the subject at hand.
Primary sources are the subject or are participants with or eyewitnesses to the subject.
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CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Research methods address two fundamental issues: the collection and analysis of
data. You are to describe here in this chapter how data are to be collected, and how the
data are to be analyzed or treated.
The proposed methods in a research proposal should describe in adequate detail
what methods will be used so that the study could be done by another competent
researcher. The data collection and analysis procedures along with any expected
limitations should be clear to the reader.
Be careful to note that the tense of your methodology should be changed from
future to past tense about the time when you present your dissertation. For example, the
tense is changed from “how data are to be collected” (in your proposal) to “how data has
been collected” (in your dissertation).
Methodology must address the issues of validity and reliability. It must describe
any threats which the research encountered as limitations. Validity refers to asking the
right questions, securing the right information and making the appropriate applications.
Reliability, on the other hand, relates to consistency or the stability of the results.
Categorizing Research
Research methods may be divided into three broad categories: descriptive,
experimental, and evaluative research. The first and third categories are used extensively
in missiological research.
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Descriptive Research
Descriptive research generally serves to develop theory. As one has described
what has been or is true in a situation and then provides an explanation of the
phenomena, theory is developed.
Descriptive research takes several significantly different forms and is supported
by a wide range of research methods, including historical research, survey research with
questionnaires and interviews, participant observation, ethnographic descriptions,
applications of grounded theory, exegetical studies, case studies and theological research.
Experimental Research
Experimental research differs from descriptive research in its purpose and in key
parts of the methods used. The purpose typically is to test theory in a controlled situation.
A researcher will propose a tentative explanation of what is expected to occur (a theory
expressed in thesis or hypothesis) and will set up conditions in which the variables can be
controlled, manipulated and observed to test this proposed explanation.
Observation follows the manipulation of variables. One must measure the
outcomes of the treatment done by the researcher. Thus, the strength of experimental
research is it allows the researcher to address the issue of cause in relationships.
Experimental research is difficult in social and spiritual contexts, however, because it is
very difficult to control all of the causes (independent variables) that may be affecting an
outcome (dependent variable).
Evaluative Research
Evaluative research does not require a different methodology, but rather depends
upon either a descriptive or experiential approach or combination of approaches to collect
the required data. However, it differs from the other two basic methods because it
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requires the establishment of values and the application of these values to what have been
discovered from either the descriptive or experiential research methods.
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER TITLE
A new chapter begins with Indented Paragraph. From Part II or from this chapter
on you report your findings from your research. Each chapter should report findings
according to the specific research question (or hypothesis). The chapters of findings
should report the result from the application of the research methodology to each of the
research questions (or hypothesis). In some cases, findings may report the results of the
specific statistical tests by using appropriate visuals (e.g., graphs, charts, tables, figures,
etc.).
The findings chapters consist of what has been discovered about the central
research issue through the employment of the designated methodology. The findings
should be reported from the theoretical perspectives developed from the critical review of
precedent research.
When writing, begin paragraphs with a topic sentence. Topic sentences clearly
state the subject for the whole paragraph. Keep the sentences as short and simple as
possible. Each sentence in the paragraph should support the topic sentence as an
explanation, argument, or illustration.
First-Level Heading
Indented Paragraph. The first paragraph begins with an indented paragraph.
Block Quote example #1 (Style = “Block Quote”)—Use this style when
the material you are quoting is more than four typewritten lines and
originates from the middle of a paragraph in your source (Author year,
page numbers).
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Continued Paragraph (Style = “¶ Continued”)—Use this style immediately following a
block quote to continue the paragraph that preceded the quote.
Block Quote example #2: Starting from the Beginning of a
Paragraph (Style = “Block Quote: ¶ Indented”)—Use this style when the
material you are quoting starts at the beginning of a paragraph in the
source (Author year, page numbers).
Block Quote example #3: Continuing Block Quote also Starting
from the Beginning of a Paragraph (Style = “Block Quote cont.: ¶
Indented”)—Use this style when the material you are continuing to quote
starts at the beginning of a paragraph. This style should also be used for
subsequent paragraphs of quotation (Author year, page numbers).
Continued Paragraph (Style = “¶ Continued”)—Use this style immediately following a
block quote to continue the paragraph that preceded the quote.
First-Level Heading Sample: Research Topic Selection
The goal of selecting a research topic is to have a topic that is narrow enough to
be done by the researcher and broad enough to be significant to the researcher, the
constituencies with whom the researcher is affiliated and to the related academic
disciplines. It is important to decide as early as possible about the research issue to
address.
If one is in an academic program, every paper in every course should focus some
way around the central research issue. One should ask the following question in every
course: “What can I learn from this course about my major concern?”
Second-Level Heading
Indented Paragraph
Third-Level Heading
Indented Paragraph.
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Fourth-Level Heading
Indented Paragraph
Fifth-level heading. In most cases, you may not need fifth-level heading. When
you need fifth level headings in your dissertation, follow this instruction in the following
paragraph.
A fifth-level heading (Style = “¶ Indented”) is indented as a normal paragraph. To
make a fifth-level heading, select “¶ Indented” from the Style drop-down menu, then
select “Bold.” End the heading with a period. Also note that the first word of a fifth-level
heading is capitalized (as well as any proper nouns), and no extra lines precede it. To
begin the text after the heading, continue on the same line as the heading, but change to
regular (non-bold) font. (To switch from bold to regular font after the heading, depress
CNTRL+B.)
1. Numbered List— Indented Paragraph. This is an example of a numbered list with
an indented paragraph.
2. Numbered List— Indented Paragraph. This is an example of a numbered list with
an indented paragraph.
3. Numbered List— Indented Paragraph. This is an example of a numbered list with
an indented paragraph.
CHAPTER 5
TEMPLET TOOLS AND TIPS
This is only a sample chapter to illustrate how to use your WCIU PhD dissertation
template. Be sure to change the chapter title in your dissertation.
When creating a new document using the template, before you begin writing, the
first thing you should do is to save your document (“Save As”) using a name other than
the name of the template. This will ensure that you have a clean copy of the template on
your computer to which you can refer later, and from which you can create additional
documents.
Styles
When formatting your document use only the styles that have an asterisk (*)
before style’s name (e.g., *HEADING: MAIN). These styles have been specially created
for the WCIU Template. Use the “Style” box on your Toolbar to check for the style
accuracy of your headings, indented paragraphs, block quotes, etc. If the Style box is not
on your Toolbar, you can place it there by doing the following:
4. Select “View” from the Word menu
5. On the pull-down menu select “Toolbars”
6. Select “Formatting”
The “Style” box should now appear on your Toolbar. Or, if you are not sure where is the
“Style” box, you can
1. Select “View” from the Word menu
2. On the pull-down menu select “Styles and Formatting.”
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This way you will see lists of styles on the right menu of the Word under the title of
“Styles and Formatting.”
Contents and Lists of Figures, Tables, and Maps
Contents, List of Figures, List of Tables, and List of Maps are all hyperlinked.
This means that by clicking on, for example, a chapter title or its corresponding page
number in Contents, you will automatically jump to that section in your document. This
function makes it convenient for you to move quickly around your document.
You do not need to type the headings and page numbers manually into Contents,
List of Tables, List of Figures, or List of Maps. These tables are formatted so that they
will automatically locate the headings and page numbers in your document and update
them in the table when you command them to do so. As you are writing your paper, you
can periodically update these tables by doing the following:
7. Point your cursor at any of the text in Contents, etc.
8. Click on the right mouse button and choose “Update Field.”
9. Choose “Update entire table.”
After you do this, all of the headings, along with their corresponding page
numbers, will be updated.
Be advised, the automatic update function on these tables will only locate
headings that are properly formatted with the correct heading style from the Style box
pull-down menu. During the final editing process it is advised that you carefully check
these tables to be sure that all appropriate headings are included.
Numbered Lists Renumbering Themselves
When applying any of the numbered list styles in the template, the numbered list
itself may have a tendency to renumber itself to continue from a previous numbered list.
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To restart the numbering at 1, Choose “Format” in the menu, then “Bullets and
Numbering”. Then, on the “Numbered” tab make sure to re-check “Restart Numbering”
at the bottom, to start the numbering back at 1.
When you write your own chapter here, you can delete the instructions in this
section (or in this chapter) by following these steps:
10. Press the “Show/Hide ¶ ” tool on your Toolbar
11. Select (shade) all of the text in this section, as well as the “Section Break (Next
Page)” located at the very end of the section (but before the start of the next section).
12. Hit the Delete key.
The length of a chapter for dissertation is normally 15 pages or more. Again, this
short chapter is only a sample chapter to illustrate how to use your WCIU template.
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER TITLE
Indented Paragraph
FIGURE 1
FIGURE TITLE
(Author year, page numbers)
15
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER TITLE
Indented Paragraph
TABLE 1
TABLE TITLE
(Author year, page numbers)
16
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER TITLE
Indented Paragraph
17
CHAPTER 9
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The chapter of conclusions begins with Indented Paragraph. The chapter relates
the summary specifically to the problem or research issue. It relates the conclusions
and/or recommendations specifically to the goals and objectives of the study.
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APPENDIX A
APPENDIX TITLE
Information that relates to the study, but may not contribute directly to the text
should be included in an appendix. Your dissertation includes all appendices, which may
expand as needed. You may have only one appendix, or you may have more than two as
your need expands. Each document should be included as a separate appendix, and
sequentially identified alphabetically, i.e., Appendix A, Appendix B, and so on. Several
examples may help clarify the principle: questionnaires, letters to respondents, interview
guides, and interview summaries should be included in the appemdices.
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APPENDIX B
APPENDIX TITLE
Indented Paragraph
20
APPENDIX C
APPENDIX TITLE
Indented Paragraph
21
GLOSSARY
Term
Definition
Term
Definition
Term
Definition
Term
Definition
Term
Definition
22
REFERENCE LIST
The reference list should be a single alphabetized list.
Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name, Date of Publication. Title of book: Subtitle of
book. Place of Publication: Publisher’s Name.
Single author or editor
Bacon, Elizabeth E. 1980. Central Asians under Russian rule. Michael M. J. Fischer.
Intro. 2nd ed. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press.
De Ridder, Richard R. 1971. Discipling the nations. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book
House.
Geyer, Georgie Anne. 1994. Waiting for winter to end: An extraordinary journey through
Soviet Central Asia. Washington: Brassey’s, Inc.
Gilliland, Dean S. 1989. Pauline theology and mission practice. Jos, Plateau State,
Nigeria: Albishir Bookshops (Nig) Ltd.
Glasser, Arthur F. 1983. Kingdom and mission. Pasadena, CA: Fuller Theological
Seminary, School of World Mission.
Morgan, G. Campbell. 1924. The Acts of the Apostles. Philadelphia: Fleming H. Revell.
Multiple authors
Bartsch, Franz and Cornelius Krahn. 1955. Ak-Mechet (Uzbekistan). Global Anabaptist
Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A4227.html (accessed October 25,
2010).
Raab, Laura and Bobby Clinton. 1985. Barnabas—the encouraging exhorter: A study in
mentoring. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Resources.
23
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Editor, translator instead of author
Lattimore, Richmond, trans. 1951. The lliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
Editor, translator in addition to author
Bonnefoy, Yves. 1995. New and selected poems. Ed. John Naughton and Anthony
Rudolf. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Edition number
Zernov, Nicolas. 1978. The Russians and their church. 3rd ed. New York: St. Vladimir’s
Seminary Press.
Single chapter in an edited book
Atkin, Muriel. 1997. Tajikistan. In Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan country studies. ed. Glenn E. Curtis, 197-290. Federal Research
Division Library of Congress.
Lubin, Nancy. 1997. Uzbekistan. In Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
and Uzbekistan country studies. ed. Glenn E. Curtis, 377-468. Federal Research
Division Library of Congress.
Article in a print journal
Akiner, Shirin. 2000. Religion's gap. Harvard International Review 22, no. 1 (January):
62-65.
Baker, Barbara G. 1998. Religion law jeopardizes evangelism. Christianity Today 42, no.
11 (May): 22-22.
Buttino, Marco. 2009. Minorities in Samarkand: A case study of the city’s Koreans.
Nationalities Papers 37, no. 5 (September): 719-42.
Gelb, Michael. 1995. An early Soviet ethnic deportation: The Far-Eastern Koreans.
Russian Review 54, no 3 (July): 389-412.
25
Malcolm, Teresa. 1998. Law restricts religion. National Catholic Reporter 34, no. 40
(September): 8-8.
Norris, Frederick W. 2006. Timothy I of Baghdad, Catholicos of the East Syrian Church,
780-823: Still a valuable model. International Bulletin of Missionary Research
30, no. 3 (July): 133-36.
Peyrouse, Sébastien. 2007. The relationship between Church and State in the post-Soviet
world: The case of Christianity in Central Asia. Journal of Church and State
49, no. 1 (January): 97-115.
Wilken, Robert Louis. 2009. Christianity face to face with Islam. First Things 189
(January): 19-26.
Article in an online journal
Critchlow, James. Uzbekistan. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford
Islamic Studies Online,
http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0833 (accessed October 29,
2010).
Inoyatova, Dilaram M. 2007. The Khivan Mennonites. Mennonite Life 62, no. 2 (Fall).
http://www.bethelks.edu/mennonitelife/2007fall/inoyatova.php (accessed October
25, 2010).
Online databases
Perseus Digital Library. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/ (accessed November 16, 2005).