Qualitative Prospectus Template
This document is to be used as a reference for formatting and constructing your research
prospectus. The entire document should follow the most recent edition of the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association. The document should be between 20-30
pages in length, excluding the title page and abstract page. The prospectus contains some of
the same components as the proposal and final dissertation manuscript; however, the sections
are abbreviated. Below the contents of the prospectus are identified and explained. Replace
the current content with your prospectus content; content that needs to be replaced is
highlighted in yellow. Descriptions such as this one will need to be deleted.
***Note to students: DO NOT CHANGE HEADINGS OR SUBHEADINGS IN THIS
TEMPLATE. YOU MAY ADD SOME. When you have completed your prospectus and are
ready to update the TOC, simply right click on the body of the TOC. The table will become gray.
Then RIGHT click and select “Update Field”. Select “Update page numbers only”. Click “OK”
and the TOC will update automatically to reflect your page numbers.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TITLE PAGE: THE TITLE SHOULD GO HERE
(ALL CAPS)
by
Student’s Full Legal Name
Liberty University
A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the EDUC 980 Course
Liberty University
Month, Year
ii
ABSTRACT
Your name. TITLE OF PAPER. (under the direction of Dr. Course Professor) School of
Education, Liberty University, Month, Year.
The abstract summarizes the contents of the manuscript, including the purpose or
rationale of the study, the research design, the research question(s), the sample, a brief
description of the data collection and analysis procedures, and the results. Approximately
120 words or less is recommended; however, some dissertation abstracts are a little
longer. No more than a page is allowable. The abstract should be accurate and concise
and serves as a summary of the content, NOT an introduction. It is contained on a
separate page following the title and signature page. The word “ABSTRACT” should be
in all caps and a Level 1 heading, centered, 1.5 inches from the top of the page. The
abstract should be one double spaced paragraph and there should not be an indent at the
start of the paragraph.
Descriptors: This is a list of words (separated by commas) that are central to your project.
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Table of Contents
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................iii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1
Background ..................................................................................................................... 1
Problem Statement ......................................................................................................... 2
Purpose Statement ......................................................................................................... 2
Significance of the Study ................................................................................................. 3
Research Questions ........................................................................................................ 3
Limitations and Delimitations ......................................................................................... 4
Research Plan .................................................................................................................. 4
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................... 6
Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7
Conceptual or Theoretical Framework ........................................................................... 7
Review of the Literature ................................................................................................. 7
Summary ......................................................................................................................... 7
CHAPER 3: METHODOLOGY......................................................................................... 9
Introduction .................................................................................................................... 9
Research Design .............................................................................................................. 9
Participants ................................................................................................................... 10
Setting/Site ................................................................................................................... 10
Researcher’s Role / Personal Biography ....................................................................... 10
Data Collection .............................................................................................................. 11
Data Analysis ................................................................................................................. 11
Trustworthiness ............................................................................................................ 12
Ethical Issues ................................................................................................................. 12
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 14
APPENDICES .................................................................................................................. 15
1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Description of Chapter 1: The purpose of the introduction chapter is to provide a
framework for the planned research. The introduction should create reader interest,
provide a foundation for the problem that necessitates the research, overview the
context of literature in which the research is founded, identify the importance of the
research for a specific audience, and briefly introduce the research via the research
question (s). The introduction section contains the several subsections; they are listed
below.
For the purpose of the prospectus, the introduction should be 3-5 pages in
length. The margins for chapter 1 are as follows: 1 inch at the top and bottom, 1 inch
on the right side, and 1.5 inch on the left side (for binding purposes). Use 1 .5 inch
top margins for the prefatory pages, for the first page of each chapter, and for the first
page of the references. All text should be Times New Roman, 12 point font. Text
within the body of the manuscript should be left justified.
Background
The background section contains a summary of the most relevant literature and
provides the historical (e.g., how the problem has evolved over time), social (e.g., societal
contexts), and theoretical (e.g., important variables, the theoretical concepts, and the
principles underpinning the research) contexts for the research problem. The candidate
should be sure to link and relate the background of the study to the proposed research.
Questions that may be asked or addressed in this section may include but are not limited
to: What is the problem and why is it an interest? Who else is affected by the problem?
What research has been done to investigate or address the problem? How will the
proposed research extend or refine the existing knowledge in the area under study? Who
will benefit or use the proposed research? A brief identification and description of the
conceptual or theoretical framework (e.g., theories, principles, generalizations and
research findings which are closely related to the present study) should also be included.
No less than 3 salient references that show its importance and relevance to the field of
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study or topic area should be included. The majority of literature contained in this section
should be no more than 5 years old.
Problem Statement
“A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the literature, theory, or
practice that leads to a need for the study” (Creswell, 1994, p. 50). A problem statement
summarizes “ the context for the study” and the main problem the study seeks to address
(Wiersma, 1995, p. 404). It usually identifies the sample and focus of the research. It
should be is stated clearly and unambiguously in one to two paragraphs and followed by
a statement of purpose. The candidate may state: “The problem is…. Then, simply state
the problem without including any causes, rational, solutions, or theories.
Purpose Statement
The purpose statement should follow the problem statement and clearly and
succinctly state the focus of inquiry and intentions of the proposed research. “The
purpose statement should provide a specific and accurate synopsis of the overall purpose
of the study” (Locke, Spirduso, & Silverman, 1987, p. 5) and begin with the following
statement: “The purpose of this study is . . .” It foreshadows the research question(s).
Although brief in nature, the problem and purpose statements are two very
important aspects of the manuscript. These statements support the importance of the
study and identify the goal of the research. All preceding writing within the manuscript
should funnel into the problem and purpose statements. And, all proceeding aspects of
the manuscript support and further expand upon the problem and purpose statements. The
candidate needs to ensure that there is a clear relationship among the between the
problem statement, the purpose statement, the background and literature, and the
research. The candidate may state: “The purpose of this study is …”
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Significance of the Study
The significance of the study section contains a description of the contributions
that the study makes to the knowledge base or discipline and a narrative about the
importance of the study to a specific area and/or population (e.g., education, technology,
on-going researchers, society, government, school system, teachers, parents, etc.). In this
section, discuss how this study is important or significant to the topic, issue, or problem.
How does it impact the issue? What questions does it address? How can it be of value in
solving the actual problem? How does it relate to other studies that are similar or that
investigate the same issue? References are very important here to lend additional
credence and support to your proposal. Include how the study will add to the existing
field of knowledge on this topic.
You should also discuss how this study will be important to the location,
organization, general population, or sample you are studying. Why and how does it
impact them? How will it improve the conditions, lives, work environment, etc.? How
can this study be used on a wider scale to affect change so as to help a wider group of
people or the organization as a whole? Are there more “global” or wide-spread
implications? This may also include a discussion of the importance and relevance of the
study from a Christian perspective. This section needs to include how the study will add
to the existing field of knowledge on the chosen topic. In other words, how does it fill the
gap in the literature? All assertions in this section need to be well supported by the
literature. Citations are needed.
Research Questions
The following questions will guide this study:
The proposed research question(s) should be derived from the problem and purpose
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statements. Well written research questions are feasible, clear, significant, and ethical. In
qualitative studies, research questions are often philosophical in nature and ask about
meaning, process, or behavior. Remember qualitative questions are usually broader and
become narrowed down as you move into the actual data collection/analysis process.
Identify at least three but no more than five research questions. Include a brief
description and discussion of each one before moving to the next question. Remember
that each research question will need to be addressed in the data collection, data analysis,
and discussion sections of later chapters. Be sure these questions do not elicit simple
yes/no responses. Provide literature support for your research questions. Note that
research hypotheses are not necessary or appropriate for qualitative studies.
Limitations and Delimitations
Limitations. Limitations are potential weaknesses of the study, possibly related to
the design, the analysis, or the sample (e.g., gender, age, ethnicity, geographical location,
etc.). Identify and describe the weaknesses to the study that cannot be controlled.
Delimitations. Delimitations are decisions the researcher makes to limit or define
the boundaries of the study (e.g., only including participants over the age of 18, etc.).
Describe the decisions made to limit or define the scope and focus of the study.
Research Plan
Clearly and succinctly describe how the study will be conducted, explaining that
the study is qualitative and will employ a (phenomenological, ethnographic, case study,
OR grounded theory) design. Provide a brief rationale explaining why this method of
choice is appropriate for your study based on the review of related literature and
alignment with your research purpose.
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***NOTE: Literature support and citations should be used throughout the manuscript in
all chapters and sections as appropriate. Remember to connect everything back to the
literature you will reflect upon in the formal lit review (Chapter 2).***
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Description of Chapter 2: Chapter two is often one of the lengthiest chapters of the
dissertation. Its purpose is to provide a context for the present research and to
demonstrate its importance based on the problem demonstrated via the literature as well
as the need or gap in the literature. Chapter two is comprised of four sections: (a) an
introductory paragraph outlining the organization of the chapter; (b) a description of the
conceptual or theoretical framework (i.e. theories, principles, generalizations and
research findings which are closely related to the present study); (c) review of the
literature (a critical, coherent synthesis of the literature organized by subheadings
according to themes or categories), and (d) a conclusion or summary that briefly reviews
the key points of the existing literature and identifies the gap in the literature that the
present study seeks to fill.
It is important to remember that chapter two is not a library, that is, a summary of facts or
summaries of relevant research, rather a critical argument. Derived from Rudestam and
Newtons’ (2007) Surviving Your Dissertation, here are some keys to a successful
construction of a literature review:

#1 Be a convincing writer. Remember that your literature review provides the context for
your dissertation and demonstrates why your topic is important and relevant. Your
literature review demonstrates the relationship between previous research and your study,
and it demonstrates how your study is distinctive and different from previous research.

#2 Be a critic not a reporter. Adopt a critical perspective in reading and identifying
relationship among research articles. Avoid composing a literature review that is a library
of facts. That is, make sure your literature review is a coherent argument that leads to the
problem statement or description of the study you are proposing. Your literature review
should begin with a clear statement of your goal and be followed by a structured
argument.

#3 Be a selective writer. Avoid the temptation to report all of your great knowledge and
insight--- all the literature you review. Be selective and discuss only the articles that are
most relevant. Keep in mind that you may review 2,000 articles and only include 250.

#4 Be a skillful researcher. Use primarily seminal articles and articles that are no more
than 5 years old in your literature review. Always strive to cite primary sources and
reputable and scholarly sources.

#5 Be a reasonable problem solver. At the conclusion of your literature review, write a
statement that summarizes or highlights the most relevant literature and conclusions that
lead to your proposed study. Be sure that you clearly identify that your problem has both
theoretical (i.e., fills a gap in the literature) and practical value (i.e., solution to a problem
or concern in the professional field, improves professional practice.).
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For the purpose of the prospectus, the literature review should be 5-10 pages in
length. The margins for chapter 2 are as follows: 1 inch at the top and bottom, 1
inch on the right side, and 1.5 inch on the left side (for binding purposes). Use 1 .5
inch top margins for the prefatory pages, for the first page of each chapter, and for
the first page of the references. All text should be Times New Roman, 12 point font.
Text within the body of the manuscript should be left justified.
***NOTE: Literature support and citations are needed throughout the entire
manuscript. Chapter 2 needs to be well founded in the literature. You should
plan to read 1,000 – 2,000 articles and integrate at least 100- 200 in your final
dissertation manuscript***
Introduction
Provide a general explanation of this chapter with links to the research approach
and design. Citations should be used throughout this chapter.
Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
This section should be used to provide the reader with a direct connection to the
conceptual or theoretical framework that will effectively guide the study and allow the
findings to be situated within a greater context.
Review of the Literature
The purpose of this section is to provide a tight synthesis of the existing
knowledge on this topic and link this existing knowledge to the proposed study. You may
find additional subheadings may be necessary. They will be necessary in your proposal
and final manuscript. If applicable, follow this formatting:
Level 3 heading. Begin text here. Level 3 headings are not included in the Table
of Contents.
Summary
This section should provide a focused summary of what is currently known, what
is not known, and how this proposed study can specifically address any gaps in the
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existing literature.
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CHAPER 3: METHODOLOGY
The purpose of the methodology chapter is to present the research design, sampling
procedures, data-collection and data analysis procedures. That is, it provides the reader
with the details of what is planned for the execution of research. Descriptions in this
chapter should be comprehensive and in sufficient detail. The methodology chapter
contains the several subsections; they are listed below.
For the purpose of the prospectus, the methodology should be 10-15 pages in
length. This will be the lengthiest portion of the prospectus as it is the main focus of
EDUC 980. The margins for chapter 2 are as follows: 1 inch at the top and bottom,
1 inch on the right side, and 1.5 inch on the left side (for binding purposes). Use 1 .5
inch top margins for the prefatory pages, for the first page of each chapter, and for
the first page of the references. All text should be Times New Roman, 12 point font.
Text within the body of the manuscript should be left justified.
Introduction
The introduction should begin with a brief restatement of the nature and purpose
of the study. It should clearly and concisely outline the contents and organization to the
chapter.
Research Design
In the design section, the planned type of study and research design should be
identified. Additionally, a concise rationale for the research design and a concise
description of the implementation of the design should be included. This description
should be supported by qualitative research design citations. Qualitative designs include a
case study, ethnography, grounded theory, or phenomenology.
The purpose/focus of inquiry and research questions should also be identified in
this section and the chosen research design should be consistent with the research
question(s) proposed as well as the procedures described. Each question should be placed
in a separate paragraph.
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Research Question 1: State the question here.
Research Question 2: State the question here.
Research Question 3: State the question here.
Research Question 4: State the question here.
Research Question 5: State the question here.
Participants
In the participant section, the sample size and sampling procedures (e.g.,
purposive, convenience, snowball sample, theoretical sample, etc.) should be clearly
explained. Demographic information (age, ethnicity, gender, etc.) should be described in
narrative or tabular form. Given the nature of qualitative research, pseudonyms should be
provided.
Setting/Site
In this section, the setting of the study should be described (e.g., geographic
location, school system, the course, etc.). Only important features which have the bearing
on the present study should be included. The following questions should be addressed:
Why was this site/setting chosen for this project? What does the organization look like
with regards to leadership, organizational structure, etc.? Describe it with details.
Pseudonyms should be provided in this section as well.
Researcher’s Role / Personal Biography
In this section the researcher must clearly and thoroughly explain his or her role
as the “human instrument” in the study. The researcher must be straightforward about
their relationship to the participants, their role in the setting or research site, and any bias
or assumptions they bring to the study that may influence how they view the data or
conduct their analysis. The role of the researcher must also be articulated in light of the
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chosen design and the implications of this role on the data collection and data analysis
procedures must be addressed.
Data Collection
Data collection procedures should be addressed in detail in this section, beginning
with information about securing Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and gaining
informed consent from participants.
A critical aspect of qualitative inquiry is rigorous and varied data collection
techniques. There should be several subsections under this section detailing at least three
different methods of collecting data. These may include, but are not limited to:
interviews, observations (participant and/or direct), document analysis (e.g., archival
records, journals, letters, etc), artifact analysis (e.g., photographs), and researcher field
notes. These data collection procedures should follow the recommendations of
established qualitative researchers in the field (e.g., Erlandson, Harris, Skipper, & Allen,
1993; Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Merriam, 1988; Miles & Huberman, 1994; Patton, 1980,
1990, etc.).
Further, each data collection procedure should be connected to the research
questions. If, for example, you are going to use a survey for Research Question 1, then
state it as such. If that survey is obtained from another source, list the source and state
you will obtain written use permission.
All procedural material addressed in this section should be included in an
appendix. This may include, but is not limited to: IRB application/approval letter,
participant informed consent form, list of interview questions or interview guide,
observation protocols or templates, etc.
Data Analysis
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In this section the data analysis procedures should be identified and a concise
rationale for each type of analysis should be provided. These are examples; not all are
required: coding procedures (e.g., open, axial, selective), constant comparison, reflexivity
or memoing, data collection triangulation, data analysis triangulation, transcription,
quasi-statistics, trustworthiness, member checks, and audit trail. These data analysis
procedures should each be related to your data collection procedures identified for each
research question, and should follow the recommendations of established qualitative
researchers in the field (e.g., Erlandson, Harris, Skipper, & Allen, 1993; Lincoln & Guba,
1985; Merriam, 1988; Miles & Huberman, 1994; Patton, 1980, 1990, etc.).
Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness addresses credibility and dependability, similar to validity and
reliability in a quantitative study. Credibility refers to the extent to which the findings
accurately describe reality. Credibility depends on the richness of the information
gathered and on the analytical abilities of the researcher. Dependability is similar to
reliability in quantitative studies and deals with consistency, which is addressed through
the provision of rich detail about the context and setting of the study. Transferability is
another aspect of qualitative research that should be considered; it refers to the possibility
that what was found in one context is applicable to another context.
Ethical Issues
Any ethical considerations or implications of the research should be discussed.
These might include data storage and usage, confidentiality (e.g., use of pseudonyms),
and any other potential issues that might arise and how they will be addressed.
Additionally, clearly state your personal ethics position in one or two sentences. Then
discuss how your research will be guided by this personal ethics position. With so much
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research being conducted on so many topics and with the ease with which personal bias
or other temptations to influence the results can occur, it behooves us as Christians to be
truthful not only in our actual research but in our reporting of our findings. Discuss these
issues as they relate to ethics in general, your personal ethics position, and the Christian
World View.
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REFERENCES
Be sure ALL references are correctly formatted according to APA Edition 6 guidelines.
Include only references cited in the manuscript, and be sure to have a corresponding
reference for each citation in the manuscript.
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APPENDICES
Include an appendix with its own title (e.g., APPENDIX A: IRB APPROVAL LETTER,
APPENDIX B; INFORMED CONSENT FORM, etc.) for each and every document
included in this section.