Capella iguide 3

Action Research Dissertation

Handbook School of Public Service Leadership and School of Nursing and Health

Sciences

Version 2.0 Effective July 2017

Capella University

225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor

Minneapolis, MN 55402

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PSL/NHS ACTION RESEARCH MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents .................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ............................................................................................................ 5

CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW OF THE DISSERTATION PROCESS .................................... 5 Doctoral Program Coursework ................................................................................ 6 Dissertation Courseroom ......................................................................................... 6 ePortfolio ................................................................................................................ 6 Dissertation Milestones ........................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING THE DISSERTATION .............................................. 7 Defining the Dissertation ........................................................................................ 7 Acceptable Methods ................................................................................................ 8

CHAPTER 3: MENTEE, MENTOR, AND COMMITTEE ROLES AND

RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................................ 9 Role of Dissertation Mentee .................................................................................... 9 Role of the Dissertation Mentor ............................................................................... 9 Mentor-Mentee Relationship ................................................................................. 10 Role of the Dissertation Committee ....................................................................... 10

CHAPTER 4: UNDERSTANDING THE DISSERTATION MILESTONES ...................... 12 Milestone 1: Research Ethics Education Completion .............................................. 12 Milestone 2: Topic Approval .................................................................................. 12 Milestone 3: Mentor Approved Research Plan (SMART form) ................................ 12 Milestone 4: Committee Approved Research Plan (SMART form) .......................... 13 Milestone 5: School Approved Research Plan (SMART form) ................................. 13 Milestone 6: Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval ....................................... 13 Milestone 7: Pre-Data Collection Call ..................................................................... 13 Milestone 8: Mentor Approved Chapters 1-4* ........................................................ 13 Milestone 9: Mentor Approved Chapter 5 and Final Dissertation* ......................... 14 Milestone 10: Committee Approved Dissertation ................................................... 14 Milestone 11: School Approved Dissertation ......................................................... 14 Milestone 12: Format Editing Completed ............................................................... 14 Milestone 13: Final Conference Call ....................................................................... 15 Milestone 14: Final Manuscript Approved .............................................................. 15 Milestone 15: Manuscript Submitted for Publication ............................................. 15 Milestone 16: Dean’s Final Manuscript Approval ................................................... 15

CHAPTER 5: ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS .................................................. 16 University Policies ................................................................................................. 16 Doctoral Manual .................................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER 6: DISSERTATION SUCCESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES ........................ 17 Dissertation Success ............................................................................................. 17 Advisors ................................................................................................................ 17

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PSL/NHS ACTION RESEARCH MANUAL

CHAPTER 7: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ................................................................ 18 Dissertation Research ........................................................................................... 18

Acceptable Methods Document ............................................................ 18 Dissertation Writing Template ............................................................. 18 Scientific Merit Information ................................................................. 18

IRB Resources ....................................................................................................... 19 IRB Process Resources ........................................................................ 19

Format Editing Guidelines ..................................................................................... 19 APA ...................................................................................................... 19 Dissertation Format Guidelines ............................................................ 19 Writing and Revising Toolkit ................................................................ 19

Library .................................................................................................................. 20 TurnItIn ................................................................................................................ 20

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PSL/NHS ACTION RESEARCH MANUAL

INTRODUCTION

This manual is intended to support learners and faculty at Capella University in

understanding the Action Research dissertation process. It provides an overview of the

Action Review dissertation process and outlines sixteen milestones by which learners fulfill

the academic and administrative requirements for the professional doctorate degree at

Capella University. The manual also describes in broad terms the roles and responsibilities

of the learner, the mentor, the dissertation committee members, and the university support

staff.

Learners are responsible for the requirements detailed in this manual as well as for

requirements of their specialization. Information concerning specific requirements for

dissertation, guidance for writing the dissertation, and additional resources to support the

dissertation process is located in the dissertation courseroom.

Learners should be aware that the contents of this manual are subject to change. Learners

are responsible for ensuring that their dissertations meet the guidelines outlined in the

current version of the dissertation manual. Learners are encouraged to remain aware of

updates to this manual as they continue through the dissertation process.

CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW OF THE DISSERTATION PROCESS

As an institution, Capella University’s mission and philosophy has always been to extend

access to high quality education with a clear focus on the learner and learning. Our scholar-

practitioner model emphasizes the importance of connecting theory and practice and offers

a constructivist synergy: the experiences that learners bring to their studies are the

platform on which new knowledge can be built through dialogue and scholarly activity. The

process of “becoming doctoral” represents a historically rich tradition of transitioning from

being a consumer of knowledge to exploring one’s own character, intellectual capacity,

intelligences, identity, habits of mind, and overall developmental formation as an emergent

knowledge producer.