A prospectus is the student’s first opportunity to explore and present a thesis topic. The prospectus is a two-page preliminary description of the student’s proposed research, for review by potential committee members.
The prospectus includes the following headings:
- Title: The title should appear centered on the top of the page, followed by the student name and date.
- Problem Statement: Provide a one- to two-paragraph statement that is the result of a brief literature review and analysis of research findings. Include the following:
- Identify a gap in the rehabilitation research literature and provide a logical argument for the need to address the gap.
- Present preliminary evidence that provides justification that this problem is meaningful to the discipline or professional field. Provide three to five key citations that highlight the relevance of the problem.
- Study Purpose:
- For quantitative studies, state on what basis you determine the topic needs to be studied by describing two or more factors (variables) and propose a relationship among them related to the identified gap or problem.
- For qualitative studies, describe the need for improved understanding about the issue to be studied, based on the identified gap or problem.
- For mixed-methods studies that include both quantitative and qualitative data, clarify how you will combine the two approaches and justify the use of the two forms of data as a means of enhancing your study.
- Aims/Significance: Provide one to two paragraphs, informed by the topic in the problem statement, which describe how the proposed study will contribute to filling the gap identified in the problem statement—what original contribution will this study make?
- Research Question(s): List the research question or a series of related questions that are informed by the study purpose, which will lead to the development of research methods used to accomplish the study purpose and aims.
- Methods: Provide a concise paragraph describing the methodology that you will use to address the research question(s) Note: Student may also use the Specific Aims format frequently used for NIH grant proposals.
- Tentative Timeline: Provide a tentative timeline for completion of Doctoral Thesis.
