Chapter One: Introduction

Title of Research Goes Here…

            Provide a general overview of the study here.  This is the main introduction; it should allude to what you are studying, the population, demographics, why this is a problem of study, and other relevant information.  

Scope of Research

Starts here…….This is considered a section under which you identify the delimitation of the study (consider the use of mind-mapping). That is, the general premise of the topic, followed by the strands you intend to cover. While you have provided a general premise of the topic, it should be clear in this section, why you chose the strands that you have identified.

Importance of the Study

Starts here…This is the significance of the study.  It may also be considered as justification for the study.  To whom, and why is this beneficial?  It would be important to note that it adds to the body of knowledge.  You may go so far as to identify what void(s) if any, would be filled as a result of this study as well as its contribution to the field and profession.  

Research Questions

Starts here…….This is your primary research question. For Example, it may say:  “Why are women leaders under-represented in higher education leadership? (Adaptation, with permission from Albattah, 2015).

Connection to the Program Essential Question. Starts here……This is your way of connecting this study to the PEQ. It may read thus: In light of what is known about how children learn and educational policy and practice, what are the implication for preparing women to serve as leaders in higher education? (Adaptation, with permission from Albattah, 2015). Having a primary and a subordinate question is not required. However, it may be used to address the general premise, followed by the implication for use, especially when there is a void in the literature.

Definition of Terms

            Starts here…….This section should be dedicated to key concepts, as defined using the literature.  Terms should be listed in alphabetical order.  You may finalize each term with how you intend to adapt the definition in your capstone.  This serves as the operational definition used throughout the paper.  Here are some examples:

 “Executive, administrative, and managerial can also refer to managerial or executive positions and involves leading an organization in any position.  In the context of this research, “administrative positions” refers to all the leadership positions that women serve in the education sector as Joseph Cronin and Sally Pancrazio (1979) point out in their article.  They suggest that administrative roles are not only top positions but also the middle management positions, such as administrative assistants, in organizations (Cronin & Pancrazio, 1979, p. 583).

Senior leadership positions refer to people who hold top positions in higher education.  Longman and Anderson point out that senior leadership positions are people who have a title of vice presidents or higher.  In the article, Longman and Anderson define these positions as president, vice president for business or finance, vice president affairs or provost, vice president for enrollment management, vice presidents for students affairs, etc. (Longman & Anderson, 2011).”  (Adaptation, with permission from Albattah, 2015).

Summary

            Starts here…….The first paragraph should succinctly address what you have covered in this chapter. In this vein, it may be important to state what terms, that is, operational definitions that you have adopted for this study as a result of the terms identified under the Definition of Terms. The second paragraph should include what you intend to cover in chapter two to four, using the chapter designations (i.e. chapter two, literature review).

Chapter Two: Literature Review

Starts here….This chapter is dedicated to the review of the literature, that is, a systematic identification and analysis of studies pertaining to a research problem (Fraenkel, & Wallen, 1993).  As such, it should include scholarly work (primary studies and limited secondary research) that contributes to the topic under investigation. It has been postulated that the use of qualitative and quantitative studies in this section provides greater depth and robustness.  Hence, it is a requirement of the capstone.  Note this is not an annotated bibliography. Rather, the literature review is the analysis and synthesis of the scholarly materials from various schools of thoughts. In essence, you are putting multiple authors in conversation with eachother. Therefore, you may incorporate studies such as those in agreement, research offering different perspectives, and classic studies, while examining areas of convergence and divergence, as well as evidence from older and newer studies.  You may use multiple headings and subheadings along the way.  See pg. 62 of APA manual 6^th Edition for the different levels of headings. 

Chapter Three: Summary

Starts here….This is a summary of the key findings from chapter 2. It is not a mere repetition of chapter two. Rather, it should pull out important points and themes that emerged in the literature. This should form the basis for your conclusion. 

Review of the Proposed Problem

Starts here….. It is customary to revisit the research question and the program essential question, as you attempt to address them in this chapter.

Importance of the Topic

Starts here…..Remind readers why this topic is important.

Summary of the Main Points of the Literature Review

Starts here…..what are the conclusions from the literature review

Chapter Four: Discussion/Application and Future Studies

Insights Gained from the Research

Starts here…Identify the key points as it pertains to the research question and the connection to the program essential question.  The discussion should include the researcher’s observation and learning from the Article Tracking Matrix (See Appendix). For instance, are there outliers? If so, acknowledge them and revisit the outlier as a channel for future research under the section “Future Studies.”

Application

Starts here…This section should identify how the results of this study could be used, in terms of application.  Furthermore, it should be clear who it could be used for and by whom.  For instance, the findings from the literature review may suggest that new teachers need mentoring as a form of induction.  It would be important to state how this pertain to not only the mentor but the protégé as well. It is important to raise the issue of generalizability, that is, how the results could be generalized.  In addition, what limitations exist? 

Future Studies

Starts here…A section on future studies should identify, based on new questions that emerged as a result of this study, issues of generalizability and limitations, what future researcher should consider.  It is customary to say how this study could be improved in a future study.  Consider how it may be improved with methodological advancement.  That is, would a qualitative or quantitative method of study further enlighten researchers, practitioners, or both?