Dissertation Proposal and Prospectus Writing for Capstone Projects

Dissertation Proposal and Prospectus Writing for Capstone Projects

The dissertation proposal or prospectus serves as the foundation for your Capstone project. It outlines the research questions, methodology, and expected contributions of your work.

3.1 Structure of a Dissertation Proposal

• Title: A concise and informative title that reflects the research focus.

• Introduction: Provide an overview of the research problem, the significance of the study, and the research questions or hypotheses you aim to address.

• Literature Review: Summarize existing research related to your topic and identify gaps in the current knowledge that your project will address.

• Research Methodology: Detail the research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques you will use.

• Timeline: Include a timeline that outlines the stages of your project, such as data collection, analysis, and writing.

3.2 Writing the Prospectus

The prospectus is a more detailed version of the proposal, often required by graduate programs before full Capstone work begins. It serves to convince your committee that the research is feasible, significant, and worthy of further investigation.

• Research Questions: Clearly state the research questions you will address. These should be specific, focused, and aligned with your project’s goals.

• Justification: Explain why the research is important, what contributions it will make to the field, and how it will advance current knowledge.

• Methodology: Describe the research methods you plan to use, and justify why they are the best approach for your research question.