Ed.D. Doctor of Education Doctor of Education Dissertation Proposal 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which element differentiates a dissertation proposal's 'limitations' from its 'delimitations'?
- Limitations are chosen constraints; delimitations are uncontrollable weaknesses
- Delimitations are chosen boundaries; limitations are potential weaknesses outside the researcher's control (Correct answer)
- Limitations apply only to qualitative studies; delimitations apply only to quantitative studies
- They are interchangeable terms used in different institutional styles
Correct answer: Delimitations are chosen boundaries; limitations are potential weaknesses outside the researcher's control
Delimitations are intentional scope decisions made by the researcher, while limitations are acknowledged weaknesses or constraints that may affect the study's validity.
Question 2: A committee member notes that a proposal's research questions do not align with the stated quantitative methodology. The most likely cause is:
- Using too many sub-questions under the central question
- Framing questions with qualitative language such as 'explore' and 'understand' (Correct answer)
- Including demographic questions in the survey instrument
- Citing only qualitative sources in the literature review
Correct answer: Framing questions with qualitative language such as 'explore' and 'understand'
Quantitative research questions should use measurable, relational language (e.g., 'examine the relationship,' 'compare'), not exploratory qualitative language.
Question 3: Construct validity in an EdD proposal instrument is best established by:
- Piloting the instrument with a large nationally representative sample
- Aligning each item to the theoretical framework and having experts review the alignment (Correct answer)
- Using a Likert scale with an even number of response options
- Ensuring the instrument was published in a peer-reviewed journal
Correct answer: Aligning each item to the theoretical framework and having experts review the alignment
Construct validity requires demonstrating that instrument items accurately measure the theoretical constructs they are designed to assess, typically verified through expert review.
Question 4: A researcher studying administrator burnout conducts interviews with participants from their own school district. The primary ethical concern is:
- Sample size is too small for meaningful analysis
- Power imbalance may coerce participation or inhibit honest responses (Correct answer)
- Interview data cannot be triangulated with survey data
- The study lacks a control group for comparison
Correct answer: Power imbalance may coerce participation or inhibit honest responses
When the researcher holds authority over participants, individuals may feel pressured to participate or may not disclose information freely, threatening voluntary participation.
Question 5: Which statistical test is most appropriate in a proposal where the researcher plans to examine differences in student achievement scores across three ethnic groups?
- Pearson correlation
- Independent samples t-test
- One-way ANOVA (Correct answer)
- Chi-square test of independence
Correct answer: One-way ANOVA
One-way ANOVA compares mean scores across three or more independent groups, making it appropriate for this design.
Question 6: The 'gap in the literature' section of a proposal's literature review primarily functions to:
- Demonstrate the candidate's breadth of reading on the topic
- Justify why the proposed study is necessary by showing what prior research has not addressed (Correct answer)
- Criticize methodological weaknesses in all existing studies
- Introduce the theoretical framework the researcher will apply
Correct answer: Justify why the proposed study is necessary by showing what prior research has not addressed
Identifying a gap shows that despite existing research, an unanswered question remains, which the proposed study will address.
Question 7: In a case study proposal, 'bounding the case' means:
- Setting a strict word limit for participant responses
- Clearly defining the unit of analysis and the parameters of what is and is not included in the case (Correct answer)
- Limiting the number of interviews to avoid data saturation
- Restricting literature review sources to a single case study tradition
Correct answer: Clearly defining the unit of analysis and the parameters of what is and is not included in the case
Bounding the case establishes the case's identity and scope—who, what, where, and when—so the study remains focused and coherent.
Ed.D. Doctor of Education Doctor of Education Dissertation Proposal 3
Which element differentiates a dissertation proposal's 'limitations' from its 'delimitations'?