Revised: 9-28-2011 Columbia Seminary and School of Ministries Doctor of Ministry Degree DISSERTATION-PROJECT MANUAL Table of Contents Page Chapter 1: The Doctor of Ministry Degree and Research .................................................................................... 1 The Doctor of Ministry Degree ........................................................................................................................... 1 The Nature of D.Min. Research ............................................................................................................................ 1 Approaches to Research ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Quantitative Research Qualitative Research Mixed Methods Research Types of Research Designs .................................................................................................................................. 3 Bibliographic Research Descriptive Research Evaluative Research Experimental Research Assessing research ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: The D.Min. Dissertation ........................................................................................................................ 5 The Structure of a Dissertation-Project ................................................................................................................ 5 Characteristics of a Good Research Topic .......................................................................................................... 5 Precedent Research ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Empirical Unknowns and Research Questions ................................................................................................... 7 Research Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Reporting Research Findings ............................................................................................................................... 9 Research Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 3: Methods of Research .......................................................................................................................... 11 Bibliographic Research Methods ...................................................................................................................... 11 Ethnographic Research Methods ...................................................................................................................... 12 Grounded Theory Research Methods ............................................................................................................... 13 Survey Research Methods ................................................................................................................................ 14 Selection of Survey Respondents .............................................................................................................. 14 Polling, Random Sampling, Systematic Sampling, Stratified Sampling, Convenience Sampling Design of the Survey Instrument ............................................................................................................... 15 Standardized Instruments, Researcher Designed Instruments, Types of Survey Items Sample Rate of Response ........................................................................................................................... 16 Presentation of the Survey Instrument, Tips for Designing a Survey Instrument Case Study Research Methods .......................................................................................................................... 17 Evaluative Research Methods ........................................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 4: Analysis of Research Data .................................................................................................................. 19 Analysis of Verbal Data .................................................................................................................................... 19 Content Analysis, Constant Comparison i Statistical Analysis of Numeric Data ................................................................................................................. 19 Basic Concepts in Statistics ......................................................................................................................... 19 Populations, Samples, and Variables, Types of Measurements, Types of Distributions Descriptive Statistics .................................................................................................................................. 21 Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Variability, Standard Scores, Correlation Reporting Statistical Data ........................................................................................................................... 22 The Use of Tables, Charts, and Graphs Chapter 5: From Proposal to Dissertation ............................................................................................................ 23 Working with a Dissertation Director ................................................................................................................. 23 The Dissertation Proposal .................................................................................................................................. 24 The Proposal Defense ........................................................................................................................................ 25 The Dissertation Oral Review ............................................................................................................................ 25 Submitting the Approved Dissertation .............................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 6: Guidelines for Dissertation Writing ................................................................................................... 27 Research on Human Subjects ............................................................................................................................ 27 Stylistic Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Technical Guidelines ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Appendices A. Basic Outline for a Dissertation-Project Proposal ................................................................................. 31 B. Basic Outline for a Dissertation-Project ................................................................................................. 32 C. Notes on Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations ....... 34 D. Turabian Formatting and Pagination in MS Word 2007 ....................................................................... 36 E. Sample Pages ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Sample Title ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Sample Approval ................................................................................................................................. 40 Sample Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... 41 Sample Version Statement .................................................................................................................. 42 Sample First Page of a Chapter or Appendix ...................................................................................... 43 Sample Page with Three Levels of Headings and a Content Footnote ................................................ 44 Sample First Page of a Reference List ................................................................................................ 45 F. Sample Survey Instrument Items, Their Use, and Analysis ................................................................. 46 Sample Instrument Items ..................................................................................................................... 46 The Use and Analysis of Survey Instrument Items ............................................................................. 48 Analyzing Verbal Data ........................................................................................................................ 49 Analyzing Numeric Data ..................................................................................................................... 50 G. Informed Consent Form for Research on Human Subjects ................................................................. 52 H. Final Edit Checklist .................................................................................................................................