During Weeks 1-4, you learned about developing the key elements that
form the basis of a research study. This week, you will build on this
knowledge. Your assignment this week is to combine the problem
statement, purpose statement, research questions, methodology and
the specific research design that you selected into a single document: a
white paper. Your white paper must serve as an educational tool to
engage, inform, and convince your readers about the importance of the
proposed study.
Your white paper should follow this format:
● Title○ Revisit the title you provided in Week 1. Reflect on how and
in what way(s) your title may have changed or shifted.Thinking about these changes and shifts will provide you withsome important insights about the development of yourresearch ideas and goals.
● Introduction○ This section provides the background contextual information
required for the audience to grasp the educational problemand, ultimately, the solution or resolution to that problem.
● Problem Overview○ Your problem statement specifies the issue the white paper
will address. The problem needs to be clearly defined andplaced within a context to ensure that it is clearly understoodby the reader.
○ In this section, it is essential that you support your problemoverview and statement with research-based evidence.
○ Ensure the statement of the problem focuses solely on theproblem.
● Purpose of Study
○ This is the study's essential purpose.○ In this section, you present your solution to the problem by
clearly and persuasively explaining how the problem can beaddressed and resolved.
○ Ensure the purpose of the study focuses solely on the intentof the study.
● Research Questions○ Including your research questions will solidify the study's
purpose.■ If your proposed study will be qualitative, your research
questions should be open-ended so as not to elicit asimple yes or no response.
■ If your proposed study will be quantitative, includehypotheses as needed.
○ Ensure the research questions directly address the purposeof the study.
● Methodology and Research Design○ Provide 1-2 paragraphs that explains how the proposed
study, based on the methodology and research design youhave selected, may inform the field of education or yourspecific discipline. This portion of the assignment feeds intothe study's theoretical significance and the potentialcontribution to the field's knowledge base, which will berefined more fully in the final weeks of the course. Asexplained right at the beginning of the syllabus, Ph.D.research has a focus on contribution to theory, so in thePh.D. degree, you will be conducting research thatcontributes to the broader discipline rather than a specificproblem rooted in an applied, professional practice.
● Conclusion○ This section summarizes the white paper's major ideas and
key takeaways. Think of what knowledge you want yourreader to walk away with.
○ Provide a set of 2-4 recommendations for future research.
Length: 6 pages, not including title and reference pages
References: Include a minimum of 8 scholarly sources published within
the last 5 years; additional research also may be included as relevant
