Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
by
Walden University
Use the following guidelines when writing the abstract. Begin with a wow statement
illuminating the problem under study. Identify the design (case study, phenomenological,
grounded the study; in APA style, theory/conceptual framework names are lower case.
Describe the data collection process (e.g., interviews, surveys, questionnaires). Describe
the data analysis process (e.g., modified van Kaam method to identify themes in
not mention software used. Identify two or three themes that morphed from the study
(qualitative). Present the statistical results for each research question (quantitative
studies). Describe how these data may contribute to social change (use the word social
change and identify who specifically may benefit). Ensure the first line in the abstract is
not indented. Ensure abstract does not exceed one page. Use plural verbs with data (e.g.,
the data were). Write all numbers as digits (i.e., 1, 2, 10, 20) and not spelled out unless at
the beginning of a sentence. Add an abbreviation in parentheses after spelling out a term
by
Walden University
This is an optional page for a dedication. If you include a dedication, use regular
paragraph spacing as shown here (not centered, italicized, or otherwise formatted). The
dedication should not exceed one page. If you are not including a dedication, delete the
faculty, family members, and friends who have helped you reach this point in your
No page number appears on any of the pages up to this point. If you do not wish
to include this page, delete the heading and the body text, taking care to not delete the
List of Tables.......................................................................................................................iv
List of Figures......................................................................................................................v
Problem Statement.........................................................................................................2
Purpose Statement..........................................................................................................3
Operational Definitions..................................................................................................7
Assumptions............................................................................................................7
Limitations...............................................................................................................7
Delimitations............................................................................................................7
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Transition.......................................................................................................................9
Purpose Statement........................................................................................................10
Participants...................................................................................................................10
Research Method...................................................................................................10
Research Design.....................................................................................................11
Ethical Research...........................................................................................................11
Reliability..............................................................................................................14
Validity...................................................................................................................14
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Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change..................15
Introduction..................................................................................................................15
Reflections...................................................................................................................17
Conclusion...................................................................................................................18
References..........................................................................................................................19
This Table of Contents (TOC) has all the headings from the template included. To
update your TOC, right click anywhere in the Table of Contents, select Update Field, then
select Update entire table or Update page numbers only, and click OK.
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List of Tables
When you update the List of Tables, the table number and title will come in
without a period between them; you will need to manually add that period after all table
numbers, as shown for Table 1. In addition, the title will retain the italics from the
narrative when the List of Tables is updated. Once your list is finalized, select the entire
Note that tables are numbered in sequence beginning with 1. Do not number
tables according to the section in which they appear (Table 4-1, 5-2, etc.) In the List of
Tables, table numbers are followed by a period, not a colon or a dash. This applies to
iv
List of Figures
The List of Figures is not set up to automatically update. If you have figures in
your document, type them in manually here, following the example above.
Alternately, follow the instructions in the Instructions for Using the Walden DBA
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Section 1: Foundation of the Study
The purpose of the background is to introduce the topic and problem you will
address. You want to briefly indicate why the problem deserves new research. More
important, the doc study must address applied research, so you will want to identify the
need to solve an applied business problem. The goal of this section is to encourage
readers to continue reading, to generate interest in the study, and provide an initial frame
brevity and clarity is essential. The Review of the Literature section will provide a more
business problem.
The research topic is broad in nature; do not narrow the focus too quickly. You
want to give the reader, especially those not familiar with the topic, time to become
familiar with the topic. Transition the reader to a more a concise presentation of the
specific business topic/problem under study. This component focuses on identifying why
the study is important, how the study relates to previous research on the topic/problem,
and what the study is going to address and why. Include a transition statement that leads
to problem statement that will provide more specificity regarding the problem.
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A well-written transition signals a change in content. It tells your readers that they
have finished one main unit and are moving to the next, or it tells them that they are
the background to the Problem Statement is often as brief as one sentence, as follows:
The background to the problem has been provided, and the focus will now shift to the
problem statement. Tip: Many potential business topics/problems can be found in the
Problem Statement
The problem statement must include four specific components to include the (a)
hook, (b) anchor, (c) general business problem, and (d) specific business problem. It is
recommended that the Problem Statement be approximately 150 words. More important,
ensure the problem statement reflects a business problem; avoid rubric creep (i.e., when
the problem statement does not reflect an applied business problem ). You must ensure
you map to the rubric requirements. This is the most critical component of the doctoral
study and will be highly scrutinized in the review process. Again, the problem statement
is not to identify causes for the problem, solutions to the problem, or any other
five sentences. Please review the training video (see link below) developed by the DBA
methodology team to aid in writing your problem statement. It will help add clarity and
save you time. The Problem Statement Video Tutorial can be found at
http://youtu.be/IYWzCYyrgpo.
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DBA students are seeking a degree in business and must ensure the problem
statement is business focused. It must not represent a problem that has a social,
something that is a problem for a business from the perspective of the business managers
and not that of social advocates. The perspective must be from the position of the
Purpose Statement
The purpose statement must include the following components: (a) methodology,
(b) design, (c) independent and dependent variables (for quantitative studies only), (d)
specific population and justification for using the chosen population, (e) geographical
location, and (f) the study’s potential for effecting social change. It is recommended that
data collection). Please be sure to map to the rubric. Review the purpose statement video
1. Research methodology.
2. Research design.
4. Target population.
5. Geographical location.
6. Social change.
For more detail on these six elements and examples of qualitative and quantitative
purpose statements, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research Handbook.
The Nature of the Study section serves two purposes: (a) describing and justifying
the methodology (i.e., quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method) and (b) describing and
justifying the design (i.e., case study, phenomenological, correlation). Therefore, a well-
crafted Nature of the Study section can be presented in two paragraphs and not exceed
one page. The first paragraph describes and justifies the methodology and the second
paragraph describes and justifies the design. These two purposes should not be
intermingled. A common error in this section is to restate the purpose, identify variables
and analyses, and include other superfluous information. Again, map to the rubric and
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only include the required content. For more detail on the content of this section, consult
DBA doctoral studies require the highest level of rigor and scholarship. One focus
requires the use of at least two independent or predictor variables. This is due to the third
variable problem. A third variable also known as a confounding or mediator variable and
can adversely affect the relationship between the independent and dependent variable.
This adverse effect can lead the researcher to incorrectly interpret the results, leading to
For more detail on the content of this section and examples, consult the DBA
For information on the Research Question and Interview Question sections for
qualitative studies, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research Handbook.
For information on the Research Question section for qualitative studies, consult
For information on the Interview Question section for qualitative studies, consult
Two major elements in the research design are the hypotheses and the variables
used to test them. A hypothesis is a provisional idea whose merit deserves further
evaluation. Two hypotheses, the null (H0) and alternative (H1), are to be stated for the
experimental null and alternative hypotheses, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric
Present a brief overview of your theory or conceptual framework. Please note this
required in the Review of the Literature section. Here, a model for presenting the theory
or framework section is offered. You will want to state the name of the theory or identify
the conceptual framework, identify the theorist if applicable, list key concepts of the
theory or framework, identify any propositions or hypotheses, and identify how the
theory or framework applies to your study. Please note there are obvious variations to this
model depending upon your particular study and topic. However, the intent is to briefly
present the key aspects of your theory and or framework and show how it fits into your
study. For more information and examples of theory and conceptual frameworks for both
qualitative and quantitative studies, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and
Research Handbook.
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Operational Definitions
Webster’s). List only terms than might not be understood by the reader. All definitions
more than 10 key operational definitions. List each term and definition as a new
paragraph, indented ½ inch and double-spaced. Italicize the term being defined and
Assumptions
Assumptions are facts considered to be true but are not actually verified.
Assumptions carry risk and should be treated as such. A mitigation discussion would be
appropriate.
Limitations
Delimitations
Delimitations refer to the bounds or scope of the study. Describe the boundary and
Discuss how this study will fill gaps in the understanding and effective practice of
business. The Significance section may be written as a succinct two paragraphs without
subheadings.
This is the section where you will report the literature regarding your
theoretical/conceptual framework. The approach to this section may vary by the specific
theory, you are examining or exploring your phenomenon through a leadership lens. You
want to report on extant research that was grounded in transformational leadership theory.
You would want to report on the literature that is as close to your topic/phenomenon as
possible. In addition, you will want to include the literature for any key variables, if you
are conducting a quantitative study. Consult Appendix A in the DBA Doctoral Study
Rubric and Research Handbook for an outline with minimum requirements for a
quantitative study. In addition, follow the guidance in the Literature Review section of
review. The review of the literature is not to be a regurgitation of what you have read. It is
also not to teach about a topic; rather, it is to show your mastery of the research on your
topic and provide a comprehensive up-to-date literature review of your topic. Start with
an introductory section and then report the literature. This should be an exhaustive review
of the literature using the chosen theoretical/conceptual framework and consist of the key
and recent writings in the field. Repeat this approach if you are using more than one
Transition
This section summarizes Section 1 and the gives an overview of the next two
Purpose Statement
Describe the role of the researcher in the data collection process in this
subsection. Follow the guidance on requirements for this section in the DBA rubric.
Participants
Describe the sample adequately. Remember, the sample is the subset selected
from the broader population. Thus, it may differ from the targeted population discussed in
Section 1. Detail the major demographic characteristics, for example the type of business,
leader, manager, or title of the participants within the business. As a rule, describe the
groups as specifically as possible, with emphasis on characteristics that may have bearing
Research Method
This section is an extension of the Nature of the Study in Section 1. The first
paragraph of the Nature of the Study section required a description and justification of the
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methodology. Here you will extend that conversation by providing more information and
additional resources. Be sure to include at least three sources for each decision you make.
Research Design
This section is an extension of the Nature of the Study in Section 1. The second
paragraph of the Nature of the Study section required a description and justification of the
design. Here you will extend that conversation by providing more information and
additional resources. Be sure to include at least three sources for each decision you make.
For content guidance on this section for a quantitative study, consult the DBA
For content guidance on this section for a qualitative study, consult the DBA
Ethical Research
Each research inquiry comes with its own set of specific ethical requirements.
Thus, a standard rubric cannot address all possible scenarios. Therefore, it will be helpful
to review the IRB application before you complete this component to ensure you address
any requirements not identified in the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research
copy of the informed consent form used in the study, not the actual filled-in form
provided by the consenting party, in an appendix and list it in the Table of Contents.
Discuss participant procedures for withdrawing from the study. Describe incentives to be
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used, if any. Clarify measures to be taken to assure the ethical protection of participants.
Agreement documents are to be listed in the (a) text of the study, (b) appendices, and (c)
Table of Contents. Include a statement that data will be maintained in a safe place for 5
years to protect rights of participants. Ensure you indicate that the final doctoral
manuscript will include the Walden IRB approval number. Ensure the document does not
You will describe each instrument’s purpose, intended populations, scales, scoring
process, time needed to complete, and so on. This section will also address the
important. You will need to report the reliability and validity coefficients. Where
possible, include the details of the reliability measures employed (e.g., test-retest,
validity. State briefly what these measures are report their coefficients.
You will need to address any special requirements of the purchaser. You will need
to gain permission from the test publisher to use some instruments. Permission may be
requested by sending a formal letter or e-mail to the publisher. You may also need to
complete a training course or obtain your chair’s signature to acquire the instrument—be
For additional content guidance on this section, consult the DBA Doctoral Study
For content guidance, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research
Handbook.
For content guidance, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research
Handbook.
For content guidance, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research
Handbook.
Data analysis involves discussing the statistical test(s) you will use to answer each
research question and justifying its/their selection. Indicate the nature of the scale for
each variable (e.g., nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio). Why is the selected statistical
test more appropriate than another? (Hint: The statistical test is usually selected due to the
nature of the question and scale of measurement of the variables you defined.) Describe
how you will deal with discrepant cases (e.g., missing data, data that cannot be
interpreted). Identify the software that will be used to analyze the data.
For additional content guidance on this section, consult the DBA Doctoral Study
For content guidance, consult the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research
Handbook.
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Study Validity (Quantitative Only)
For information on the content of this subsection, consult the DBA Doctoral Study
Reliability
For information on the content of this subsection, consult the DBA Doctoral Study
Validity
For more information on the content of this subsection, consult the DBA Doctoral
End with a transition that contains a summary of key points and provides an
Introduction
Begin with the purpose of the study. Do not repeat the entire purpose statement;
typically the first sentence of the purpose statement will suffice. Provide a brief summary
Describe the statistical test(s), the variables, and the purpose of the test(s) and
how they relate to the hypotheses. Present relevant descriptive statistics (i.e., mean,
standard deviation for scale variables; frequencies, and percentages for nominal
Include alpha level chosen for the test, test value, p (significance) values, effect size,
appropriate tables and figures to illustrate results, as per the current edition of the
for the DBA Template document for correct APA style for formatting and labeling tables
and figures. Summarize answers to research questions. Describe in what ways findings
studies from the literature review. Includes studies addressed during the proposal stage
and studies added since writing the proposal. Tie findings or dispute findings to the
existing literature on effective business practice. Analyze and interpret the findings in the
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context of the theoretical framework, as appropriate. Ensure interpretations do not exceed
List the overarching research question. Identifies each theme, and analyzes and
discuss findings in relation to the themes. Describe in what ways findings confirm,
disconfirm, or extend knowledge in the discipline by comparing the findings with other
peer-reviewed studies from the literature review; includes literature added since writing
the proposal. Tie findings to the conceptual framework, and tie findings or dispute
A sample APA-compliant table is included below (see Table 1). Instructions for
creating tables and adding table numbers and titles are included in the accompanying
Instructions document available on the Templates page of the Doctoral Capstone Form
Table 1
Row 1
Row 2
Row 3
Row 4
the professional practice of business. This major subsection provides a rich academic
argument why and how the findings are relevant to improved business practice.
social change/behavior.
Recommendations (a) should flow logically from the conclusions and contain
steps to useful action, (b) state who needs to pay attention to the results, and (c) indicate
how the results might be disseminated via literature conferences, training, and so on.
research.
Reflections
Include a reflection on your experience within the DBA Doctoral Study process,
in which you discuss possible personal biases or preconceived ideas and values, the
possible effects of those on the participants or the situation, and changes in your thinking
The work closes with a strong concluding statement making the take-home
Insert References here. Examples of some common types of references follow; see APA
These sample entries are tagged with the “APA Reference” style tag, which means the
line spacing and hanging indent are automatic. Apply the “APA Reference” style
Pay special attention to italics, capitalization, and punctuation. The style tag does not
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (1994). Title of article. Title of Periodical,
xx(x), xxx–xxx.
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (1994). Title of article. Title of Periodical,
Nonperiodical (book)
Chapter in a book
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (1994). Title of chapter. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C.
edition, includes numerous examples of reference list entries. For more information on
references or APA style, consult the APA website or the Walden Writing Center website.
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Appendix A: Title of Appendix
Insert appendix here. Appendices are ordered with letters rather than numbers. If
The appendices must adhere to the same margin specifications as the body of the
page or reduced in size to fit within the area bounded by the margins.
If the only thing in an appendix is a table, the table title serves as the title of the
appendix; no label is needed for the table itself. If you have text in addition to a table or
tables in an appendix, label the table with the letter of the appendix (e.g., Table A1, Table
A2, Table B1, and so on). These tables would be listed in the List of Tables at the end of
If you include in an appendix any prepublished materials that are not in the public