Dissertation

Knowledge Basket Dissertation Proposal Guidelines
 

Proposal Fundamentals

•    WHO are you? 
•    WHAT is your practice? 
•    WHAT is your research? 
•    WHAT is your plan to complete the research? 
•    WHAT format are you using for the creative component? 
•    WHY is this format significant?

Format

•    Written (word format) 
•    Length: under 40 pages (double spaced)

Proposal Outline

•    Introduction 
•    Source/literature review 
•    Methodology/methods 
•    Format for creative component 
•    Chapter outline for written component 
•    Budget and timetable

Literature/Source Review

•    Indicate the strengths and weakness of scholarship
•    Demonstrate that you understand how scholars connect their specific research to larger issues, questions, or practices within the field 
•    Make connections between the work of other scholars and practitioners 
•    Assess the usefulness of each source as well as embedded assumptions
 

Tips

•    Supervision 
•    Write Concisely 
•    Write Coherently 
•    Establish Boundaries in your research 
•    Focus on Major Issues 
•    Prove Compelling Answers 
•    Highlight Key Scholars/practitioners

Methodology/Methods  

  
•    Demonstrate that you know the difference between methodology and methods and how they are applied in research 
•    Methods: the tools or techniques used to gather sources of information 
•    Interviews, observations, experiments, data collection, archival research, procedures 
•    Methodology: refers to the theory that underpins your methods

Methodology Tips

•    Consider connections between the source review & methodology section 
•    Discuss what you sought to accomplish before describing how you did it 
•    Discuss whether quantitative or qualitative methods are used Include enough description of methods so other researchers could replicate the study 
•    Discuss the limitations of your approach and the methodology/methods used 
•    Compare and contrast your use of methods/methodology with those used by other scholars

Format Option Selection

The dissertation knowledge basket requires that you complete two components:
•    Creative Component
•    Written Component

Your proposal must fully detail your plan for each component:

Creative Component

Your proposal should describe the creative component and the significance of expressing the topic and research findings in the chosen format: 
•    What is the nature of the format? 
•    How will it reflect your findings of the research you will do? 
•    Will further training be required to produce the creative component in this format? 
•    If further training is required, how will it impact your budget and timeline? 
•    Timetable for completion

Written Component

Your proposal should provide a breakdown of chapters, keeping in mind that the actual written component of the dissertation knowledge basket is expected to address the following questions: 
•    Who are you in relation to the the topic and practice? 
•    What is your practice & where did you learn it? 
•    Who were your teachers? 
•    What is the project (the overall project and the creative component) 
•    How did you do it? 
•    What did you learn? 
•    How does the overall project contribute to human experience?

Note: It is vital that proposals clearly articulate the interface between the creative component and the written component. There is an expectation that the dissertation knowledge basket will be scholarly, creative, coherent, and rigorous. This expectation should be reflected in the project design that you outline in the proposal.

Outstanding dissertations as those "characterized by originality, high-quality writing, and compelling consequences. They argue outstanding dissertations display richness of thought and insight and make important contributions to their field or discipline." (Lovitts, 2005).

This process begins with the dissertation proposal. Proposals provide the roadmap for producing an outstanding dissertation. While there are a lot of formats a proposal can take, most call for the candidate to explain what they intend to do; why the work is important; how they intend to do it; and how it fits into existing literature and source material in that field. Indigenous Studies sits on the boundaries of the three decanal areas at Trent (humanities, social sciences and science). Proposal format and content often differ across these decanal areas so it is important to consider where you see your research situated. In social science, for instance, there is a reliance on a separate literature review but this is not always called for in a humanities-based dissertation where scholarship is often weaved throughout the chapters.

In most fields, the proposal reveals what has already been done on a given topic and how a candidate's dissertation will make an original contribution to that field of study. It also provides a clear understanding of how candidates will gather sources of information, interpret them, evaluate and present them in the dissertation. It also determines how findings are presented and discussed. In an Indigenous Studies context, it is also important to position yourself as a researcher and to discuss your relationship to the topic and knowledge you will be engaging with.

Overview

A dissertation proposal of approximately 25 pages (excluding bibliography) will include a clear statement of research problem, including its theoretical significance, a review of relevant literature, a statement of the research plan and methods, an outline of chapter headings and sub-headings for the proposed dissertation, and a bibliography of materials most relevant to the proposal. Students whose work involves research with human subjects as defined by the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (questionnaires, interviews, for example) must gain the approval of Trent’s Research Ethics Board(s) after they have defended their proposal. Process and application documents are posted on the Research and Innovation website.

Components of a Dissertation Proposal Often Include:

Introduction and Specific Aims

Positionality

Research  Ethics

Background and Significance (purpose and scope)

Source Review

Theory and Methods

Chapter Outline

The specific design and content of dissertation proposals are best developed in consultation with a dissertation supervisor.

Students should establish regular meetings with their supervisor in the first year and begin the process of working on aspects of the proposal as they move through first-year courses. 

*It can take 6-8 weeks to schedule a Proposal Defence once the student's supervisor has notified the Program Assistant that the proposal is complete and ready to defend.

1. A dissertation proposal of approximately 25 pages (excluding bibliography) will include a clear statement of research problem, including its theoretical significance, a review of relevant literature, a statement of the research plan and methods, an outline of chapter headings and sub-headings for the proposed dissertation, and a bibliography of materials most relevant to the proposal.

2. Students whose work involves research with human subjects as defined by the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (questionnaires, interviews, for example) must gain the approval of Trent’s Research Ethics Board(s) after they have defended their proposal. Process and application documents are posted on the Research and Innovation website.

3. All students must complete their comprehensive exams before defending their dissertation proposal.

4. A dissertation proposal must be approved by the members of the student’s Supervisory Committee. The Supervisory Committee will be composed of a Dissertation Supervisor (or two co-supervisors) and two other committee members. The primary supervisor must be a tenured Trent graduate faculty member. Other committee members can be chosen from the Regular or Associate Graduate Faculty. Elders and Knowledge Holders are often appointed to committees as Special Graduate Faculty.

5. Once the Supervisory Committee has approved the dissertation proposal. The Supervisor will notify the Program Director and the Program Assistant and provide a list of internal/external examiners from Trent faculty members. They will also suggest some possible dates for the defence.

6. The Program administrator will contact and arrange for an external examiner (a faculty member external to the committee) and a chair for the defence.  

7. A “Proposal Defence” will be held to examine the dissertation proposal with the student, the Supervisory Committee, the chair and the external examiner.  After the successful defence of the proposal, the Dissertation Supervisor will submit a form to the Director of the PhD Program and the Program Assistant. The dissertation proposal should be defended within 6 months of a student completing their comprehensive exams.

8. Proposal Defences can be done in-person, using a hybrid model or virtually. The format will depend on the preference of the student and the committee. 

Student
•    Ensure each member of the committee has a copy of the latest proposal.
•    Provide one copy of the dissertation proposal to the Program Assistant to send to the external examiner.
•    Ensure you have PowerPoint or slides of the presentation emailed to yourself or on a USB. The Olive Dickason Reading Room has a PC computer.
•     Arrange to be present in-person for the defence. If not, advise the Program Assistant.

Supervisor
•    Advise the Program Director and Program Assistant that all committee members have signed off on the dissertation proposal and that it is ready for defence.
•    Provide a list of potential external examiners for the defence to the Program Assistant. The first choice of examiners is a Trent faculty member. Those external to Trent will be considered only if the cost is feasible.
•    Suggest some potential dates for the defence.
•    Communicate with members of the Supervisory Committee regarding their participation in the defence. If they are not going to participate, they may provide questions for the defence to the Supervisor.
•    Advise Program Director and Program Assistant if committee members wish to participate remotely.

Program Director
•    In collaboration with the Supervisor, identify potential external examiners.

Program Assistant
•    Contact and arrange for an external examiner and provide them a copy of the proposal and the program’s dissertation defence procedures.
•    Schedule the defence.
•    Find a chair for the defence. Send chairing instructions and prepared forms to the chair.
•    Send all parties a copy of the dissertation defence procedure.
•    Confirm the defence and attendance of all parties (External, chair, supervisor, and committee members) 1 day prior to the defence.
•    Ensure the completed dissertation defence report is submitted by the Chair.
•    Enter the record of decision and signature form into the student’s file.
•    Inform the Director of Studies and the Program Director of the defence results.