CLED 905 - Research Methods for Christian Leadership VI

CLED 905 Research Task #1: Research Profile Review (2 steps)

CLED 905 Step 1 - Research Profile Submission

Following the instructions provided in the course, the student will submit the Research Profile created in CLED900. This research task will be used as a discussion tool for interaction with the research supervisor in order to create understanding and to summarize the research study design. The Research Profile should be approximately 4-8 single-spaced pages and follow APA style requirements. This assignment submission must be made by 11:59 pm, TUESDAY, in Week 1. The student’s Dissertation Supervisor will assign the points for this submission after the video conference below.

CLED 905 Step 2 - Supervisor Video Conference

During the first week of the course, the student will schedule and hold a video conference with the Dissertation Supervisor to review the Research Profile. WebEx is available for these purposes, although a different, mutually agreed upon video conferencing tool may be used provided it has the capability of recording the conference and document sharing.

The student will complete the Supervisor Video Conference “Quiz” to receive points for completing this step in Task #1.

CLED 905 Research Task #2: Research Prospectus Revisions (2 steps)

This research task will be completed in two steps. Each step involves the submission of a copy of the Research Prospectus. The student’s work will be evaluated during each step in the process with a possible 250 points assigned for each submission.

CLED 905 Step 1 - Research Prospectus Initial Draft Submission and Review

By the date indicated on the Blackboard site, the student will submit a copy of the Research Prospectus Initial Draft for Supervisor review. This assignment submission must be in Word format. The Supervisor will offer comments on the student’s document and complete the "Professor’s Prospectus Rubric." The student should then revise the document per the Supervisor's feedback.

CLED 905 Step 2 - Research Prospectus Defense-Ready Draft Submission and Review

Based on the feedback received in the prior submission and review, by the date indicated on the Blackboard site, the student will submit the defense-ready version of the Research Prospectus for Supervisor review. This assignment submission must be in Word format. The Supervisor will again offer comments on the document and complete the “Professors Prospectus Rubric.”

The student should submit the entire final document including all “Front Matter” and all appropriate appendixes and references. All instruments that will be used need to be included in the study in draft form. The IRB must approve all instruments before the student may pilot test or validate them. The document must follow the outline found in the Program Handbook. After receiving the submission, if it is deemed that the Research Prospectus is not ready for the Prospectus Defense Hearing, the student will be asked to continue to revise this document until it is ready. At the discretion of the Supervisor, this may require a course extension or even the possibility of a course retake.

Research Task #3: Research Prospectus Defense Video Conference Hearing

Upon the approval of the Dissertation Supervisor, the student will be allowed to defend the Research Prospectus. The oral defense or hearing of the Research Prospectus is an online video-based WebEx conference with the Supervisor and the Second Reader (if appointed and available). During the hearing, the student takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to present the rationale for the study and describe the proposed research design. The use of a PowerPoint slideshow summarizing the research design is to be used. The student should follow the instructions provided in preparing this slide presentation. This presentation is then followed by an approximately 40 to 45 minute dialogue with the Supervisor.

CLED 905 Research Task #4: Finalized Research Prospectus Submission

Once the Prospectus is successfully defended at the video conference hearing, the student documents any changes and submits a finalized version of the Research Prospectus. Style corrections are to be reflected in the revised version. The revised version is submitted to the Supervisor who approves the document and circulates it to the Second Reader.

The document will be returned to the student and once final approval is granted, the student may not make any additional changes to the Research Prospectus as it serves the plan for the student’s field research.

CLED 905 Research Task #5: IRB Approval Process Submission

After completion of a successful Research Prospectus Defense Video Conference Hearing, the student must apply for review and approval by the Liberty University Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is a federally mandated body, the purpose of which is to ensure ethical treatment of research subjects. The student should carefully review the IRB website. This site will orient the student to the timeline and the process of this review. Modifications to the application should be expected.

Execution of the Research Prospectus CANNOT begin before receiving IRB approval. If data are collected or accessed before obtaining all necessary and full IRB approvals, the candidate will be removed from the program. Once IRB approval is received, the Supervisor will clear the student to begin field testing and data gathering. Remember, IRB approval documentation is to be completed only upon successful defense of the Research Prospectus.

The student will report the initiation of the application process through a Blackboard “Quiz.” The Supervisor will assign the points for this task when the IRB application is made and the quiz is submitted.