Prospectus
Title
Student Name
Doctor of Healthcare Administration
Walden University
A00000000
Prospectus: Title
Problem Statement
Insert the text of your problem statement here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Purpose of the Study
Insert the text of your purpose of the study here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Significance
Insert the text of the purpose and significance of your study here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Background
Insert the text of the background of your study here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Framework
Insert the text of the framework of your study here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Research Question(s) and Hypotheses
Insert your tentative research questions and hypotheses here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Nature of the Study
Insert the text of the nature of your study here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Secondary Data Types and Sources of Information
Insert the text of the secondary data types and sources of information for your study here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
Limitations, Challenges, and/or Barriers
Insert the text of any limitations, challenges, and/or limitations for your study here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
References
Insert your reference list here. Refer to the Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide for information on the content of this section; refer to the sample in the guide for an example of this section.
DHA and DrPH Prospectus Checklist
The following checklist, like the DHA Doctoral Study Prospectus Guide, provides guidance to support prospectus development. Included are the basic expectations for the content of the prospectus from the annotated outline in the Guide. Please refer to the Guide for additional information on how the prospectus will be submitted and evaluated. The DHA Prospectus Rubric standards and a Site-Naming Self-Check are included at the end of this checklist. Not all checklist items may be relevant to your particular study; please consult with your chair for guidance.
• Instructions for students:
o Indicate on the checklist the page number where each heading is located.
o Respond to comments from the committee in each comment history box. Do not delete previous comments—just add your response in the appropriate space.
o Upload this checklist into Taskstream with your prospectus document for each prospectus review.
• Instructions for the chair, second committee member, and Program Director Designee:
o Provide specific feedback in the comment history column. Do not delete previous comments—just add your response in the appropriate space.
o If you made detailed comments are included on the prospectus draft (using track changes and comments), you can refer to the draft rather than restate comments in the checklist; upload both documents into Taskstream during rubric completion.
o Committee chairs should indicate their acceptance of each item by checking the appropriate checkbox by each checklist item.
Date: (click here and type today’s date )
Student’s Name:
Student ID:
Committee Chairperson:
Second Committee Member:
PhD Program Director/Designee:
Prospectus Checklist
Checklist Items Page # Comment History
Title Page
Present your Title –12 words or fewer; include topic, variables and relationship between them, and most critical key words.
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
Include your name, program of study (specialization if applicable) and Student ID. Use the DHA Prospectus Template.
Problem Statement
State the problem by presenting a logical argument for the need to address an identified gap in practice as supported in the research literature. Must be relevant to your discipline and area of practice (1-2 paragraphs).
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
Provide evidence from scholarly and/or reputable sources that the problem is current, relevant, and meaningful to the professional field (3-5 key citations). Assure that the problem is framed within the discipline (program of study).
Purpose of the Study
Present a concise statement that discusses the overall purpose or intention of the study (1-2 paragraphs).
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
In quantitative studies, state what needs to be studied by describing two or more factors (variables) and a conjectured relationship among them related to the identified gap or problem.
Significance
Identify a) how your study will contribute to filling the identified gap (the contribution to the discipline or practice this study will make) b) how your research will support professional practice or allow practical application (the So What? question), and c) how, through alignment with your problem statement to reflect the potential relevance to society, your findings might lead to positive social change (1-2 paragraphs). This is an elaboration of what the problem addresses.
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
Background
Provide (a) the keywords or phrases that you searched and the databases used; and (b) a representative list of scholarship (or annotated bibliography) and findings that support and clarify the main assertions in your problem statement. Highlight their relationship to the topic (5-10 peer-reviewed articles; most from the last five years; some may have already been mentioned in the first two sections of the prospectus).
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
Framework
Describe (and cite) the framework that demonstrates an understanding of the theories and concepts relevant to your topic (1 paragraph). Provide the original scholarly literature on the theory or concepts, even if it is more than five years old. Do not cite secondary sources.
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
Ensure alignment with your problem, purpose, research questions, and background of your study.
Explain how each theory or concept relates to the study approach and research questions.
Research Question(s) and Hypotheses
List the question(s) that will lead to what needs to be done and how it will be accomplished. Your questions must align with your study purpose and include the variables or concepts and how they will be examined.
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
Ensure your research questions inform the research design by providing a foundation for generation of hypotheses and present the null and alternative hypothesis for each research question.
Nature of the Study
Provide 1 concise paragraph that discusses the quantitative approach that will be used to address your research question(s) and how this approach aligns with the problem statement and purpose.
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☒Chair accepts items as complete.
Secondary Data Types and Sources of Information
Present a list of possible types and sources of data for this study, such as employee surveys, historical documents from state records, de-identified medical records, or statistics from a federal database. Identify data source, data points, and how data will be obtained or accessed to address the research question(s).
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
Limitations, Challenges, and/or Barriers
Provide information, such as limitations, challenges, and/or barriers that may need to be addressed when conducting this study. These may include access to data, data storage requirements, data access fees, etc.
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
References
On a new page, list your references formatted in APA style.
Chair comments: (click here)
Second Member comments: (click here)
Student comments: (click here)
☐Chair accepts items as complete.
DHA and DrPH Prospectus Rubric Quality Indicators
Comment History
1. Complete
Does the prospectus contain all the required elements? Comments: (click here)
2. Meaningful
Has a meaningful problem or gap in practice as supported in the research literature been identified? Comments: (click here)
3. Justified
Is evidence presented that this problem is significant to the discipline and/or professional field? Comments: (click here)
4. Grounded
Is the problem framed to enable the researcher to either build on or counter the previously-published findings on the topic? Comments: (click here)
5. Original/Relevance to Area of Practice
Does this project have potential to make an original contribution that has relevance to the discipline and/or area of practice? Comments: (click here)
6. Impact
Does this project have potential to affect positive social change? Comments: (click here)
7. Feasible
Can a systematic method of inquiry be used to address the problem; and does the approach have the potential to address the problem while considering potential risks and burdens placed on research participants? Comments: (click here)
8. Aligned
Do the various aspects of the prospectus align overall? Comments: (click here)
9. Objective
Is the topic approached in an objective manner? Comments: (click here)
Partner Site Masking Self-Check
Walden capstones typically mask the identity of the partner organization. The methodological and ethical reasons for this practice as well as criteria for exceptions are outlined here (link to posted guidance). ☐ Check here to confirm that you will mask the identity of the organization in the final capstone that you publish in ProQuest.
☐ If you perceive that your partner organization’s identity would be impossible to mask or if there is a strong rationale for naming the organization in your capstone, please check this box so that your Program Director can review your request for an exception. If granted, that exception must be confirmed by the IRB during the ethics review process. The IRB will also ensure that your consent form(s) and/or site agreement(s) permit naming the organization.