Why Write a Dissertation Proposal Anyway?
The one thing that unites graduate students in different Ph.D. programs is that all will have to write a dissertation. However, a dissertation proposal is not always required. Further, when a proposal is required, the necessary amount of detail will vary based on the requirements of your department and expectations of your advisor. With all of the rules of the proposal, it is easy to lose sight of the function of the dissertation proposal to begin with. A dissertation proposal can seem like many things: a requirement, another hoop to jump through, an option along the dissertation path – but also as a positive thing: such as a way to organize your research before you begin, and set forth a plan into action with your committee members. The proposal helps you define problems and develop methods with which to approach the problems, regardless of your discipline. Locke, Spirduso, & Silverman (1993) focus on the positive aspects of a dissertation proposal, positing three main functions: a pl
