School of Psychology

Industrial and Organizational Psychology Program

Dissertation

Other Resources

Dissertation Questions

Proposals

The dissertation proposal is comprised of a thorough review of the research literature relevant to your topic presented so that it provides enough background to the reader to understand your research questions. This review should be exhaustive and culminate in a set of testable research hypotheses. The method of testing these hypotheses is described in detail in the method section. The psychometric properties of the instrument, experimental manipulation, and analysis strategy are all a part of this section. The proposal should be written in accordance with APA guidelines and according to the Florida Tech Thesis Manual and Style Guide (The guide can be purchased in the Florida Tech Bookstore).

You will work closely with your faculty advisor during the preparation of the dissertation proposal. It is advisable to set up weekly meetings to maintain progress, and to ensure the quality of the final research document. The development of the proposal starts in the 3rd year proposition sequence, and formal dissertation credits may begin at the completion of the comprehensive exam. Typically students work on their dissertation proposal for 6-8 months, with some students taking a year to complete the proposal.

During the initial stages of writing the proposal, the Office of Graduate Programs should review the general format of the paper (i.e., margins/spacing). Feel free to contact this office at any time during the research and writing of your thesis. The Coordinator of Graduate Student Services is a wonderful resource and source of support for all graduate students. For more information on helpful tips for your thesis from the Office of Graduate Programs, click on http://www.fit.edu/grad-programs/thesis.htm