title: Essential elements in a qualitative dissertation proposal.
abstract: This article clarifies the requirements of a qualitative research proposal, specifically a qualitative doctoral dissertation. The recommendations will be useful to graduate students and faculty members who are writing a qualitative proposal for the first time or who are critiquing one. A summary of assumptions of non-traditional research paradigms as they apply to inquiry design, a suggestion of the contents of the first three chapters of a qualitative dissertation (usually included in a dissertation proposal), and suggestions for ensuring rigor in the design and conduct of the dissertation research are included.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, School of Nursing, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Swenson
mesh_terms: D004212:Academic Dissertations as Topic; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education*; D012107:Research Design