Begin this activity by reflecting on your revised problem and purpose statements. Review Figure 1 in Week 3 from Farrelly (2012). Select a method and design appropriate for a doctoral dissertation study.  Quantitative studies must demonstrate both internal and external validity (e.g., large, random samples, statistical power, and representativeness). Qualitative studies must demonstrate validity within the context of the specific qualitative design (e.g., credibility, dependability, transferability, trustworthiness). Replication studies are not permitted. Your summary must address all of the following items.

Access 

SAGE Research Methods
 in the university library for a refresher on research terminology.

Continue your work on the template provided in Week 2 of the course and construct a 1–2-page rationale for your research method and design selection. Be sure to include the following discussions:

· Provide a brief summary of the methodology and the type of data that will be collected. Describe and substantiate the appropriateness of the method to respond to the stated problem and purpose.

· Provide a brief summary of the research design that substantiates its appropriateness to respond to the stated problem and purpose and includes a description of the data collection procedure and type of analysis.

· Note how the proposed method and design accomplish the study goals, why the design is the optimum choice for the proposed research.

· Provide appropriate foundational research method support for the proposed study design; cite seminal scholarly sources.

· Explain the data-gathering techniques and data analysis processes.  Sample size of the study population should be identified and must be appropriate and justified based on the nature of the study design. Quantitative analyses must include justified sample size determination. A brief overview of the study design, variables/constructs, instruments, and analyses is provided based on current literature describing why the proposed method and design were chosen to address the study’s research question(s).

· Indicate why the selected research methodology and design are the best choices for the study by explaining how they align with the problem and purpose statements as well as the research questions.