A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Applied Research
Edition: 3
Copyright: 2023
Pages: 304
Edition: 3
Copyright: 2023
Pages: 304
Choose Your Format
Choose Your Platform | Help Me Choose
Print Package
$94.50 USD
Ebook Package
$73.50 USD
A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Applied Research was written to guide candidates through the doctoral process as they strive to solve a specific problem or improve a practice in a real educational setting. Applied research incorporates a multimethod design that includes both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis strategies. This step-by-step approach to doctoral research is what makes this book unique.
Chapter 1: Applied Research
Introduction
Applied Research Defined
Reasons to Conduct Applied Research
How to Conduct Applied Research
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 2: How to Write Front Matter
Introduction
Outline of an Applied Research Manuscript
How to Write the Front Matter
How to Write a Title Page
How to Write a Signature Page
How to Write a Table of Contents
How to Write an Abstract
Abstracts Using Accurate Tense
How to Write the Role of the Researcher
How to Write the Permission to Conduct Research
How to Write the Ethical Considerations
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 3: How to Write the Introduction
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
How to Write the Organizational Profile
How to Write the Introduction to the Problem
How to Write the Significance of the Research
How to Write the Purpose Statement
How to Write the Central Research Question
Four Core Elements
How to Write the Definitions
How to Write a Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 4: How to Write a Literature Review
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
How to Write a Literature Review
How to Write a Theoretical Framework
How to Write a Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 5: Interviews
Introduction
Interviews
Procedures
How to Analyze Interview Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 6: Focus Groups
Introduction
Focus Groups
Procedures
How to Analyze Focus Group Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 7: Quantitative Surveys
Introduction
Quantitative Surveys
How to Write Quantitative Survey Prompts
How to Write Demographic Questions
How to Create a Quantitative Survey
How to Conduct Quantitative Survey Research
Procedures
How to Analyze Quantitative Survey Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 8: Qualitative Questionnaires
Introduction
Qualitative Questionnaires
How to Write Qualitative Questionnaire Questions
How to Create a Qualitative Questionnaire
How to Conduct Qualitative Questionnaire Research
Procedures
How to Analyze Qualitative Questionnaire Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 9: Observations
Introduction
Observations
How to Conduct an Observation
How to Analyze Observation Data
How to Analyze and Report Field Notes
Procedures
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 10: Documents
Introduction
Documents
How to Conduct a Qualitative Document Analysis
Procedures
How to Conduct a Quantitative Document Analysis
Procedures
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 11: How to Write the Findings
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
Interview Findings
Focus Group Findings
Quantitative Survey Findings
Qualitative Questionnaire Findings
Observation Findings
Documents Findings
Quantitative Document Analysis
How to Write a Discussion of the Findings Section
How to Write a Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 12: How to Write the Recommendations
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
How to Write the Recommendations
How to Write the Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders
How to Write the Resources Needed
How to Write the Timeline
How to Write the Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 13: How to Defend Your Research
The Presentation
Proposal Defense
Final Defense
Chapter 14: Applied Research Manuscript Template
Glossary of Terms
References
Appendix A: Applied Research Manuscript Outline
Appendix B: Individual Scholarly Works Template
Appendix C: Comparative Scholarly Works Template
Appendix D: Interview Data Collection Template
Appendix E: Themes and Codes Table
Appendix F: Frequency of Codes and Themes Template
Appendix G: Focus Group Data Collection Template
Appendix H: Observation Table Template
Appendix I: Qualitative Document Analysis Template
Appendix J: Quantitative Document Analysis Template
Index
Dr. Bunnie L. Claxton is the founder and chief executive officer of Dissertation Research Specialist, a company that supports the implementation of doctoral programs in universities around the world. She currently serves as a consultant to universities regarding dissertation research to assist with program development, course development, and faculty training. She also provides support to doctoral candidates through her website www.dissertationspecialist.com. She is an adjunct instructor, subject matter expert, and dissertation chair for multiple universities. She is an international speaker, and she presented her research at Oxford University and Cambridge University in 2025. She was the keynote speaker for the World Conference on Teaching and Education in Berlin, Germany. Formerly, she served as the director of applied doctoral research at Liberty University. Dr. Claxton has been involved in the field of education since 1994, including public school, private school, home school, and higher education. Dr. Claxton served as the superintendent for Liberty University Online Academy, an online K–12 school with over 16,000 students, and she currently serves on the board of directors. She is the author of 20 textbooks and is best known for her Step-by-Step textbook series. A few titles include A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Applied Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Qualitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Quantitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Literature Review for Doctoral Research, and A Step-by-Step Introduction to Research Methods: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed-Methods, and Applied.
Dr. Kurt Y. Michael, Ph.D., is a professor at Liberty University. His experience includes 17 years teaching in the public schools and 12 years in higher education. He currently serves as the Administrative Chair of Doctoral Programs & Research for the School of Education at Liberty University. Dr. Michael has developed and taught multiple graduate-level research courses and chaired numerous dissertation committees. He remains current in the field of education by presenting at conferences and publishing articles in education journals.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Applied Research was written to guide candidates through the doctoral process as they strive to solve a specific problem or improve a practice in a real educational setting. Applied research incorporates a multimethod design that includes both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis strategies. This step-by-step approach to doctoral research is what makes this book unique.
Chapter 1: Applied Research
Introduction
Applied Research Defined
Reasons to Conduct Applied Research
How to Conduct Applied Research
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 2: How to Write Front Matter
Introduction
Outline of an Applied Research Manuscript
How to Write the Front Matter
How to Write a Title Page
How to Write a Signature Page
How to Write a Table of Contents
How to Write an Abstract
Abstracts Using Accurate Tense
How to Write the Role of the Researcher
How to Write the Permission to Conduct Research
How to Write the Ethical Considerations
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 3: How to Write the Introduction
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
How to Write the Organizational Profile
How to Write the Introduction to the Problem
How to Write the Significance of the Research
How to Write the Purpose Statement
How to Write the Central Research Question
Four Core Elements
How to Write the Definitions
How to Write a Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 4: How to Write a Literature Review
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
How to Write a Literature Review
How to Write a Theoretical Framework
How to Write a Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 5: Interviews
Introduction
Interviews
Procedures
How to Analyze Interview Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 6: Focus Groups
Introduction
Focus Groups
Procedures
How to Analyze Focus Group Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 7: Quantitative Surveys
Introduction
Quantitative Surveys
How to Write Quantitative Survey Prompts
How to Write Demographic Questions
How to Create a Quantitative Survey
How to Conduct Quantitative Survey Research
Procedures
How to Analyze Quantitative Survey Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 8: Qualitative Questionnaires
Introduction
Qualitative Questionnaires
How to Write Qualitative Questionnaire Questions
How to Create a Qualitative Questionnaire
How to Conduct Qualitative Questionnaire Research
Procedures
How to Analyze Qualitative Questionnaire Data
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 9: Observations
Introduction
Observations
How to Conduct an Observation
How to Analyze Observation Data
How to Analyze and Report Field Notes
Procedures
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 10: Documents
Introduction
Documents
How to Conduct a Qualitative Document Analysis
Procedures
How to Conduct a Quantitative Document Analysis
Procedures
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 11: How to Write the Findings
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
Interview Findings
Focus Group Findings
Quantitative Survey Findings
Qualitative Questionnaire Findings
Observation Findings
Documents Findings
Quantitative Document Analysis
How to Write a Discussion of the Findings Section
How to Write a Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 12: How to Write the Recommendations
Introduction
How to Write the Overview
How to Write the Recommendations
How to Write the Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders
How to Write the Resources Needed
How to Write the Timeline
How to Write the Summary
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 13: How to Defend Your Research
The Presentation
Proposal Defense
Final Defense
Chapter 14: Applied Research Manuscript Template
Glossary of Terms
References
Appendix A: Applied Research Manuscript Outline
Appendix B: Individual Scholarly Works Template
Appendix C: Comparative Scholarly Works Template
Appendix D: Interview Data Collection Template
Appendix E: Themes and Codes Table
Appendix F: Frequency of Codes and Themes Template
Appendix G: Focus Group Data Collection Template
Appendix H: Observation Table Template
Appendix I: Qualitative Document Analysis Template
Appendix J: Quantitative Document Analysis Template
Index
Dr. Bunnie L. Claxton is the founder and chief executive officer of Dissertation Research Specialist, a company that supports the implementation of doctoral programs in universities around the world. She currently serves as a consultant to universities regarding dissertation research to assist with program development, course development, and faculty training. She also provides support to doctoral candidates through her website www.dissertationspecialist.com. She is an adjunct instructor, subject matter expert, and dissertation chair for multiple universities. She is an international speaker, and she presented her research at Oxford University and Cambridge University in 2025. She was the keynote speaker for the World Conference on Teaching and Education in Berlin, Germany. Formerly, she served as the director of applied doctoral research at Liberty University. Dr. Claxton has been involved in the field of education since 1994, including public school, private school, home school, and higher education. Dr. Claxton served as the superintendent for Liberty University Online Academy, an online K–12 school with over 16,000 students, and she currently serves on the board of directors. She is the author of 20 textbooks and is best known for her Step-by-Step textbook series. A few titles include A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Applied Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Qualitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Quantitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Literature Review for Doctoral Research, and A Step-by-Step Introduction to Research Methods: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed-Methods, and Applied.
Dr. Kurt Y. Michael, Ph.D., is a professor at Liberty University. His experience includes 17 years teaching in the public schools and 12 years in higher education. He currently serves as the Administrative Chair of Doctoral Programs & Research for the School of Education at Liberty University. Dr. Michael has developed and taught multiple graduate-level research courses and chaired numerous dissertation committees. He remains current in the field of education by presenting at conferences and publishing articles in education journals.