Dissertation Prospectus Example

by Posted on

Dissertation Prospectus Example

Here’s an example of what a dissertation prospectus might look like for a social sciences dissertation:

Title: The Impact of Social Media on Political Participation Among Young Adults

Introduction:

  • The rise of social media platforms has changed the way young people engage with political processes. This dissertation will explore the relationship between social media use and political participation among young adults in the United States. The central research question is: How does social media use influence the political participation of young adults?

  • The study aims to determine if social media engagement increases political awareness, involvement in political activities, and voter turnout among young adults.

Literature Review:

  • Existing literature suggests that social media has become a powerful tool for political mobilization, particularly among younger generations (Smith, 2018; Johnson, 2020). However, there is little consensus on whether online political engagement translates into offline political action. Previous studies have explored political participation through traditional media (Miller, 2015), but few have focused specifically on the role of social media.

  • This dissertation will address the gap in the literature by focusing on the direct correlation between social media usage and real-world political participation.

Research Methodology:

  • This study will use a mixed-methods approach. A survey will be administered to 500 college students to measure their social media usage, political awareness, and participation in political activities. In-depth interviews with 20 participants will be conducted to gain qualitative insights into their experiences and attitudes toward political engagement via social media.

  • Data analysis will involve statistical techniques for the survey results (e.g., regression analysis) and thematic coding for the interview data.

Proposed Structure:

  • Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study

  • Chapter 2: Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

  • Chapter 3: Research Methodology

  • Chapter 4: Data Collection and Analysis

  • Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion

Timeline:

  • Month 1-2: Literature review and theoretical framework

  • Month 3-4: Develop and distribute the survey, conduct interviews

  • Month 5-6: Data analysis

  • Month 7-8: Write-up of chapters 4 and 5

  • Month 9: Final revisions and submission

Significance:

  • This research will contribute to the understanding of how social media shapes political engagement among young adults. By identifying the factors that influence political participation, the study may inform strategies for increasing political engagement in this demographic.

References:

  • Johnson, M. (2020). The Role of Social Media in Modern Politics. Journal of Political Communication, 45(3), 34-56.

  • Miller, S. (2015). Media and Politics: A Historical Perspective. Academic Press.

  • Smith, A. (2018). Youth and Politics in the Digital Age. New York: University Press.

Published by oriaku