Proposal and IRB Review

Although doctoral students experience basic similarities in the university research framework, notable differences exist between traditional campus-based programs, online programs, and blended programs that include the best of both. Differences also exist between the research cultures of the laboratory-based science disciplines and the social sciences/humanities disciplines. As such, critical to the development of your proposal, which is typically the first three chapters of the dissertation, is the degree-granting institution’s dissertation manual specific to your doctoral program. For some universities, the manual is augmented by a dissertation template that provides content and style formatting guidance. Having served doctoral students and university faculty members for more than 20 years, Dr. Debra Fisher has a working familiarity with these manuals and templates. Additionally, Dr. Fisher is certified by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program in human subject research, which means your proposal will meet criteria for scientific merit and ethical assurances required by both your university Institutional Review Board (IRB) and research site IRB. With Dr. Fisher at your side, you will achieve a committee-approved proposal with minimal revision cycles. The preciseness of your IRB application(s) will result in obtaining approval to conduct your study sooner, saving you both time and tuition costs.