ABSTRACT
This chapter is useful for professionals who are enrolled in a doctoral program where they have the opportunity to engage in practical and applied research. Practical and applied research often takes the shape of action research or program evaluation. This chapter introduces the historical roots of action research, and describes the significance of applied research in doctoral studies. Research that aims to solve practical problems is often pursued by doctoral students, and for that reason this chapter introduces an outline shell for developing a traditional five-chapter dissertation. The basic format of each chapter is introduced and explained in a way that is easily applied for students engaged in the dissertation writing process. This chapter is also especially useful for practitioners who are conducting program evaluations, as it guides the reader to take a more research-based approach to improving practices and programs.
