Students are expected to complete their research, including the writing and approval of the final document, within one year (3 academic terms, including the summer) of initial registration for NURS 800. If more than a year passes and the study is not complete, students must register for one additional credit for each term until it is completed or until a second year has passed.  After 2 years, students must seek permission from Brenda Dede, PhD, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Clarion University, to remain in the program. See the check sheet below that is designed to help students plan their activities so that they finish within the one-year time frame.

 *        Regarding plans for data analysis

**       Regarding entering and analyzing data

***      Regarding description of study findings in final report

Addendum to the checklist

The thesis committee: The minimum number of individuals on the Thesis committee is 3.  Four are acceptable..  The Chair of the committee must be a full (permanent) member of the university faculty.  Other members may also be members of the faculty or may be representative of the community with expertise in the area being studied.

The first three chapters of the Thesis: These are required for all Theses because they essentially describe the research to be undertaken, the students’ grasp of previous work in the area and the methods by which the work will be carried out.

Statistical consultation: In most cases statistical consultation is needed for thesis research. In order to arrange for statistical consultation, discuss this with your committee chair who will determine which of the 2 statistical consultants (Judy DePalma or Amy McClure) is available. Students must be able to provide the statistical consultant with the proposed research questions, proposed sample size and instruments to be used in collecting the data.

Initial presentation to Thesis committee: The student circulates the document to members of the thesis committee when advised to do so by the thesis advisor.  This document should be sent to the committee members 10 – 14 days before the scheduled meeting. This meeting gives everyone involved the opportunity to review the plans before IRB approval is sought and the work commences. 

Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval: With the assistance of the Thesis advisor, following the initial presentation to the committee, application is made to the IRB for approval of the study if it will involve living human subjects.  IRB approval is sought from the IRB at the university that employs the Thesis advisor. 

At Clarion, http://www.clarion.edu/admin/facres/irb

At Edinboro, http://www.edinboro.edu/cwis/speced/hsresearch/humansubjects.htm

At Slippery Rock, http://www.sru.edu/pages/2014.asp

Presentation of final product to thesis committee: The student circulates the final thesis to members of the thesis committee when advised to do so by the thesis advisor.  This document should be sent to the committee members 10 – 14 days before the scheduled meeting. 

This is the opportunity for everyone to learn how the team’s plans worked out and to view the final thesis outcome.  The Thesis committee is responsible for evaluating the final outcome and determining if it meets the standard for a master’s level thesis. Other students and faculty are to be invited to the final meeting.  This is the responsibility of the student who is expected to send an announcement via the MSN listserv at the same time she/he sends information. 

Research presentation at one of the universities’ research symposia: Students are expected to submit an abstract for presentation at the next regularly scheduled research symposium held at Clarion University, Edinboro University or Slippery Rock University.  Students are expected to obtain the abstract submission form and submit it before the due date.  Students are encouraged to consult with their research chair in preparing the abstract and formatting the presentation.