Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty

The overview document takes its form from the nature of the problem to be investigated. In the first part of this book, we suggested a format that covers essential proposal elements. The time line (Fig. 1-1) adapts readily to any qualitative or quantitative study plan. Terminology differs from place to place, but the most common names given to this document are the study plan, proposal, oroverview.

The goal of the student at this point is to gain the approval of the committee to embark on the conduct of the proposed project. This approval, if given, is certified by an actual vote of the committee. The committee members affix their signatures to a form that specifies salient information about the meeting.

The committee's collective judgment is reached by the end of the overview meeting. Each member has earlier read the proposal itself. During the overview meeting, members raise questions, engage in discussions with the student and each other, and offer suggestions about the proposal.

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