University of Wisconsin - Stout

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Plan B Thesis Requirements

Students in the M.S. Ed. degree program in School Psychology need to complete a Plan B Thesis. Most students in the M.S. Ed. degree program take the required research courses (EDUC 740 Research Foundations and SPSY 735 Problems in School Psychology) during their first year of the program. Students typically enroll in EDUC 740 Research Foundations during Spring Semester of their first year. Students can enroll in SPSY 735 Problems in School Psychology (Plan B) concurrently or sequentially. Most students enroll in SPSY 735 during the Summer Semester of their first year. Approximately half of all students will complete their thesis during the Summer Semester and graduate with their M.S. Ed. at the end of the summer session. The remaining students typically complete the thesis and graduate with their M.S. Ed. at the end of Fall Semester of their second year.

To assist students in the Plan B process, there is a Research Packet available from the Graduate School (or online here). The packet explains the Plan B process, delineates the steps towards completion of the Plan B thesis, provides suggested timelines, and gives examples of formats used for consent forms, abstracts, and thesis structure. Students should obtain a copy and read through it carefully. Another useful resource is the University Library's Thesis Collection which is available online. Students can review recently completed theses that have obtained Graduate School approval.

 

Selecting a Research Advisor

A research advisor must be selected from the Graduate Faculty (a list of current Graduate Faculty members is available from the Graduate School or online here). The research advisor does not need to be a School Psychology Faculty member. It is the student's responsibility to arrange research advisement with the faculty member of their choice. Complete the Appointment of Research Advisor Form, obtain the necessary signatures (research advisor, department chair, and school psychology program director), and return the form to the Graduate School. Students need to complete this form before they can register for SPSY 735 Problems in School Psychology (Plan B).

 

Paperwork required for the Plan B Thesis

With the assistance of your Research Advisor, complete the Preliminary Statement of Research: Approval of Research Topic and Protection of Human Subjects form and return it to the Graduate School. If the study involves collecting data from humans the Protection of Human Subjects in Research Form also will need to be completed. This form and the required attachments are then turned in to the Graduate School.

 

Format of Plan B Thesis

Several formats are acceptable for a Plan B Thesis. The student and his or her research advisor must agree on the format. Many students in the School Psychology program use their Plan B Thesis as a precursor to their Ed.S. Specialist Thesis. If a student chooses this option, a literature review and critical analysis of the research is sufficient for the Plan B. Thesis. However, students may choose from any of the following options:


The structure of the paper is determined in conjunction with one's research advisor. A suggested outline for a review and critical analysis of literature and review might consist of an introductory chapter (introduction; problem statement; rationale, purpose, and significance of study; and research questions, objectives or hypotheses), a second chapter reviewing and analyzing the literature (review of literature and relevant research; critical analysis of literature and research; and summary), and a final chapter outlining the proposed study (research design; subject selection; methodology; and recommended data analysis) or providing a summary and discussion (conclusions, implications, recommendations and directions for further research). It is recommended that the student use APA Style in writing their Plan B Thesis. The Graduate School approves several formats and writing styles and a student is allowed to use the format or style of their choice as long as it is on the approved list and their advisor approves.

 

Submission of the Plan B Thesis to the Graduate School

It is recommended that students prepare two paper copies of their research paper to be signed by the research advisor. Students submit one original signed copy to the Graduate School along with an electronic copy (floppy disk, CD-Rom, Zip Disk). Retain the other copy for the student's record. The electronic copy needs to be in Microsoft Word 6.0 or higher. A micro-processing fee will be assessed. In addition, the completed and signed Plan B Thesis needs to be accompanied by the Submission of Final Research Report form. The Plan B Thesis must be turned in by 4 p.m. on the last day of the term in which the student intends to graduate.


Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Thesis Requirements

Students in the Education Specialist (Ed.S) degree program in School Psychology need to complete a Specialist Thesis. Students may enroll in SPSY 870 Specialist Thesis in School Psychology once they have been accepted into the Ed.S. Degree program, have completed EDUC 740 Research Methods, and have the approval of the School Psychology Program Director. Students may enroll for a minimum of 3 credits and a maximum of 6 credits.

To assist students in the Specialist Thesis process, a Research Packet is available from the Graduate School (or online here). The packet explains the Specialist Thesis process, delineates the steps toward completion of the Ed.S. thesis, provides suggested timelines and gives examples of formats used for consent forms, abstract and thesis sturcture. Students should obtain a copy and read through it carefully.

 

Selecting a Research Advisor and Committee

Students choose a research advisor and two committee members from the Graduate Faculty (a list of current Graduate Faculty members is available from the Graduate School or online here). Your program advisor, the Program Director and the Department Chair can provide input as to your research advisor and the make-up of your committee. The research advisor does not necessarily have to be a School Psychology Faculty member. Most students choose to continue working with the research advisor who supervised their Plan B Thesis. At least one of the committee members must be a school psychology program faculty member. It is the student's responsibility to arrange with the faculty members of his or her choice to serve on the committee. Complete the Appointment of Research Advisor form, obtain necessary signatures (research advisor, committee members, department chair, and school psychology program director), and return the form to the Graduate School. The Associate Dean of the Graduate School reviews the form and formally appoints the committee. This needs to be completed before you can register for SPSY 870 Specialist Thesis in School Psychology.

 

Paperwork required for the Specialist Thesis

With the assistance of their research advisor, students complete the Preliminary Statement of Research: Approval of Research Topic and Protection of Human Subjects form and return it to the Graduate School. If the study involves collecting data from humans the Protection of Human Subjects in Research Form will also need to be completed. This form and the required attachments are then turned in to the Graduate School.

 

Format of the Specialist Thesis

The Specialist Thesis is a research project that involves the selection of a problem, a review and critical analysis of the literature and relevant research, the development of a sound research plan and methodology, data collection, and interpretation and discussion of findings.

The paper is structured as follows:

Chapter I: Introduction

Introduction
Problem Statement
Rationale, Purpose, and Significance of the Study
Research Questions, Objectives or Hypotheses

Chapter II: Literature Review

Review of literature and relevant research
Critical analysis of literature and research
Summary

Chapter III: Methodology/Procedures

Research Design
Subject Selection
Instrumentation
Data Collection Procedures
Data Analysis

Chapter IV: Results

Overview of research plan and methodology
Results
Summary of research results relevant to problem statement, research questions or hypotheses

Chapter V: Summary and Discussion

Summary of the Study
Discussion of Findings
Implications and recommendations for future research
Conclusion

It is recommended that the student use APA Style in writing their Specialist Thesis. The student will need to arrange with their thesis advisor and committee members periodic progress reviews of the project.

 

Oral Defense of the Specialist Thesis

The student will submit a final draft to his or her research advisor and committee members at a reasonable time period (a minimum of at least three weeks) prior to the scheduled oral defense. The student must schedule the oral defense at a mutually acceptable time for the advisor, committee members and student. The committee members are responsible for reading the final written draft and conducting the oral examination. A student may be asked to make adjustments or corrections to the written draft and resubmit a new copy at the oral defense. If the student's written thesis is acceptable and the oral defense successful, the committee will sign the final copies of the Specialist Thesis. If the student's thesis and/or oral defense are not acceptable the student will be asked to make corrections and resubmit the thesis for oral defense.

 

Submission of the Specialist Thesis to the Graduate School

It is recommended that students prepare two paper copies of the research paper to be signed by the research advisor and committee members. Students must submit one original signed copy to the Graduate School along with an electronic copy (floppy disk, CD-Rom, Zip Disk). The other copy is retained for the student's records. The electronic copy needs to be in Microsoft Word 6.0 or higher. A microprocessing fee will be assessed. In addition, the completed and signed Specialist Thesis needs to be accompanied by the Submission of Final Research Report form. The Specialist Thesis must be turned in by 4 p.m. on the last day of the term in which the student intends to graduate.