The chair approved the proposal and sent it to the committee.
CCD-698 • Dissertation Research SeminarJuly 30, 2026
Month Two: Approved to Defend
Month Two check-in: proposal approved for an August 14 defense and IRB materials nearing chair review.
Course artifact. A July 30, 2026 check-in from CCD-698, a doctoral seminar that has now ended, kept as presented. It lists an August 14 defense date; the proposal defense was held and passed on August 13, 2026. For the current study, see the dissertation overview.
Micah Miner
The month in one sentence
The proposal is approved for defense
The August 14 defense is now the immediate focus.
July 9 starting pointA committee-ready proposal
July 30 statusDefense approved; IRB preparation underway
First-month goals revisited
The first-month goals produced concrete outcomes
Progress is now measured by completed transitions, not draft activity.
The August 14 defense focuses work on the deck, answer bank, and timed rehearsals.
CITI is complete. The IRB narrative, consent and recruitment materials, and review memo are assembled.
Research operations
The research infrastructure is now in use
The ecosystem supports public explanation, private operations, and compliance.
The proposal studio, defense companion, overview, and methods resources support explanation and rehearsal.
The dashboard organizes milestones, documents, readiness, and the transition to study operations.
A controlled workspace holds the submission package and supporting records.
IRB status
The IRB package is substantially assembled
What remains is a focused consistency and approval pass.
- CITI certificate and report
- Draft two-page narrative
- Consent forms based on NLU samples
- Recruitment materials and screening language
- Cover-sheet values and review memo
- NLU informed-consent examples
4final handoffs
- Resolve proposal-to-IRB consistency
- Append representative study instruments
- Complete the application form and signatures
- Obtain chair review and approval
Expected review pathway
The study is being prepared for exempt review
Exempt means a narrower pathway for qualifying minimal-risk research, not no review.
Adult participants
No minors are recruited, and no K–12 student data or student work are collected.
Educational methods
Participant activities use surveys, interviews, and related educational research procedures.
Confidentiality
Storage, recruitment, reporting, and withdrawal procedures are designed to limit disclosure risk.
One-reviewer path
The chair’s guidance identifies the study for exempt review, followed by the standard approval letter.
Final IRB work
The critical task is alignment
Every document must describe the same study.
Participant scope
Use consistent participant groups, eligibility rules, and enrollment limits.
Study activities
List each interview, survey, card sort, and validation activity consistently.
Data protection
Name the secure destination, retention period, access controls, and de-identification process.
Instrument appendices
Provide versions clear enough for participant-risk review.
July 30 to August 14
Two readiness tracks now move together
Defense and IRB preparation produce different materials but follow one study design.
Align
Complete the consistency pass and attach the study instruments.
Review
Send the IRB packet to the chair, address revisions, and stabilize the defense deck.
Rehearse
Complete timed runs and refine answers about boundaries, integration, and feasibility.
Defend
Complete the final check, present a controlled argument, and document committee decisions.
Feedback before August 14
Three questions will sharpen the next phase
Focused feedback will strengthen both defense preparation and IRB readiness.
Where is the defense explanation too complex?Which design decision needs stronger justification?Which IRB inconsistency could delay submission?
The proposal is approved. The next step is disciplined preparation.