Each student must adjust the final dissertation format to fit his study.
In some cases,dissertation advisors ask for a proposal that amounts to a partial dissertation draft.Presumably ,if there are no subsequently significant changes in the study’s process or design.
For the faculty, a full three-chapter proposal provides the strongest basis for several of the functions of a proposal discussed. For the student,substantial initial work is required without formal assurance that the study being planned will be acceptable ,but once such a proposal is approved,the student is well on its way to completing the entire study.
More often,however,proposals provides a sketchier coverage of study than the development of the chapter implies.This better fits the level of knowledge of the student at the time proposal is written,as well as allowing for the most inevitable adjustments required later to fit newly revealed realities.This is less true,however, if the preparation of the proposal is preceded by a pilot study. For empirical studies,a pilot test enables the researcher to cycle through the entire study on a small scale so that an improved argument,inquiry process, and set of questions can be developed for the dissertation proposal.