Choosing an Ed.D. Research Focus: Problem of Practice Examples

As the Executive Director of a charitable foundation and school for boys in need, Alexander Gagnet faces problems of practice daily. As an Ed.D. student, Gagnet stood at the intersection of academia and life as a leader, one who is continually sought for guidance and answers. That constant need for expertise and wisdom is precisely what drove Gagnet to pursue a doctorate of education—he wanted to develop skills that will directly influence his professional role.

For Chris Valadez, an Ed.D. was an opportunity to contribute meaningful work to a field in need of insight: online nursing education. Valadez aims to empower higher education faculty with strategies and tools for delivering top-notch online BSN programs. 

For both Gagnet and Valadez, the needs and stakes are clear. Gagnet works daily with boys who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, need individualized support and structure, but with the correct guidance, have remarkable potential to flourish academically, personally and professionally. Valadez sees a healthcare crisis and nursing shortage and has embarked on creating innovative online education as part of the solution. In Ed.D. terms, these identified concerns are called problems of practice that guide a Dissertation in Practice (DiP). Problem statements clarify an existing problem, provide context for it, determine a desired outcome and illuminate the gap between current reality and the desired future outcome. 

Professionals eager to make a positive impact in their field may find that an Ed.D. that includes a DiP provides them with a unique opportunity to consider, study, and address problems within their communities. Students in Marymount University’s Ed.D. program say that the Dissertation in Practice has not only been the culmination of their experience but also the guiding light. 

“The biggest highlight of my experience with Marymount’s Ed.D. program is the focus on the dissertation in practice (DiP) starting in the first semester,” explains student Alicia Hunter. “I have colleagues, friends and associates at comparable universities who were not well supported in the preparation or completion of their dissertations. Our professors have been so intentional in making connections and assigning coursework that will support our DiP.” With an embedded DiP writing design, students are not left alone to write this manuscript, they are offered critical feedback from faculty in their courses and their Lead Doctoral Faculty Mentor, assigned at the very beginning of year two, to ensure that their research and academic writing is progressing. 

What is a Dissertation in Practice? At Marymount University, it isn’t just an academic pursuit or an end-of-program capstone. It’s a step toward shaping the future.

 

Defining a Problem of Practice

From nonprofit leaders to healthcare educators, school administrators, government officials, and business leaders, professionals regularly encounter problems in their workplaces or industries. An Ed.D. provides an opportunity not only to identify problems but also to consider them thoughtfully through research, literature reviews, and practical discussions. 

The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate defines a problem of practice as “a persistent, contextualized, and specific issue embedded in the work of a professional practitioner, the addressing of which has the potential to result in improved understanding, experience, and outcomes.” While the thesis for a dissertation in a Ph.D. program may focus primarily on the theory, a Dissertation in Practice aims to address directly observable phenomena that relate to the professional field of the doctoral student. The problem of practice identifies an issue that can be addressed with practical steps.

Consider some of the problem of practice examples that Ed.D. students may focus on in their DiPs based on their professional fields:

 

School Administrators

• How can mentorship programs empower students in economically disadvantaged schools to succeed?
• What impact does a social-emotional learning program have on the student morale of an elementary school? 
• Which inclusion strategies have the greatest positive impact for students with developmental disabilities?

 

Healthcare Professionals

• How do caregiver education programs improve outcomes in patients with chronic diseases? 
• What are the most effective strategies for eliminating communication silos between hospital departments? 
• How do translated digital health tools such as apps or telehealth improve health literacy in non-English speaking patients?

 

Nonprofit Executives

• Which components of succession planning ensure the greatest path to sustainability for mid-sized nonprofits? 
• How do donor appreciation programs improve giving retention?
• Which programs provide the greatest measurable service to the clients of a neighborhood outreach organization? 

 

For Ed.D. students at Marymount University, “what is a problem of practice?” isn’t just a question of choosing a topic of interest; it’s a chance to have personalized guidance in researching the roots of the problem of practice and exploring ways to positively impact current literature surrounding this topic. At Marymount, Lead Doctoral Faculty Mentors are thoughtfully paired with students through an individualized matching process. The students receive their match in the beginning of their fourth semester. This qualified individual stays with the student through every step of their research until the student has completed their program. LDFMs serve not only as dissertation chairs but as mentors and guides throughout the dissertation process. 

 

Take a look at some of the topics Marymount LDFMs have expertise in:

• Recruiting and retaining diverse teachers for public schools
• Federal government
• K-12/post-secondary education
• Strategic planning and change management
• Dual enrollment
• Higher education policy
• Transfer and articulation
• First-generation students
• Industrial technology
• Social and emotional programming and its impact on discipline disproportionality
• Student self-efficacy
• The achievement gap
• African-American education
• Standardized testing
• Media representations of crime
• Muslim discrimination & criminal justice pedagogy
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in special education
• Organizational innovation and how education leadership can address challenges
• Policing & first responder trauma

 

While this list is extensive, it’s just the beginning of the problems of practice that LDFMs at Marymount are prepared to explore with students. From innovative AI practices, integrating literacy with mathematics, and urban school reform to influencing health care and global policies, there are many opportunities for Marymount LDFMs to address real challenges and make meaningful changes.

 

Tips for Choosing a Problem of Practice That Is Meaningful to You

The first question to ask when determining a problem of practice isn’t “What do my professors want me to address?” or even “What will make a difference in my field?” Instead, it’s a more personal inquiry: “Why do I do what I do?” 

By looking at motivations and desires, professionals can begin to discover what drew them into their area of interest and why they care about improving their field. Maybe years of work with teachers on the brink of burnout has led an educator to develop retention strategies for early and mid career education professionals. It could be that the director of a food bank has an idea for mitigating the rising cost of ingredients, which she sees directly harming people in need on a daily basis. 

These are problems that don’t rest in the theoretical realm but reside in the practical and personal realms. While an Ed.D. is a rigorous academic pursuit, it is also a program that invites students to bring all they have gathered in the working world into their studies, transforming them from a professional into a scholar-practitioner. Starting with passion and purpose can not only clarify a problem of practice but also provide students with the motivation and stamina to complete their Dissertation in Practice. 

Consider a few more pieces of advice for choosing a problem of practice:

• Find one specific and discernable issue in your field: Find a problem that exists in reality with a describable context and desired outcome, depicting a well-defined gap between current reality and the possible future.
• Identify available mentors: While each student needs the opportunity to carve out their own niche of expertise, a mentor with related experience and insight can be an invaluable asset during the Dissertation in Practice process.
• Think ahead: The ideal doctoral program to help you address a problem of practice not only paves the way to a brighter future for students and the population they serve, but provides scaffolded and multi-tiered support to ensure that students get to the finish line.

Marymount Ed.D. graduate, Somachi Kachikwu, summarizes the Dissertation in Practice in two words: research and action. Elizabeth Rodarte, an Ed.D. graduate, has a vision that has guided her throughout: disrupting her state’s educational system to revolutionize student education.

Colleague Alicia Hunter notes the early start, connections with professors, and intentional coursework that align with the DiP. Whether they note greater insight into their fields, strong mentorship that guides their paths, or instant overlap with their day-to-day professional leadership, Marymount Ed.D. students find the degree program and DiP to be unique positive assets to their personal and professional lives. 

 

Address Real-World Leadership Challenges with a Doctorate of Education from Marymount University

Do you dream of addressing a recurring, rampant problem in your field of work? Are you eager to learn from invested mentors, peers, and expert faculty representing multiple industries?

Whether you want to make a difference in your organization, company or community, an online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation will empower you as a change agent ready to initiate and inspire. By providing a supportive and innovative environment for individuals seeking effective solutions to real-world challenges, our high-touch faculty approach, coupled with the expert guidance from LDFM and scaffolded academic writing supports, help you apply research and theory to impact a problem of practice in your field, transforming into an agent of change. 

The Marymount online Ed.D. can be completed in less than 3 years. Connect with an enrollment advisor to get started.