Infographic explaining how DBA candidates choose between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods dissertation designs, including the three mixed-methods design types: convergent, explanatory sequential, and exploratory sequential.

DBA Dissertation Methodology: Choosing Quantitative, Qualitative, or Mixed Methods

Choosing a DBA dissertation methodology is a decision most candidates make once, in Chapter 3, and then live with for the rest of the program. A DBA committee is not grading how sophisticated the proposed design sounds. It is testing whether the specific quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approach a candidate proposes can actually answer the specific research question already on the table. Get that fit…

DBA dissertation defense timeline showing manuscript submission, candidate presentation, committee questions, private deliberation and the four possible outcomes

DBA Dissertation Defense: What It Actually Takes to Pass

A DBA dissertation defense is not a formality tacked onto the end of the program. It is a separate, structured evaluation, typically 60 to 90 minutes and conducted over video conference, in which a committee that has already approved the written manuscript decides whether the candidate can defend it live, in real time, without the safety net of another editing pass. Programs vary in exactly…