Identify a topic.   
What do you want to research? Why?
What is the problem you want to address (must come from the literature and be cited). Who are saying there are problems?  
What has been done so far about the problem? Locate peer-reviewed articles related to your topic. What were the research questions in the studies? What findings were reported? 
Identify a gap in the literature to justify your research. 
What is the purpose of your proposed study (be specific and clear)? What is the population you would like to address? 
What methodology are you planning on using? i.e. quantitative or qualitative?  
Your dissertation MUST relate to your work. Does this dissertation relate to your work?