The SMA Dissertation Competition recognizes outstanding doctoral research in the field of marketing. The competition encourages emerging scholars to showcase innovative ideas with firm conceptual and methodological grounding. Submissions may be early-stage proposals or completed dissertations, but all entries will be evaluated based on their scholarly merit, potential impact, and research rigor.
Eligibility
Open to doctoral candidates and recent graduates (within 12 months of degree conferral).
Submissions must represent the dissertation research of the entrant and must not have been submitted previously to this competition.
Co-authored papers are not eligible; the dissertation author must be the sole author of the submission.
Doctoral student must register for and attend the 2025 SMA Annual Conference.
Format
Extended Abstract
Maximum 10 double-spaced pages (including text, tables, figures, references).
Should offer a cohesive overview of the dissertation's conceptual basis, key literature, research questions, methodology, and potential contributions.
Full Paper
Maximum 25 double-spaced pages (including text, tables, figures, references).
Should resemble a fully developed journal manuscript.
Formatting Requirements
12-point Times New Roman font
1-inch margins on all sides
APA or AMA citation style
Evaluation Process
All submissions will be blind reviewed by a panel of expert scholars with diverse methodological and topical expertise. Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
| Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Articulation of Research Objective(s) | Clarity, specificity, and scholarly significance of research aims/questions |
| 2. Relevance and Timeliness of Topic | Importance of the topic in advancing marketing theory or practice; alignment with current issues |
| 3. Conceptual Foundation | Strength and coherence of the theoretical basis; grounding in extant literature and logic |
| 4. Abridged Literature Research | Breadth, depth, and synthesis of relevant literature appropriate for the stage of the work |
| 5. Soundness of Methodology | Appropriateness, rigor, and justification of the research design and data analysis techniques |
| 6. Potential Contributions | Theoretical, methodological, or managerial insights; originality and expected impact |