thesis… · does presentation really matter? “although generally insufficient to fail a thesis,...
TRANSCRIPT
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WHAT EXAMINERS LOOK FOR IN A
THESIS…
Dr Juliana Mansvelt, School of People, Environment and Planning email: [email protected]
A personal view
4/10/12
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Some starting points….
The Examiner is not out
to get you…
The Examiner is
interested in your
research
The Examiner is
generally familiar with
the literature in the
field but….
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Be encouraged….
….YOU are the expert!
http://www.metaphonica.com/tag/expert/
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Thesis Criteria…
the candidate shows familiarity with, and understanding of, relevant literature
the thesis provides a sufficiently comprehensive study of the topic
the methods adopted are appropriate to the subject matter and are properly applied
the research findings are suitably set out and accompanied by adequate exposition
the quality of English and general presentation is satisfactory
the thesis as a whole makes an original contribution to the knowledge of the subject with which it deals, and the candidate understands the relationship of the thesis to the wider context of knowledge in which it belongs
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First impressions - What may
discourage your examiner…
A thesis that is
overlong
Too smaller fonts
A lack of proof-
reading
A lack of clarity and
coherence in the first
chapter
http://www.photocase.com/stock-photos/140377-stock-
photo-man-beautiful-book-paper-piece-of-paper-throw.jpg
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Does presentation really matter?
“Although generally insufficient to fail a thesis, shortcomings in literary
presentation such as editing and clarity can be a strong deterrent to
an examiner and result in a largely negative appraisal. Examiners
quickly become annoyed and distracted by spelling, typographical,
grammatical and referencing errors... One of the problems with work
that is poorly presented is that the examiner tends to lose confidence
in the candidate and can become suspicious that there are deeper
problems of inadequate and rushed conceptualisation”
Johnston, S. 1997, pg 344-345 From: www.monash.edu.au/lls/hdr/write/5.13.html
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But what makes for a great thesis?
Clarity
Justification
Supporting evidence
Critical
interpretation and
reflection
Coherence
Originality
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Clarity
Around the thesis
narrative
Around the
expression your
ideas
Around the
contribution of
the research
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Justification
Of your choices and
research decisions
The research journey
What has and hasn’t
worked (Why/Why
not?)
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Supporting Evidence
Support your
assertions
Link the general
to the particular
Ground your
conclusions and
analysis in the
data and the
literature
http://www.onefish2.com/2008_09_14_
archive.html
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Critical Interpretation and Reflection
Reflect critically on the
place of your research
And on the research
itself
The wisdom of your
decisions
The validity of your
inferences and
conclusions
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Coherence
Link the
component parts
of the thesis
Have a clear flow
to your thesis
Connect the
introduction and
the conclusion http://www.workshifting.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/04/connect-the-
dots.jpg
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Originality….
Winter et al, 2000 research on examiners’ perspectives on what constitutes ‘original’ and ‘publishable’, concluded that a PhD ought to:
be a report of work which others would want to read;
tell a compelling story articulately whilst pre-empting inevitable critiques;
carry the reader into complex realms, and inform and educate him/her;
be sufficiently speculative or original to command respectful peer attention
(Winter et al., 2000, pp. 32–35,
cited in Mullins and Kiley, 2002 pg 372).
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Originality
Multiple dimensions
Topic
Problem/question
Method
Theorisation
Interpretation and
Analysis
Practice
Contribution
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Stake your claim!!
Say how and why you
have made a
contribution!
Consider the potential
implications of your
research
Breaking new ground
– where to from here?
http://www.coolstuffinc.com/images/Products/Misc%20Art/Wattsalpoa
g%20Games/wap_claimit.jpg
THE TREASURE IN YOUR THESIS…
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Conclusions: Don’ts……
Give your examiner the wrong impression by not dealing with the mechanics of putting the thesis together (length guidelines, spelling, presentation, referencing, grammar)
Produce a collection of chapters with contain description but little analysis
Think the findings speak for themselves (be explicit about meaning and contribution)
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Conclusions – Do’s……
Be confident in your expertise and make the benefits of the knowledge you have gained explicit to your readers
Provide the examiner not just with an exposition of what you have done but also reflect on your research choices
Demonstrate why and how your research is original/novel and has added something new to what is already known
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Success -
http://dannybrown.me/2011/01/14/social-media-small-business/
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References
Johnston, S. 1997: Examining the examiners: An analysis of examiners reports on doctoral theses. Studies in Higher Education, 22(3), 333-347.
Mullins , J. and Kiley, M. 2002: It’s a PhD, not a Nobel Prize: How experienced examiners assess research theses. Studies in Higher Education, 27(4), 369-386.
Winter, R., Griffiths, M. and Green, K. 2000: The ‘academic’ qualities of practice: what are the criteria for a practice-based PhD? Studies in Higher Education, 25(1), 25-37.