'It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize': How experienced examiners assess research theses

Mullins, Gray; Kiley, Margaret

doi:10.1080/0307507022000011507

Cited by 249 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…However, a later study by Mullins and Kiley (2002) established a link between methodology and the literature review. They interviewed experienced Australjan dissertation examiners and found that examiners typically started reviewing a dissertatjon with the expectation that it would pass; but a poorly conceptualized or written literature review often indjcated for them that the rest of the dissertation might have problems.…”

Section: The Titeraqrementioning

confidence: 99%

Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation

Boote

Beile²

2005

Educational Researcher

636

389

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A thorough, sophisticated literature review is the foundation and inspintion for substantial, useful research. The complex naure of education research demands such thorough, sophistjcated reviews.Although doctoral education is a key means for improving education rsearch, the literature has given shon shrift to the dissertation literature review. This anicle sugtests criteria to evaluate the quality of dissenation literature reviews and reports a study that e:

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Section: The Titeraqrementioning

confidence: 99%

Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation

Boote

Beile²

2005

Educational Researcher

636

389

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“…A doctoral thesis at York University (no date), for example, is defined as ''a piece of work which a capable, well-qualified and diligent student, who is properly supported and supervised, can complete within three years''. Mullins and Kiley (2002) remind examiners that they are evaluating a ''PhD not a Nobel Prize'', so they must keep in mind the timescale of the research, the constraints under which the student had to operate, and the normal disciplinary expectations about quantity and quality of work under scrutiny. Typical word-length can very between disciplines, but between 80,000 and 100,000 words is a typical maximum allowed under university regulations.…”

Section: New Variant Phd In the Uk 197mentioning

confidence: 99%

New Variant PhD: The changing nature of the doctorate in the UK

Park

2005

Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management

257

150

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Since the early twentieth century the PhD has been the research degree of choice in the UK, but traditional ideas and practices relating to the degree are now being challenged. This paper sketches out the main drivers of change and explores the main challenges confronting doctoral study within the UK. It explains why there is a need for a wholesale revision of assumptions and expectations about what the PhD is, and it charts the genesis and evolution of the PhD in the UK. Key drivers for change include a new emphasis on skills and training, submission rates and quality of supervision, changes in the examination of the thesis, and the introduction of national benchmarking. The paper then explores changes in the PhD as product and as process, and outlines how and why new forms of doctorate are emerging. It asks, rhetorically, whether the changing nature of the doctorate reflects adaptation to changing circumstances in order to survive.

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“…PhD students easily tend to think that the demands and expectations set for a doctoral thesis are overwhelming (see Mullins & Kiley, 2002). To prevent these thoughts taking too big a role during the research process, constant communication between a supervisor and a PhD student is needed.…”

Section: Caring Supervision Clarifies the Requirement Of Phd Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Good Supervisor–Ten Facts of Caring Supervision

Määttä¹

2015

IES

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This article describes the elements of caring supervision of doctoral theses. The purpose was to describe the best practices as well as challenges of supervision especially from the supervisor's perspective. The analysis is based on the author's extensive experience as a supervisor and related data obtained for research and developmental purposes. Caring supervision is summarized into ten facts that illustrate the multidimensional nature of a supervision relationship. The findings can help supervisors develop in their important work of supervising doctoral theses.

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'It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize': How experienced examiners assess research theses

Cited by 249 publications

References 7 publications

Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation

Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation

New Variant PhD: The changing nature of the doctorate in the UK

A Good Supervisor–Ten Facts of Caring Supervision

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