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How to Get a PhD

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ISBN-10: 0335155367

ISBN-13: 9780335155361

Edition: 1987

Authors: Estelle M. Phillips, D. S. Pugh

List price: $31.00
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Reviews from 1st and 2nd Editions: "A welcome revision to what has always been a popular book amongst intending PhD students" - Phoenix "Phillips and Pugh's book has, since its original publication in 1987, become the undisputed bible for doctoral students" - Nursing Times "Warmly recommended as a bed-side companion, both to those hoping to get a PhD and to those who have the responsibility of guiding them, often with very little support themselves"- Higher Education Review "This is an excellent book. Its style is racy and clear ... an impressive array of information, useful advice and comment gleaned from the authors' systematic study and experience over many years ... should be required…    
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Book details

List price: $31.00
Copyright year: 1987
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 172
Language: English

Preface to the third editionp. xv
Becoming a postgraduatep. 1
The nature of postgraduate educationp. 1
The psychology of being a postgraduatep. 4
The aims of this bookp. 4
Action summaryp. 5
Getting into the systemp. 6
Choosing the institution and field of studyp. 6
Distance supervision?p. 8
Choosing your work contextp. 10
Selecting your supervisorp. 11
Becoming a research studentp. 13
Myths and realities of the systemp. 14
The 'ivory tower'p. 14
Personal relationshipsp. 14
Teamworkingp. 15
'Scientific method'p. 16
Action summaryp. 18
The nature of the PhD qualificationp. 19
The meaning of a doctoratep. 19
Becoming a fully professional researcherp. 21
Differences between the MPhil and the PhDp. 23
Aims of studentsp. 24
Aims of supervisorsp. 26
Aims of examinersp. 28
Aims of universities and research councilsp. 29
Mismatches and problemsp. 31
Action summaryp. 32
How not to get a PhDp. 33
Not wanting a PhDp. 33
Not understanding the nature of a PhD by overestimating what is requiredp. 35
Not understanding the nature of a PhD by underestimating what is requiredp. 38
Not having a supervisor who knows what a PhD requiresp. 39
Losing contact with your supervisorp. 40
Not having a thesisp. 42
Taking a new job before finishingp. 43
Action summaryp. 44
How to do researchp. 46
Characteristics of researchp. 46
Intelligence-gathering--the 'what' questionsp. 47
Research--the 'why' questionsp. 47
Characteristics of good researchp. 48
Research is based on an open system of thoughtp. 48
Researchers examine data criticallyp. 49
Researchers generalize and specify the limits on their generalizationsp. 49
Basic types of researchp. 50
Exploratory researchp. 50
Testing-out researchp. 50
Problem-solving researchp. 51
Which type of research for the PhD?p. 51
The craft of doing researchp. 53
Self-help and peer support groupsp. 54
Electronic peer groupsp. 56
Action summaryp. 57
The form of a PhD thesisp. 58
Understanding the PhD formp. 58
Background theoryp. 59
Focal theoryp. 60
Data theoryp. 61
Contributionp. 61
The concept of originalityp. 63
Detailed structure and choice of chapter headingsp. 65
Writing the thesisp. 66
Action summaryp. 72
The PhD processp. 74
Psychological aspectsp. 75
Enthusiasmp. 75
Isolationp. 75
Increasing interest in workp. 77
Transfer of dependence from the supervisor to the workp. 77
Boredomp. 79
Frustrationp. 80
A job to be finishedp. 81
Euphoriap. 83
Others 'getting in first'p. 83
Practical aspectsp. 85
Time managementp. 85
The duration of the processp. 87
The stages of the processp. 89
Redefining long-term and short-term goalsp. 91
The importance of deadlinesp. 93
To publish or not to publish prior to submission?p. 95
Teaching whilst studying for a PhDp. 97
Casual teachingp. 97
Teaching assistantshipsp. 98
Action summaryp. 98
How to manage your supervisorp. 100
What supervisors expect of their doctoral studentsp. 100
Supervisors expect their students to be independentp. 100
Supervisors expect their students to produce written work that is not just a first draftp. 102
Supervisors expect to have regular meetings with their research studentsp. 103
Supervisors expect their research students to be honest when reporting on their progressp. 104
Supervisors expect their students to follow the advice that they give, when it has been given at the request of the postgraduatep. 105
Supervisors expect their students to be excited about their work, able to surprise them and fun to be with!p. 105
The need to educate your supervisorp. 107
How to reduce the communication barrierp. 109
Improving tutorialsp. 110
Changing supervisorsp. 113
Joint supervisionp. 116
Inappropriate personal relationships in supervisionp. 118
Action summaryp. 119
How to survive in a predominantly British, white, male, full-time academic environmentp. 121
Part-time studentsp. 121
Overseas studentsp. 123
Ethnic minoritiesp. 129
Racial harassmentp. 131
Women studentsp. 132
Difficulties concerning legitimacy of topics and methodologyp. 133
Problems of communication, debate and feedbackp. 134
Scarcity of academic role modelsp. 135
Sexual harassment and exploitationp. 137
Gay and lesbian studentsp. 140
Heterosexist harassmentp. 140
Mature studentsp. 141
Students with disabilitiesp. 143
Harassment of people with a disabilityp. 143
Action summaryp. 144
The formal proceduresp. 147
Registrationp. 147
Grants and research supportp. 149
Upgrading to doctoral student statusp. 150
The examination systemp. 150
Giving notice of submissionp. 150
The appointment of examinersp. 151
Submitting the thesisp. 151
The oral examination--the 'viva'p. 152
Preparing for the vivap. 153
The results of the examinationp. 155
The appeals proceduresp. 158
Litigationp. 159
Action summaryp. 160
How to supervise and examinep. 161
What students expect of their supervisorsp. 161
Students expect to be supervisedp. 162
Students expect supervisors to read their work well in advancep. 164
Students expect their supervisors to be available when neededp. 165
Students expect their supervisors to be friendly, open and supportivep. 166
Students expect their supervisors to be constructively criticalp. 167
Students expect their supervisors to have a good knowledge of the research areap. 168
Students expect their supervisors to structure the tutorial so that it is relatively easy to exchange ideasp. 169
Students expect their supervisors to have sufficient interest in their research to put more information in the students' pathp. 171
Students expect supervisors to be sufficently involved in their success to help them get a good job at the end of it all!p. 171
Establishing a role modelp. 172
Teaching the craft of researchp. 173
Giving effective feedbackp. 173
Introducing a structured 'weaning' programmep. 179
Maintaining a helpful 'psychological contract'p. 182
Encouraging students' academic role developmentp. 184
Supervising your research assistantp. 185
Outcomes of good supervisionp. 186
How to examinep. 186
The oral examinationp. 189
Action summaryp. 191
Institutional responsibilitiesp. 192
University responsibilitiesp. 193
Providing support to studentsp. 193
A structured induction procedurep. 193
Facilities for departments to support doctoral research activityp. 195
A handbook for university research degree studentsp. 195
Language support where necessaryp. 196
Providing resources for supervisorsp. 197
The training of supervisorsp. 197
Teaching credit for doctoral supervisionp. 198
Faculty/departmental doctoral research tutorp. 198
Providing appropriate regulationsp. 199
Registrationp. 199
Monitoring of students' progressp. 200
Upgrading from MPhil to PhD registrationp. 200
Appointment of external examinersp. 201
Providing a forum for review of the PhDp. 201
The PhD as a series of projectsp. 202
Intellectual copyright and appropriate recognition for doctoral students' workp. 202
The PhD in a practice-based disciplinep. 205
Departmental responsibilitiesp. 206
Establishing a departmental research tutorp. 206
Improving the selection of students into the departmentp. 209
Selection of supervisorsp. 210
Developing guidelines on appropriate supervisory behaviourp. 211
Support groups for research studentsp. 212
Considering and, if appropriate, establishing a doctoral programmep. 213
The American doctoral programmep. 214
The scientific research programmep. 215
The doctoral cohort systemp. 217
Conclusionp. 218
Action summaryp. 218
Referencesp. 220
Indexp. 223
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