[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
work) is a way of ascertaining that they have the necessary command of
the written language to commence study.
INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 201
An additional problem with the increasing number of research students
is a tendency for them to be allocated to supervisors. This is a trend that
should be avoided. Academic staff should have the full support and
encouragement of their department to be involved in the selection of their
own research students. Regardless of any prior contact, each applicant
should be interviewed by any potential supervisors and another member
of the academic staff of the department, usually the research tutor.
The procedures might also involve a formal research proposal together
with some evidence of having knowledge of the subject area. Some
departments insist that no new student be accepted without a clear-cut
research proposal. Others consider the research proposal to be more suited
to the upgrading procedures once the student has been working for a year
or more towards the research degree.
There is no reason why we should expect candidates to be in a position
to write acceptable research proposals prior to receiving any training. In
fact, it is unlikely that a well-constructed research proposal would be pos-
sible before the student has spent some time developing the necessary
skills in a research environment. Therefore, if institutional regulations
require it at time of entry, applicants will probably need some help in
preparing the proposal from a member of staff of the department they are
hoping to join. In addition, some guidance on which aspect of a topic is
likely to be looked on favourably by a particular member of staff would
make sense at this stage.
If the candidate is able to provide a proposal at the time of the selection
interview, it is of great assistance to the staff making the decision whether
or not to offer a place. The proposal would allow the selectors to ascertain
whether there is anybody available and willing to supervise the specific
topic, and whether the candidate is aware of what is involved in construct-
ing and conducting the research and has sufficient background knowledge
to commence work at the level required.
Even though part-time research students are in a majority overall, there
is considerable need for more awareness of the difficulties experienced by
them, as discussed in Chapters 9 and 11. These difficulties occur in many
areas, but in particular, time allocation and financial pressures during the
period of study are common causes of stress for many part-time students.
Enquiries into sources of support during the period of study must there-
fore be given special attention in order to ensure that nobody is accepted
until the department is satisfied that the applicant will not suffer undue
financial hardship as a result of registering as a student.
Selection of supervisors
An important departmental responsibility is the setting up of adequate
criteria for the selection of supervisors. There are two factors involved, and
202 HOW TO GET A PhD
they do not necessarily correlate: first, the academics past experience of
research and present level of research activity in the chosen field, and
second, their past experience of supervision and present degree of
commitment to the supervision of research students.
Ideally only supervisors who are high on both aspects would be selected
and even so they will normally require some training, as described
above, to be fully effective. The fact that the supervisor is an enthusiastic
and successful practitioner of research, and is seen to be so, is a very
important input to the successful completion of the PhD by the student.
Students who experience their supervisors as being very involved on non-
research activities teaching, administration, policy, consultancy at the
expense of doing research, very soon come to devalue their research work
and are less likely to finish. Active researchers are also necessary to give the
contemporary professional knowledge and skill that PhD students need to
acquire.
Experience of supervision to successful completion of the student s PhD
is such an important factor that at least one of the supervisors must have
achieved this. If this is not the subject specialist, a common way to
attempt to combine these needed strengths is the setting up of a super-
visory team of a first and a second supervisor. It is becoming more and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
work) is a way of ascertaining that they have the necessary command of
the written language to commence study.
INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 201
An additional problem with the increasing number of research students
is a tendency for them to be allocated to supervisors. This is a trend that
should be avoided. Academic staff should have the full support and
encouragement of their department to be involved in the selection of their
own research students. Regardless of any prior contact, each applicant
should be interviewed by any potential supervisors and another member
of the academic staff of the department, usually the research tutor.
The procedures might also involve a formal research proposal together
with some evidence of having knowledge of the subject area. Some
departments insist that no new student be accepted without a clear-cut
research proposal. Others consider the research proposal to be more suited
to the upgrading procedures once the student has been working for a year
or more towards the research degree.
There is no reason why we should expect candidates to be in a position
to write acceptable research proposals prior to receiving any training. In
fact, it is unlikely that a well-constructed research proposal would be pos-
sible before the student has spent some time developing the necessary
skills in a research environment. Therefore, if institutional regulations
require it at time of entry, applicants will probably need some help in
preparing the proposal from a member of staff of the department they are
hoping to join. In addition, some guidance on which aspect of a topic is
likely to be looked on favourably by a particular member of staff would
make sense at this stage.
If the candidate is able to provide a proposal at the time of the selection
interview, it is of great assistance to the staff making the decision whether
or not to offer a place. The proposal would allow the selectors to ascertain
whether there is anybody available and willing to supervise the specific
topic, and whether the candidate is aware of what is involved in construct-
ing and conducting the research and has sufficient background knowledge
to commence work at the level required.
Even though part-time research students are in a majority overall, there
is considerable need for more awareness of the difficulties experienced by
them, as discussed in Chapters 9 and 11. These difficulties occur in many
areas, but in particular, time allocation and financial pressures during the
period of study are common causes of stress for many part-time students.
Enquiries into sources of support during the period of study must there-
fore be given special attention in order to ensure that nobody is accepted
until the department is satisfied that the applicant will not suffer undue
financial hardship as a result of registering as a student.
Selection of supervisors
An important departmental responsibility is the setting up of adequate
criteria for the selection of supervisors. There are two factors involved, and
202 HOW TO GET A PhD
they do not necessarily correlate: first, the academics past experience of
research and present level of research activity in the chosen field, and
second, their past experience of supervision and present degree of
commitment to the supervision of research students.
Ideally only supervisors who are high on both aspects would be selected
and even so they will normally require some training, as described
above, to be fully effective. The fact that the supervisor is an enthusiastic
and successful practitioner of research, and is seen to be so, is a very
important input to the successful completion of the PhD by the student.
Students who experience their supervisors as being very involved on non-
research activities teaching, administration, policy, consultancy at the
expense of doing research, very soon come to devalue their research work
and are less likely to finish. Active researchers are also necessary to give the
contemporary professional knowledge and skill that PhD students need to
acquire.
Experience of supervision to successful completion of the student s PhD
is such an important factor that at least one of the supervisors must have
achieved this. If this is not the subject specialist, a common way to
attempt to combine these needed strengths is the setting up of a super-
visory team of a first and a second supervisor. It is becoming more and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]