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1. The meaning of a PhD
- to become a fully professional researcher
- to learn the craft of doing research,
- including skills and values
- learned consciously and tacitly.
2. The nature of good research:
- research is based on an open system of thought
- researchers examine data critically
- researchers generalize and specify the limits on their generalizations
3. Three basic types of research:
- exploratory research:
emphasis on originality: How original does a PhD have to be?
- testing-out research:
emphasis on pushing forward the subject: Does a PhD have to be "normal
science" in Kuhn's terms?
- problem-solving research:
emphasis on relevance: Is action research real research?
4. The form of a PhD: four necessary components
- background theory: summarised and evaluated
- focal theory: the "thesis"
- data theory: design of study; validity of measures
- contribution: so what?
Reference: Estelle M. Phillips and Derek S. Pugh,
"How to Get a PhD" (5th edn), Open University Press, 2010
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