Returning to Study for a Research Degree

✍ Scribed by Stuart Powell

• Publisher: Open Univ Pr
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 187
• Edition: 2nd
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The book provides practical guidance to help returning students to balance study, work, leisure and family life as well as suggesting strategies that will help them to enhance their skills, develop critical awareness and become more creative.

✦ Table of Contents

Half-title......Page 2
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Dedication......Page 6
Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 12
Acknowledgements......Page 14
Overview......Page 16
Introduction......Page 17
Reasons for returning to study......Page 18
Interpreting learning......Page 22
Conclusion......Page 25
Overview......Page 26
What differentiates research degree study?......Page 27
Purpose of the different levels of research degree award......Page 32
Researching on the one hand and studying on the other......Page 33
Conclusion......Page 35
Overview......Page 37
Introduction......Page 38
Kinds of research degree study......Page 39
Levels of research degree award......Page 41
Notions of ‘doctorateness’ specifically......Page 44
Research degree study and the professions......Page 46
Conclusion......Page 48
Overview......Page 49
The personal dimension to learning......Page 50
The need for critical thinking......Page 53
A place for originality and creativity......Page 60
Reflection......Page 61
Conclusion......Page 63
Overview......Page 64
Researching and communicating......Page 65
Working effectively in groups......Page 66
Accessing knowledge......Page 68
Accessing research techniques......Page 71
Oral presentations......Page 73
Relationships with tutors or supervisors......Page 80
Conclusion......Page 81
Overview......Page 83
The distinctiveness of planning within a research degree......Page 84
Preparatory and preliminary work......Page 85
Narrowing down a topic......Page 94
Phasing the development of the project......Page 96
Getting started......Page 98
Conclusion......Page 99
Overview......Page 100
Effective reading......Page 101
Making and using notes as a tool for developing research......Page 105
Listening to what is happening in professional practice as a tool to developing a research awareness......Page 109
Conclusion......Page 110
Overview......Page 112
Writing as part of the process of studying and researching......Page 113
The early stages in academic writing about research......Page 114
Developing a structure for reporting your research......Page 116
Some conventions in academic writing about research......Page 120
Using your reading......Page 124
Referencing......Page 127
Summary......Page 130
Conclusion......Page 131
Overview......Page 132
Introduction......Page 133
Establishing a thesis......Page 134
What does academic researching entail?......Page 136
Constraints on a final research degree submission......Page 137
Writing a dissertation title......Page 143
Writing an abstract......Page 145
Using graphics......Page 146
Academic investigation and professional progress......Page 148
Summary......Page 149
Conclusion......Page 150
Overview......Page 151
Introduction......Page 152
Distinctiveness of the research degree examination process......Page 153
Typical processes and procedures of submission for assessment......Page 154
Submitting your work for assessment......Page 157
Assessment of your written submission and of you as a research degree candidate......Page 160
Pragmatic features of the oral examination (viva)......Page 163
Likely outcomes and activities subsequent to the viva......Page 165
Conclusion......Page 168
Overview......Page 169
Introduction......Page 170
Maintaining focus in the face of risk and variable progress......Page 171
The reflective practitioner......Page 174
Self-doubt, uncertainty and challenge......Page 175
Conclusion......Page 176
Further reading......Page 177
References......Page 183
Index......Page 184
Back Cover......Page 187