All entries for Tuesday 10 February 2009
February 10, 2009
How can I be a professional researcher?
I want to be a fully fessional researcher at the end of my PhD study, and herewith my progress to date:
- I must have something to say that my peers want to listen to (Yes, I have)
- I must have a command of what is happening in my subject so that I can evaluate the worth of what others are doing.(Sort of)
- I must have to astuteness to discover where I can make a useful contribution. (Yes, I have)
- I must be aware of the ethics of my profession and work within them. (Yes, I am aware of them)
- I must have mastery of appropriate techniques that are currently being used and also be aware of their limitations. (I am still learning)
- I must be able to communicate my results effectively in the professional arena. (Further practice needed)
- All this must be carried out in an international context: being aware of what is being discovered, argued about, written and published by my academic across the world. (Doing my research in the UK and reviewing literature worldwide would allow me to reach this)
- I must be able to evaluate and re-evaluate my own work and that of others in the light of current developments. (I am doing this via reflective and reflexive thinking)
Reference: Pugh and Philips (2005) How to get a PhD
10 Feb 2009 21:09
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The nature of PhD (Note jotted from How to get a PhD)
Some people asked me what does a PhD mean to me. What makes PhD holders different from non-PhD holders? I read Pugh and Philips (2005) How to get a PhD and found answer for it:
Table 1: Differences among bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctor’s degree
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Bachelor’s degree |
Master’s degree |
Doctor’s degree |
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The recipient had obtained a general education. Specialisation started in 19th century. |
A licence to practice (historically in theology). Possessed advanced knowledge in a specialist field. |
A licence to teach, in a university as a member of a faculty. A faculty member needs to be an authority, in full command of the subject right up to the boundaries of current knowledge, and able to extend them. The recipient is worthy of being listened to as an equal by the appropriate university faculty. |
Table 2: Differences among doctor’s degrees
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Higher doctorates |
Doctor of Philosophy degree |
Doctor in medicine |
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Awarded as recognition of a substantial contribution to the discipline by published work. E.g. DD (Divinity), MD (Medicine), LLD (Law), DMus (Music), DSc (Science), DLitt (Letters, i.e. Arts). |
An early 20th century concept imported from the US to British universities. DPhil or PhD. Represents a more restricted achievement than the higher doctorates as it envisages a limited amount of academic work (3 years or so). The recipient is in command of the field of study and can make a worthwhile contribution to it. |
Honorary title given to general medical practitioners although they do not have a doctorate from their universities. On the basis of their university course they are credited with 2 bachelor’s degrees, although having a licence to practise they exemplify the concept of a master’s degree. |
10 Feb 2009 21:02
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