Doctoral Training Workshops

An interdepartmental programme organised by MCT for the Research School

Organised by Sue, Dave and FarahSecretary: Mo James and Cassandra Harold

Doctoral Training Workshops

• For non-Science PhD and Research Masters research students

• Run at Walton Hall for FT students,but timing/scheduling to accommodate P/T students tooand we are working on distant access

• Workshops based around U501 training book plus additional sessions

• Built around key tasks you do in your first year, (particularly MRes dissertation and PhD probation report)

• Helps build contacts with other students

Sessions• Nature of a Research

Degree• Project Planning• Literature Reviewing• Writing tasks, critical

reading and literacy skills• Building up research

support• Ethical issues in research

• Some specific methods• Interviewing skills• Presentation skills• Viva preparation (MRes

and PhD)

• Rooms vary (providing an opportunity to explore the campus!!)

Student Conference • Sessions in April/May on

preparing a conference presentation

• Student conference on May 20th and 21st where you present your research plan (links to PhD probation year report for and dissertation plan for MRes students)

• Training Workshops Website will be kept updated and emails on each session sent to those who attend

Getting Going

Draws on materials from Ch 2 of DPGR and follows on from the workshop in the Induction Conference

In groups of 3 – 4, consider:– What did you do before last week?– In 30 seconds … what is your topic

area– Why are you doing a PhD or

MRes?– What will you do with it?

Essential and Supporting Reasons

Essential Supporting

• How would you classify your own reasons for doing a research degree???

• Don’t forget all this!!!

Section 2.1 of DPGR (particularly pp22-25)

What will the examiner be looking for?

Key planning pointA training demonstrated by a written work that shows:• Good style and presentation• Proficiency in Research Methods• Initiative and independence of thought (Masters)

• Significant (distinct) contribution to knowledge• Material worthy of publication (PhD)

• Able to pursue further research without supervision (PhD)

• Able to argue and discuss research (PhD Viva)

Originality (‘contribution to knowledge’)

• A new product (but need to show research process that led to it)

• New data (again need to show research process)

• New Theory• Applying existing theory

to a new field • A new model or

perspective

• A new research tool or method

• An original critique• Developing new

generalisable conclusions from existing data

• Original work within a larger predetermined programme

Pages 33-34 of DPGR

My Originality

• In your groups, share in what way do you expect your research to be original?

• Note: what is accepted and is ‘mainstream’ originality can vary by subject area

• (any other way than covered in DPGR???)

Proficiency in Research Methods

• What is the difference between ‘Method’ and ‘Methodology’?

• Not just demonstrating how you did your research (Method)

• But WHY you conducted the research using your chosen method (Methodology)

• The latter is expected both for Masters and PhD (but is often missing)

• In some area methods are predetermined – but still show awareness

Strategic things to sort…

In a PhD you need to:• Have developed a command of your

subject• Know where you can make a useful

contribution• Know what methods to use (and not to

use)• You make that contribution• Communicate results effectively

Website support• Other aspects of Getting Going (Training needs

analysis, safe computer use and other Health and Safety aspects) are also covered in Chapter 2 of DPGR

• Web materials on this are on the Virtual Research Environment website

• MRes Students have their own website support.• Other support at Research Career Development (Lots of

events)

For Next Week

Project planning: what I want to do … and how I might start

Read Chapter 3 of DPGR

Later…We have lunch!

2.00: Endnote Training in Library

5.00 Happy Hour in Cellar Bar(Buses to CMK and the station at 17.50, 18.13 & 19.13)