E-Book Overview
This handbook provides an in-depth exploration of the entire journey of postgraduate research in the social and behavioural sciences, from enrolment to its culmination in the form of a thesis, dissertation or portfolio, and beyond. It is written in an accessible and example-rich style, offering practical and concrete advice in virtually all areas. It also includes references to additional resources and websites, and each chapter features key recommendations for improving the postgraduate research experience. The book addresses not only research-related aspects (e.g. supervisors; selecting your guiding assumptions; contextualising, framing and configuring research; reviewing literature; sampling; writing proposals; ethics and academic integrity; selecting a data gathering strategy; surviving your thesis/dissertation/portfolio examination; and publishing), but also questions concerning how to integrate, manage, and balance the research journey in the context of the postgraduate student’s broader life-world (e.g. skill development and supervisor relations; effective time and project management; a healthy work–life balance; maintaining motivation; and dealing with criticism). The book adopts an explicitly pluralist perspective on postgraduate research, moving beyond mixed methods thinking, and offers concrete examples from postgraduate students’ real-world experiences.
E-Book Content
Ray Cooksey · Gael McDonald
Surviving and Thriving in Postgraduate Research Second Edition
Surviving and Thriving in Postgraduate Research
Ray Cooksey Gael McDonald •
Surviving and Thriving in Postgraduate Research Second Edition
123
Ray Cooksey UNE Business School University of New England Armidale, NSW, Australia
Gael McDonald RMIT University Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
ISBN 978-981-13-7746-4 ISBN 978-981-13-7747-1 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7747-1
(eBook)
1st edition: © Tilde University Press 2011 2nd edition: © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore
Preface
As mentioned in the foreword of the first edition, the genesis of this text goes back to when Gael and I contributed to doctoral workshops for the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM). These experiences, along with our own experiences in supervising postgraduate research students, led us to assemble a list of the common sorts of questions postgraduate students ten