Frequently Asked Questions About Doctoral Research Into Higher Education

by Paul R. Trowler

This short book answers questions that doctoral students frequently ask during the course of their research into some aspect of higher education. It covers 9 broad areas: research questions; research design; literature review; collecting data, using theory; writing the thesis; examiners examining; the viva experience; post-award. A hyperlinked glossary briefly defines specialist terms and concepts.

Example questions are:
* How do I write good research questions?
* How many interviews is ‘enough’?
* What are the key things to bear in mind in doing a literature review?
* What is ‘saturation’ and how do I know when I have it?
* Do I really need to use a theory?
* I am doing a taught doctoral module. What structure should the assignments take?
* What are the key things examiners will be looking for/asking me about?
* To which journals should I submit articles from my thesis?

At the end of the book there is an opportunity to email further questions to a dedicated email address. Later versions of the book will answer these if they are frequently asked or if the answers will be of general interest to the readership. Amazon permits those who have already purchased a previous version to download updates at no cost.

Paul Trowler draws on many years' experience as a doctoral tutor and supervisor. He has been external examiner for students in higher education institutions across the UK and around the world.

This is the sixth in Paul's Kindle series Doctoral Research into Higher Education. Other titles are:

* Doctoral Research into Higher Education: Making Theory Work.
* Writing Doctoral Project Proposals: Higher Education Research.
* Doctoral Research into Higher Education: Thesis structure, content and completion.
* Doing Insider Research in Universities.
* Higher Education Policy and Institutional Change (edited volume).

74 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2014