What Do Examiners Really Want

8/13/2019 What Do Examiners Really Want

1/23

What do

examiners(really)

want?

Dr Inger MewburnDirector of research training

The Australian NationalUniversity

& editor of the thesis whisperer

blog

This workshop is part of the Research

Masterclass series. The hashtag for theseworkshops is #anumasterclass
http://thesiswhisperer.com/http://thesiswhisperer.com/http://researchstudents.anu.edu.au/masterclass/index.phphttp://researchstudents.anu.edu.au/masterclass/index.phphttp://researchstudents.anu.edu.au/masterclass/index.phphttp://researchstudents.anu.edu.au/masterclass/index.phphttp://thesiswhisperer.com/http://thesiswhisperer.com/http://thesiswhisperer.com/http://thesiswhisperer.com/


2/23

Researchers have studied how research

degree examiners go about examining athesis

This research can tell us a lot about how tocompose and writea thesis..

Most of this presentation is based on the seminal paper:Mullins, G and Kiley, M (2002) "It's a PhD not a Nobel

prize"Studies in Higher Education, Vol 27, No.4
http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/65297/Its_a_PhD_not_a_Nobel_Prize.pdfhttp://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/65297/Its_a_PhD_not_a_Nobel_Prize.pdfhttp://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/65297/Its_a_PhD_not_a_Nobel_Prize.pdfhttp://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/65297/Its_a_PhD_not_a_Nobel_Prize.pdf


3/23

In this workshop we will:

Think about the history of the PhD and the

thesis as a genre.

Look at howexaminers examine (and how they

decide if a thesis is good or not)

Work out how to failyour PhD (so that you

won't)


4/23

Before we start... why did you come?

In groups of no more than four talk about

any questions or concernsyou have

about the examination process.

Together decide on your top three.

I'll ask you to sharethese with the rest of

the group in about 10 minutes.


5/23

What is a thesis

There are currently 3 main types of thesis

handed in by research students:

the Big Book

the Bunch of Papers

the Creative Exegesis

There are some conventions around each type.


6/23

FAQ

How long does the examination

process take?

How many words do I need?

Can I fail my degree?

Should I put my degree online?

... any others?


7/23

In Australia, examination happens

by external peer review.

Examiners are asked to write a report on your

thesis and make recommendations.

Sometimes guidelines are sent to examiners to

help them do this.

... but don't expect the examiner to read, or

follow, these instructions!


8/23

How do examiners read a thesis?

Many:

Read the abstract or summary

Then read the introduction

Then go straight to the conclusion

Then look at the bibliography...

Then read: either from cover to cover or

skipping around the bits that interest them.

What does this mean for us as writers?


9/23

What is a 'good' thesis?

A report of work which others would want to read

Tells a compelling story articulately whilst pre-empting

inevitable critiques

Carries the reader into complex realms; informs and

educates him/her

Be sufficiently speculative or original to suggest you would

be an interesting future colleague


10/23

What is a 'bad' thesis?

Confusedor inadequate theoretical framework

'Merely descriptivea data gathering exercise

Researched the wrong problem

Mixed or confused methodological perspectivesSloppy presentation

Inconsistencybetween introduction and conclusion

Lacking confidence in the writing

Presenting work thats not original

Not being able to explain at the end of a thesis what has

actually been argued in the thesis


11/23

It's a simple matter of

'Academic Reproduction'


12/23

Like Yoda, we are in the business

of training independent scholars


13/23Why is all this so difficult?!


14/23


15/23

Your text is your academic 'avatar'

You aren't there to talk to your examiner -

your text has to 'speak' for you


16/23

Writing a thesis is a bit like going to a party...

When we interact with others we form our

opinion of them by how well they play the role

weexpect of them

What role are you playing in this text?

"The independent scholar"


17/23

Design your own academic 'character'

Think of an adjective you think best

describes the academics in your

discipline.

Write them on the post it notes I have

provided and stick them on the

whiteboard


18/23

To finish: 5 ways to fail your PhD

1. Don't talk to your supervisors about who you

think should examine your thesis.

2. Send your thesis to someone who has never

examined before.

3. Write a bad literature review.

4. Have an introduction from one thesis and a

conclusion from another.5. Don't get a copy editor


19/23

Gee, thanks Inger.

Now I feel like this!


20/23

I need more help.

Try these books:Gruba, P & Evans, D (2001) How to write a better thesis, University of

Melbourne Press, Melbourne

Rugg, G and Petre, M (2004) The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research, Open

University Press, Maidenhead.

Booth, W, Gregory, C and Williams, J (1995) The craft of research, University

of Chicago Press, Chicago

Kamler, B & Thomson, P (2006) Helping Doctoral Students to Write, Routledge,

New York

And these papers:Mullins, G and Kiley, M (2002) It's a PhD not a Nobel prize" Studies in Higher

Education, Vol 27, No.4

Winter, R, Griffiths, M & Green, K (2000) The 'academic' qualities of practice:

what are the criteria for a practice based PhD?, Studies in Higher

Education, 25, pp. 25 - 37


21/23

What can ANU do for me?

The academic skills and learning centreoffer one on one assistance; visit

their sitefor details.

TheANU library can help you with referencing and bibliography formatting,

some software problems, how to access the data commons and questions

about copyright.

You canemploy a copy-editor, but they must conform to editing guidelines.

The ANU offers a free and confidential counselling serviceto all current ANUstudents and staff and have a 24 hour hotline: 1800 629 354
https://academicskills.anu.edu.au/appointmentshttps://academicskills.anu.edu.au/appointmentshttp://anulib.anu.edu.au/http://counselling.anu.edu.au/http://counselling.anu.edu.au/http://anulib.anu.edu.au/https://academicskills.anu.edu.au/appointmentshttps://academicskills.anu.edu.au/appointments


22/23

Have I answered all your questions

and soothed your fears?

If not, tell me about it in the

feedback form (there's plenty

of room on the back of the

sheet).

And/or make an appointment

with the associate dean HDRin your college who is an

expert on the process.


23/23

Thanks for listening!

Remember, we're here to help too.

You can email the research training team in the

office of the Pro vice chancellor anytime on:

[email protected]

Or talk to us on Twitterand Facebook.
https://twitter.com/ANU_RSAThttps://www.facebook.com/AnuResearchSkillsAndTraininghttps://www.facebook.com/AnuResearchSkillsAndTraininghttps://twitter.com/ANU_RSAT

What Do Examiners Really Want

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