Fulfilling the Potential of Your Doctoral Experience. Pam Denicolo
images spring to mind as one of us types: my child stood before me with hands spread across my book: ‘Stop reading, Mummy, come back to us,’ and a beach, sunglasses, sand castles and a pile of books!)
It is wise in the run-up to starting your studies to complete any major household projects, such as do-it-yourself or other large domestic projects. Indeed, you may need to negotiate some frequent lapses in attending to regular chores; while engaged with your doctorate, mowed lawns and tidy houses can fade into insignificance. Nevertheless, mindless tasks or chores often do have a way of freeing up thinking, solving problems and aiding complex thoughts, so do not dismiss them totally.
In all your excitement and pride about beginning a doctorate, you might be tempted to tell all and sundry. We recommend that you are very clear about how long the whole process takes and/or restrict the news to your nearest and dearest – only because of the frequency with which we have overheard remarks such as: ‘I dread meeting the postman, who keeps asking if I am a doctor yet!’
Getting up to speed
We are assuming that, in preparation for your application or interview, you have looked up the specialist interests of your supervisors and the recent research conducted in your new department or school. If not, this is the time to do so in addition to finding out about the interests of other academics and researchers who inhabit that zone. You might also investigate other sources of support or expertise in the locality. See more about this in Top Tips 1.1.
Top Tips 1.1 Choosing the right supervisor for you
1 Email potential supervisors and ask about opportunities:Even if they are not advertising doctoral projects, they may have availability.Ask about potential funding, being clear about whether this is a necessity or simply something nice to have.
2 Google potential supervisors:Look at social media to find out about experience, interests and qualifications.You will be working closely with this person over many years; it is good to have someone who shares some of your same values.
3 Read potential supervisors’ papers:Consider whether the research you would like to do might be of interest to them.Check that their approaches would be interesting to learn more about.
4 Talk to potential supervisors ahead of time:See if you feel comfortable with them.Determine if your current research interests are aligned, both in topic choice and approach.
5 Visit potential universities if possible:Try to get a feel for the ambiance of the campus: how welcoming are the implicit messages.Check notice boards in the faculty that interests you for the tone of the messages displayed.Contemplate whether it is a place in which you could spend a good deal of time over the next few years.
6 Meet with their current doctoral researchers:Weigh up how contented they seem with the support they receive.Reflect on how supportive of each other they are.
7 Try to establish how long it takes their doctoral researchers to complete their degrees:Check if there are figures for the department, and for your potential supervisor. This can give you an idea of how long the programme is likely to last. Sometimes reality is different to advertised programme descriptions.Keep in mind some doctoral researchers may be part-time and therefore take longer.
8 Find out how many publications their doctoral researchers typically produce and, if possible, what their next career steps are:Co-authored papers with doctoral researchers are likely listed on each academic’s profile page of the university website.Career data may be harder to find; however, LinkedIn may prove useful.
9 Investigate what collaborators they work with:You may be able to determine this from co-authored papers or from projects described on the internet.International or inter-sectoral collaborators may signal potential for you to work with these partners as well.
10 Be open with potential supervisors about what you want from your doctorate and what your expectations are of them.
You can ask your prospective supervisors for a list of recommended reading about the topic and about research methods so that you can begin to get a feel for the nature of language used and issues considered important, as well as noting significant journals in your area which you are likely to need to access.
You might also begin to compile your birthday present list of equipment that will help speed your progress (IT gadgets, marker pens and sticky notes for study and a slow-cooker for domestic support, perhaps). If you accomplish all this before your official start date, then go on to the next chapter, which will give you more ideas on gaining a great start to your doctorate.
References and further reading
Denicolo, P.M. (2016) ‘International developments in the purpose and process of the doctorate: Consequences for supervision, examining and the employment of graduates’, chapter 2 in M. Fouri-Malherbe, C. Aitchison, R. Albertyn and E. Blitzer (eds), Postgraduate Supervision: Future Foci for the Knowledge Society. Stellenbosch: African SunMedia. pp. 15–31.
Denicolo, P.M. and Becker, L. (2012) Success in Research: Developing Research Proposals. London: Sage.
Denicolo, P.M. and Reeves, J. (2014) Success in Research: Developing Transferable Skills. London: Sage.
Duckworth, A.L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M.D. and Kelly, D.R. (2007) ‘Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92 (6): 1087–101.
QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) (2015) Characteristics Statement – Doctoral Degree. Gloucester: QAA (http://www.qaa.ac.uk).
2 How Can You Make a Good Start?
In this chapter, we will consider how to:
Prepare for new roles
Research your supervisor and department/school
Develop good habits and work routines
Contact potential supporters
Identify resource sources
Read and begin writing
Review your expectations
Prepare a plan
The scientist and inventor Alexander Graham Bell is reported to have said, ‘Before anything else, preparation is the key to success,’ whilst the great teacher and philosopher Confucius taught that, ‘success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure’. Although more than two thousand years separate Confucius from Bell, they both recognised the same vital principal, which is that good ‘prep’ (as chefs say), or preparation, would seem to be an essential ingredient for success in most things, and this is especially true of research. As with any venture, adventure, expedition or activity, such as making a cake, it helps, first, to lay out your equipment, resources, maps, mixing bowls or other much needed materials that will help to get you started and, as with all longer journeys (making a cake is miniscule compared with a research project), you can lay down the basic preparation for your research project in the first 100 days.
As a professional researcher, you should think of undertaking doctoral research more as being appointed to a new (and important) job, rather than being a ‘student’ who largely is instructed and directed by others. We think language is very important in this respect because the terms you use to describe yourself and your work – because it is work – will influence your own and others’ perception of your status and standing. You may receive a good deal of instruction and direction in the first year or so, as a student might, but the aim and goal is for you to emerge, as a well-honed professional person with a doctorate! So, you should think of yourself in professional terms. Even if your department/university does not refer to you in this way, you can rise above any limitations by beginning your journey in a professional frame of mind.
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