Completing the Research Process

 Commencement of Candidature Form

At the time of enrolment, a Commencement of Candidature form will be provided for you.  This form should be the focus of the first meeting with your supervisors.  The completed and signed form should be returned to Professional Officer Research, who will forward it to the Research Student Centre.

  The Research Task

  • Select and refine your research problem.
  • Plan and prepare for the investigation of your research problem.
  • Investigate your chosen research problem using the research methods and quality checks appropriate to your research problem.
  • Write your thesis based upon your research problem, your investigation, your results/findings and their implications.

Note: This may not be a linear process but a recursive one and you may need to move often between the first three steps during your research process. The role of your supervisor is to assist and guide your through this process.

Preliminary Steps

  1. Choose your research area. Check on the Faculty of Education website to identify the Faculty area of research strength (link to research strength)
  2. Approach supervisors who are working in or interested in your chosen area. You may require some assistance in this process from the Associate Dean – Research.
  3. Discuss your research interest and possible methodology with your proposed supervisors.

If supervisors and student are in accordance you may begin the preparation of a research proposal, if not you may need to revisit steps 1-3.

 Suggested Milestones in Thesis Work

Milestones of the Thesis

The milestones for the thesis will vary for different methodological approaches to the research and should be negotiated with supervisors early in the period of candidature. The following suggested milestones may be used as a guiding framework. They are written in the context of full-time study and will need to be extended for study part-time.

Year 1

Overall aim:

To clearly identify the research problem and to identify the research questions, the conceptual model(s), types of data and the methods of analysis to be used in addressing the problem.

Specific tasks:

  • Conduct a broad based literature search. This helps to broaden your understanding of pertinent literature and researchers in your field. It also assists you in identifying any 'gaps' in research knowledge which in turn assists in refining your research problem or question.
  • Present to supervisors and receive feedback on preliminary literature survey.
  • Present design, method and any plans for data collection and analysis to supervisor and, if necessary, to statistical consultants.
  • Start first data collection, probably late in first year;
  • Prepare a written research proposal and present to a proposal review committee at the Faculty of Education Colloquium or by arrangement with the Associate Dean Research, preferably within 6 and 9 months of enrolment.

Expectations:

The Faculty expects around 20 contacts with supervisor during the first year. Email, fax and telephone discussions are probably best viewed as a supplement to approximately fortnightly direct contacts, not a substitute. It is important to provide regular written work to supervisors to help them provide feedback and to determine progress. Supervisors in most cases will need at least a week to read submitted work, longer when work is substantial such as a completed chapter.

Year 2

Overall aim:

To continue to revise the conceptual model/theoretical framework and to carry out most of the data collection and analysis.

Specific tasks:

  • Carry out or continue data collection and analysis. It is advisable to write up a draft of each aspect of the study or case as it is completed.
  • Revise conceptual model/theoretical framework in light of data results or continue to develop emerging theory from the data.
  • Continue to revise and update literature review.

Expectations:

Contact with supervisor as necessary, but probably at least monthly.

Take all opportunities to expose your work (however partial or fragmentary) to as many different audiences as possible. The research colloquium and the Research Group seminars are important opportunities to discuss your work in a supportive environment. Conference and journal publication should be considered.

Year 3

Overall aim:

To write up the research program in the form of a thesis.

Thesis guidelines

Specific tasks:

  • Complete the data collection and analysis as early in Year 3 as possible.
  • Revise and update the literature review.
  • Expose your writings to a varied audience.
  • Revise and/or refine the conceptual model in the light of your data results, the literature review and the feedback from others.
  • First draft should be complete and submitted to supervisor for feedback. Plan for the time needed for this to happen.
  • Discuss possible examiners with supervisor and complete all necessary forms.
  • Second and subsequent drafts edited carefully.
  • Submit thesis.
  • Be prepared for the sometimes lengthy period it takes for examiners' to assess your work.
  • Be prepared to make revisions to your thesis in order to meet examiners' comments.

Expectations:

Contact with supervisor as necessary, in order for supervisor to respond to your draft chapters.

 Research Colloquia and Seminars

A Research Colloquium is held twice a year usually in April and October and both coursework and research students are invited to attend. It is designed to provide a forum for research students to report and obtain feedback on their research study, in a supportive environment of peers and academic staff. In addition research students are encouraged to use the Colloquium in other ways including collecting ideas about alternative methods of data analysis and new sources of literature. One of the main functions of the Colloquium is the presentation of Research Proposals by those who have reached that stage in their enrolment. In addition it allows students the opportunity to meet the Faculty of Education expectation that they will present their work at least once a year during the period of their candidature. At each Colloquium academic staff will present on their own research providing some indication of the range of research areas covered in the faculty and potential supervisors for those who have yet to reach the thesis component of their study.

Research Seminars are conducted on a regular basis both as an activity of the Faculty of Education and its Research Groups. The aims of the Seminars complement those of the Colloquium. Students and academic staff present on research in progress as well as on issues concerning postgraduate research. They are also a forum for presentations by researchers visiting from other institutions. In the past, presentation material has included discussions on the thesis process and thesis writing, thesis examination, methodologies, ethics, getting published, and other matters related to thesis research.

Colloquia and seminar dates in the Faculty of Education's Research News and the Faculty Seminar Program.

Last reviewed: 19 October, 2009