Probation Assessment for Research Progress
This content delves into the probation assessment process for postgraduate researchers, focusing on the purpose, elements, and expectations involved. It covers key aspects such as project reports, research questions, literature reviews, research proposals, skills development, and the crucial mini viva. The probation process outlined here includes submission dates, project reports, and the role of assessors in evaluating research skills. A detailed breakdown of what is expected in a project report is also provided, emphasizing the importance of a viable research question, critical literature review, research proposal, and work plan.
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Presentation Transcript
Preparing for probation assessment Lindsay O Dell Director for Postgraduate Studies Faculty of Health and Social Care Developing as a Researcher, 9 10 March 2015
Your expectations Activity: Note down three things that you expect to get out of this session
Overview Focus of your own research Probation assessment: purpose, elements and process Project report research question literature review research proposal work plan Skills audit and skills development Mini viva Probation form Faculty variations
Elevator pitch Activity: Explain yourself and your research to a potential funder who knows nothing about your research. Try to get the main points across clearly and succinctly. 5 minutes: preparation time 2 minutes (each): pair work with partner 1 2 minutes (each): pair work with partner 2
Purpose of probation assessment To confirm that you have made satisfactory progress and to make a recommendation regarding the upgrade to a PhD degree To get feedback from (at least) two independent assessors on research done as well as planned To assess your research skills Important step on the way to the PhD
Research Oral presen- tation Mini viva Probation Project report Probation form Skills audit
Probation process Probation form: accompanies the process Skills audit (with evidence of presentation given e.g. at a WiP seminar, a departmental seminar or a conference) Project report: literature review, research question, method and work plan Submission date: about 4 weeks before the viva Project report is the focus of the viva Vivas held approx. 10-11/20-22 months after registration (FT/PT) PGR Director sends final documents to Research School 11 months after registration
Project report The report must contain the following: A viable research question A critical literature review which situates the proposed research A research proposal A work plan
An example research question How do the personal narratives and stories of career development processes amongst South African distance learners vary and to what extent are elements of previous disadvantage the source of that difference? Activity (5 minutes): Discuss the following questions with your partner What is the phenomenon this thesis is trying to explain? What may cause the variation in that phenomenon? What is the relationship between them ( how , why , to what extent )? What is the context of the research?
Initial interest/ observa- tion Research gap Review of theories + methods Research question Methodo- logy and methods Choose research areas Review of literature
Your research question Activity (10 minutes): Write down your (main) research question(s) on a post-it note. Explain it/them to the other students in your group, focusing on the following: Why is this question relevant? How does it relate to the literature? How does it inform your methodology and your methods?
Small group activity: feedback Were there any general observations/questions/ issues that arose in your group? What is the link between the research question, the literature review and the methodology?
Literature review A critical literature review which situates the proposed research (Probation form) Activity (5-10 minutes): Turn to your partner and discuss how youwould evaluate a literature review. Make a note of some possible criteria.
Literature review: criteria Does it take a critical stance in terms of methodology, validity, conceptual framework? What does it cover, i.e. where are the boundaries inclusions/exclusions? Does it show developments over time? Is there a sustained analytical argument? What is the significance of the research problem? What about the accuracy (including the bibliography)?
Literature review A literature review offers an overview of the relevant and significant literature on a research area. It reviews the critical points of current knowledge on a particular topic i.e. a survey of articles, books, conference papers, theses etc. It [ ] should include a description, summary and critical evaluation of the materials presented. A literature review is not a list describing or summarising one piece of literature after another. The purpose of a literature review is: to demonstrate your ability to identify the relevant information and outline existing knowledge; identify the gap in the research that your work will address; produce a rationale or justification for your study. Remember: There is no one single correct method to writing a literature review. (UCD Library)
Research proposal A research proposal, including an outline of proposed method(s), a critical justification for them, and where appropriate, preliminary data and analysis (Probation form) Which methods are you going to use and why?
Work plan A work plan for the project with a detailed timetable of dates for completion of component parts and thesis submission (Probation form)
Work plan example Oct yr 1 Jan Apr Jun Oct yr 2 Jan Apr Jun Oct yr 3 Jan Apr Jun Literature search Ethics Questionnaire design Questionnaire administration Arrange access (e.g. interviews) Data collection Data analysis Writing up
Table of contents (example) SECTION 1 Introduction 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 SECTION 2 Literature Review on Intercultural Communication 2.1 Empirical Studies: Problems in Intercultural Communication 2.2 Methodologically-induced Pessimism? 2.3 Empirical Studies: Successful Intercultural Communication SECTION 3 Research Questions 3.1 Proposed Aims of the PhD (Post-probation) 3.2 Rationale for the Proposed PhD Study SECTION 4 Proposed Methodology 4.1 Theoretical and Epistemological Framework 4.2 Methodology as Active Sense-making 4.3 Proposed Methods of Data Collection/Analysis SECTION 5 Scoping Study 5.1 Canada immigration: History, policies, practices 5.2 The Research Site 5.3 Proposed Areas for Further Investigation: Working Hypothesis 5.4 Insights on my Role as Researcher: Reactivity and Reflexivity 5.5 Concluding Remarks Background of the Study Aims of the Probation Report Clarification of Terms Overview of this Probation Report
PhD WORK PLAN DEVELOPMENT PLAN: JUNE TO DECEMBER 2009 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES Appendix 1 Research Table Appendix 2 Request to Undertake a Scoping Study Appendix 3 Consent Form Appendix 4 Information Sheet for Participants Appendix 5 Excerpt from MRes Dissertation SUMMARY OF SKILLS RESEARCH FLYER
Skills development 1. Skills audit: Identifying and documenting the skills that you have 2. Needs analysis: Identifying the skills that you need to acquire or develop; targeting specific development needs in the context of a given time period and research programme 3. Development/Portfolio planning: Specifying how and when the skills will be developed and how the outcomes will be documented 4. Evidence Building: Collecting evidence in the Progress File as competence is gained 5. Assessment: Assessing skills development as a component of progress
Skills audit Skills audit: part of probation assessment See http://www.open.ac.uk/students/research/ou/res earcher-development-framework Skills development: on-going; included in all 6- monthly Progress Reports and in the Probation Report
Mini-viva Centres on the probation report Panel Feedback by the assessors
Mini-viva The mini-viva is designed to assess the following: Your understanding of what you are doing The relationship of what you are doing to other work in the area Whether the project design is robust Whether your project is achievable within the time Whether you are capable of achieving it
Typical mini-viva questions How are you dealing with any ethical issues? Who do you think will want to read about your research? What is new about it? What attracted you to this project? How did you decide what to include in your lit. review? What are the gaps in the literature? What are the key concepts? What is your central research question and how did it arise? How did you decide on this methodology? What are the benefits and pitfalls of the methodology? What are your priorities for the next 6 months?
Possible outcomes Confirm registration for PhD Require you do specific further work before you can register for a Phd Terminate registration
Probation form The probation assessment is accompanied by the Probation form Sections A and B are completed by the student in consultation with the supervisors Section C is completed by the supervisors Section D is completed by the mini viva assessors Section E is completed by the Associate Dean Research or PGR Director Sections A, B and C are completed prior to the mini viva Replaces the Progress Report for that reporting period
Variations by faculty: HSC 3,000 4,000 word report; a revised research proposal and timetable 7,000 10,000 piece which indicates critical and writing ability (literature, methodology or policy review) Skills audit (should include a presentation) Submit documents 2 weeks prior to viva Mini viva about 10 months (FT) and 20 months (PT) into registration Remedial work over the summer if necessary For more information, contact Lindsay O Dell
Business and Law One report: critical literature review; research question; proposed method; timetable Skills audit (including presentation at PhD day) Submit work 2 weeks before the viva Vivas held in early September Remedial work over the summer following feedback meeting with DRD For more information, contact Claudia Simoes
CREET (FELS and IET) One report: literature review, research question, method and work plan Skills audit (with evidence of presentations given, e.g. in WiP seminars) Submit work 3 4 weeks before viva Vivas held in late June and July Remedial work over the summer For more information, contact Tim Lewis
Thanks for listening and taking part! Look back at your expectations on the post-it note what has not been covered?
