Preparing for probation assessmentLindsay O’DellDirector for Postgraduate StudiesFaculty of Health and Social Care

Developing as a Researcher, 19–20 March 2014

Your expectations

Activity: Note down three things that you expect to get out of this session on a post-it note.

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 time2 minutes (each): pair work with partner 12 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 two independent assessors on research done as well as planned

To assess your research skills Important step on the way to the PhD

Probation

Research

Oral presen-tation

Project report

Skills audit

Probation form

Mini viva

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. 10/20 months after registration

(FT/PT) Remedial work over the summer 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

Elements of a research question

The phenomenon

you are seeking to explain

The thing/s which you think

explain/s variation in that phenomenon

The relationship between them

(‘how’, ‘why’, ‘to what extent’), avoiding ‘yes/ no’ questions

The context of the research

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 partnerWhat 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?

Research gap

Research

question

Choose research

areas

Review of

literature

Review of

theories +

methods

Methodo-logy and

methods

Initial interest/ observa-

tion

Your research questionActivity (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 you would 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)

Group (and plenary) discussion: 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 exampleOct yr 1

Jan Apr Jun Octyr 2

Jan Apr Jun Octyr 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 Background of the Study

1.2 Aims of the Probation Report

1.3 Clarification of Terms

1.4 Overview of this Probation Report

 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

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 development1. Skills audit: Identifying and documenting the skills that you

have2. 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://phdskills.open.ac.uk/skills_audit_menu.php Skills development: on-going; included in all 6-

monthly Progress Reports and in the Probation Report

See http://phdskills.open.ac.uk/dev_plan_form.php

Skills audit

Skills audit

Mini-viva Centres on the probation report Panel:

• 2 independent internal assessors• Supervisor as observer• Panel chair (usually PGR Director)

10-minute presentation 30-minute discussion Feedback by the assessors Can also be done online or on the telephone (PT only)

Mini-vivaThe 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

What are the key

concepts?

What attracted

you to this project?

What are the gaps in the literature?

What is new about it?

Who do you think will

want to read about your research?

How are you dealing with any ethical

issues?

What are the benefits and

pitfalls of the

methodology?

How did you decide what to include in

your lit. review?

What is your central

research question and

how did it arise?

What are your

priorities for the next 6 months?

How did you decide on

this methodolog

y?

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 October Progress Report

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 first two weeks of July Remedial work over the summer following

feedback meeting with DRD For more information, contact Anne Smith

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 Regine Hampel

KMI One report: literature review; research proposal

including workplan; description of a piece of completed (pilot) work (e.g. software that has been developed or experiment that has been conducted)

The report is submitted at least 1 week before the viva

The viva is held in around month 9 or 10 Remedial work is conducted after the viva as

necessary For more information, contact Paul Mulholland

Social Science One report Skills audit (including presentation) Submit work 2 weeks before the viva Please check with your PG Co-ordinator for the

timing of vivas Remedial work over the summer For more information, contact Deborah Talbot

Opportunity to look at previous probation reports from various faculties

Thanks for listening and taking part!

Look back at your expectations on the post-it note – what has not been

covered?