Doctoral Research Seminar (EDUC90320)

This subject focuses on issues involved in designing and carrying out a thesis in the field of education. It assumes (and is different from) previous study of research methodology; and is intended to be undertaken in conjunction with working with their supervisor to develop their D Ed thesis proposal. In the Doctoral Research Seminar, students will consider the nature and role of a thesis project in the context of the professional and disciplinary constitution of the field of education. In this subject, students will consider questions not able to be technically defined in either methodology texts or doctoral regulations: what constitutes an adequate 'contribution to knowledge"? what voice is appropriate in the thesis writing? How is the scope of a literature review constructed? How do newcomer researchers learn to position themselves in the field? What identity demands are implicit in the task of producing a thesis? This doctoral research seminar will function alongside the preparation of the thesis proposal as a forum for students to reflect on the field they are entering and to build tacit as well as explicit knowledge about what is needed in undertaking their thesis project