Programme: Pre-doctoral Short Course 2014
Monday 17 Feb
Tuesday 18 Feb
Doctorateness
08:30 – 08:45
Introduction and welcome
Prof Marietjie de Villiers
Wednesday 19 Feb
09:30 – 10:00
10:00 – 10:30
What is doctorateness?
Characteristics and expectations
of a doctoral thesis, including
social and scientific value of the
proposed research.
Prof Sioux McKenna
Conceptualisation and
developing critical thinking
practices.
Friday 21 Feb
Research Methods and Statistical Design
Concepts of Methodological
Approaches
Quantitative methods
(Continued)
Evidence based health
care
Qualitative Methods
Protocol
Background to qualitative
methods, key assumptions
and implications for the
research design including the
selection of participants
Research proposal and
intellectual property
Dr Donald Skinner and Prof
Lana van Niekerk
Proff Mershen PIllay and Lana
van Niekerk
(08:30-09:00)
08:45 – 09:30
Thursday 20 Feb
Prof Taryn Young
Prof Nico Gey van Pittius
Quantitative methods
ProFf Renee Blaauw, Mariana
Kruger and Lee Wallis
Statistical design of
quantitative research
Sample size and power calculations
Ms Tonya Esterhuizen
Prof Sioux McKenna
10:30 – 11:00
11:00 – 11:30
11:30 – 12:00
TEA / COFFEE
Identification of the research gap
and formulating the research
question.
Quantitative methods
Sampling strategies
(Continued)
Ms Tonya Esterhuizen
Complexity and Trans
disciplinary Research
Dr Rika Preiser
(To be confirmed)
An introduction to qualitative
data collection methods
focusing on individual indepth interviews
Dr Donald Skinner and Prof
Lana van Niekerk
12:00 – 12:30
The ‘magic circle’ from planning
to the final product: putting it all
together
(To be confirmed)
12:30 – 13:00
Building a relationship with
supervisors
(To be confirmed)
Data capture and selection of
statistical tests
An introduction to qualitative
data analysis
Ms Tonya Esterhuizen
Dr Donald Skinner and Prof
Lana van Niekerk
13:00 – 14:00
LUNCH
14:00– 14:30
Library
Selfstudy
Selfstudy
Selfstudy
Selfstudy
14:30– 15:00
Accessing the literature
(hands-on demonstration on how to
access and utilise the library services)
Consult with supervisors
Consult with supervisors
Work on protocol.
Work on protocol and refine
title, research question,
objectives and overall study
design.
Consult with supervisors
Work on protocol and refine
statistical design.
Consult with supervisors
Work on protocol and
refine qualitative aspects of
the study.
15:00 – 15:30
15:30 – 16:00
GERGA 2
Ms Wilhelmine Pool
Monday 24 Feb
Tuesday 25 Feb
Wednesday 26 Feb
Scientific Writing
08:30 – 10:00
09:00 – 09:30
09:30 – 10:00
Reviewing the protocol
(students will engage with a
variety of examples of protocols)
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk
Using the literature
(dealing with various questions
and undertaking a series of group
and individual activities)
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk
10:30 – 11:00
11:30 – 12:00
Friday 28 Feb
Project Management
Presentations
Project Management
Protocol presentations
Dr Therina Theron
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk and
Dr Lucia Thesen
10:00 – 10:30
11:00 – 11:30
Referencing
(role in scientific writing,
emerging sub-messages,
philosophy; electronic
management tools)
Thursday 27 Feb
TEA / COFFEE
Reviewing the protocol
(continued)
Using the literature (continued)
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk
Preparing your protocol for
submission (including common
errors)
Prof Quinette Louw
Research Grants
Protocol presentations
SU systems - grant applications,
grant management, capacity
development. Research contracts
management
Dr Tania Brodovcky
12:00 – 12:30
12:30 – 13:00
Evaluation and synthesis of new
and complex ideas
(engaging with research
questions, addressing complex
issues; evaluation and synthesis
in writing, complex theory and /
or data)
Preparing for protocol
presentation
(assisting participants to
prepare for their presentations.
Pointers on how to best
present your work will be
shared)
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk and
Dr Lucia Thesen
13:00 – 14:00
Research Ethics
Protocol presentations
Research integrity and ethical
considerations
Dr Nicola Barsdorf
LUNCH
14:00– 14:30
Selfstudy
Selfstudy
Selfstudy
Selfstudy
14:30– 15:00
Review of protocol in the small
group.
Review of protocol in the small
group.
Preparing of protocol
presentation
Preparing of protocol presentation
15:00 – 15:30
Continue work on protocols.
Continue work on protocols.
15:30 – 16:00
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk
Prof Susan van Schalkwyk and
Dr Lucia Thesen
Feedback and course
evaluation
Venue: Room 4053D in the Teaching Block, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tygerberg Campus. On 20 February Room 0038, Basement, Clinical Building, will
be used for the short course in the afternoon from 14:00 - 16:00.