Becoming a professional
researcher
Shonil Bhagwat, Nadia Bartolini, Jim
McGinlay
Faculty of Social Sciences
The Illustrated Guide to a PhD
“Every [year], I explain to a fresh batch of PhD
students what a PhD is.
It's hard to describe it in words.
So, I use pictures.
Read below for the illustrated guide to a PhD”
Source: Matt Might (Computer scientist at the
University of Utah) http://matt.might.net/
Imagine a circle that contains all of
human knowledge…
By the time you finish elementary
school, you know a little…
By the time you finish high school, you
know a bit more…
With a bachelor's degree, you gain a
specialty…
A master's degree deepens that
specialty…
Reading research papers takes you to
the edge of human knowledge…
Once you're at the boundary, you
focus…
You push at the boundary for a few
years…
Until one day, the boundary gives
way…
And, that dent you've made is called a
PhD…
Of course, the world looks different to
you now…
So, don't forget the bigger picture, but
keep pushing!...
The Meaning of a PhD
Professor Derek Pugh
Open University Business School
Adapted from
Estelle M. Phillips and Derek S. Pugh
How to Get a PhD (5th edition)
Open University Press, 2010
<www.derekpugh.com>
Command of subject
• At the most basic level it means that you have
something to say that your peers want to
listen to.
• In order to do this you must have a command
of what is happening in your subject so that
you can evaluate the worth of what others are
doing.
• You must have the astuteness to discover
where you can make a useful contribution.
Research methods and ethics
• You must be aware of the ethics of your
profession and work within them.
• You must have mastery of appropriate
techniques that are currently being used, and
also be aware of their limitations.
Communication to diverse audiences
• You must be able to communicate your results
effectively in the professional arena.
• All this must be carried out in an international
context; your professional peer group is
worldwide.
• All this is to be carried out in an ever changing
environment in your field of research.
Questions for Nadia and Jim
• What was your PhD about and what did you
do to identify your research questions?
• How did you choose your research methods?
• How did you communicate your research to
diverse audiences during your PhD?
Questions for Nadia and Jim
• Since completing your PhD, how do you keep on
top of your subject and keep in touch with new
developments in your field?
• If you were to do your PhD all over again, how
would you change your research design or the
choice of methodologies?
• What experience have you had of communicating
your research and establishing yourself as a
researcher since completing the PhD?
Questions for Nadia and Jim
Other questions?