The Confirmation Process At QUT

1
The Confirmation Process At QUT

• Susan Gasson
• Manager Research Students Centre
• s.gasson_at_qut.edu.au
• With thanks to Stephen Cox, Faculty of Business

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Elements of the Confirmation Process

• The aim of the Confirmation of Candidature
  process is to
• Evaluate the candidates research skills
• Evaluate the quality of the proposed research
• Student Confirmation Requirements
• Confirmation Document
• Seminar Presentation
• Approval process
• Supervisory Team comment
• Panel Review
• Faculty recommendation
• Research Degrees Committee (RDC) approval

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Confirmation Document

• Introduction
• State project objectives
• Brief outline of project
• Literature review
• Critical evaluation
• Integrative cf annotated bibliography forms an
  argument
• Identify research gap / leads to reasons for WHY
  do study
• So what/significant and original contribution to
  knowledge
• Research Questions
• Explicit statements
• Well argued literature review
• Evidence of how the questions will be explored
  through the research method

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Overall evaluation of intro, lit review and RQs

• Thorough
• Clear
• Critical
• Linked
• Theoretical and practical implications identified

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Methods

• Data sources
• How many (sample size)
• Where from (source)
• Basis for selection (sampling strategy) and size
• Both qualitative and quantitative
• Clearly linked to Research Questions

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Methods

• Measures
• Quantitative operationalisation of constructs
• Qualitative nature of data being collected
  information about what?
• Clearly linked back to RQs, hypotheses etc.

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Methods

• Data collection techniques
• Description of how data to be collected
• Demonstrating your understanding of requirements
• Providing evidence that this can be done
• Rationale for THAT technique(s)
• Previous studies
• Requirements of this study
• Evidence in the literature to support approach

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Methods

• Overall evaluation of Methods
• Appropriateness of method to Research Questions
• Quality / rigour of approach
• Sufficient detail could someone progress to
  complete the study

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Data analysis techniques

• Appropriateness for the data collected
• Clear link to the data collected (i.e. links to
  form of the data)
• Also need to include
• Limitations of proposed research
• Why and with what effect on signficance
• Implications for further work
• Timetable of progress

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Confirmation Seminar

• 40 minutes plus 20.
• Public presentation
• Balance between literature and methods.
• Substance Vs Form

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• Prepare the audience
• Talk about the
• audience
• Event
• Place
• Point of the speech

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Narrative - Decide what you want to achieve

• The essence of the narrative is communicating
  your story in a way the audience will understand.
• Demonstrating your research skills
• Highlight the quality of the proposed research in
  making a significant and original contribution

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- The Narrative continued

• Things to Consider
• your audience
• your content
• the story you want to tell
• the time available
• the resources available (i.e., powerpoints,
  handouts, props, key data)

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The Argument

• Provide proof/logic to support your point.
• Key points
• How much information is enough
• What can your audience understand
• Ensure you can delivery your message effectively
  guiding the listener

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Rhetorical devices to refute challenges

• Parallel Structure repetition of structure to
  make a point We will work we will learn We will
  create.
• Triads use lists of three items
• Antithesis Live free or Die To be or not to be
• Rhetorical question Is this a good idea? Yes,
  because.

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Learning styles

• Visual learners see something
• Auditory learners hear something
• Kinestheic learners - do something

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Summing up

• Engage audience in an outcome
• Give audience a message to take away

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Rehearse

• Try it out with friends
• Encourage questions
• Be alert to body language
• Remain calm
• Jump about

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Key actions

• Define your objective
• Understand your audience
• Decide what to say
• Get organised
• Develop visual aids/props/tools
• Rehearse

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Do it!

• Think about the next day
• It is all about the project
• Speak effectively
• Be confident
• Engage the audience
• Use the experience to prepare for next time
• Enjoy - celebrate

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The Panel

• The aim of the Confirmation of Candidature
  process is to evaluate the capacity of the
  candidate to complete a PhD, and to assess that
  the proposed research program is suitable for a
  PhD.
• Evaluates the quality of the candidate
• Evaluates the quality of the proposed research.
• Aim is to prevent problems from occurring, not to
  attack the candidate or the research.
• Panel members consist of
• Principal Supervisor,
• Head of School or their nominee,
• Faculty representative.
• May be others.

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Recommendation of the Panel

• the research program is of the standard required
  for the PhD program yes/no/not yet
• enrolment be confirmed as the progress is
  satisfactory
• the candidate transfer into the PhD program
• the candidate be placed Under Review until
  _________________(The Review Period conditions
  are attached)
• PhD enrolment be terminated as progress continues
  to be unsatisfactory (only if the candidates
  Review Period has expired)
• the candidate be accepted for enrolment in a
  Masters (Research)
• Credit on Transfer/Articulation (Approved
  Equivalent Full time semesters _______________)