1. THESIS WRITING & EXAMINERS EXPECTATIONAbd Karim Alias akarim@usm.myThursday, December 22, 2011

2. WHAT IS A THESIS? A product of scholarly and professional study of a subject.Thursday, December 22, 2011 3. ROLE OF EXAMINERSThe scientic merits To carefully assess whether The signicance & the study has fullled what impact it has intended to achieve and what it intends toThe new contribution to contribute.the research eld The research has been communicated clearlyThursday, December 22, 2011 4. COMMON EXAMINERS REMARK The presentation of the thesis fallsshort...substantial proof reading The literature review...lack of criticalassessment...just a simple compilation...incomplete... The experimental design was notappropriate... Many vague statements...Thursday, December 22, 2011 5. WHAT MAKES ANOUTSTANDING THESIS?The outstanding PhDs have beautifullyconceived ideas that open up a new areaor really answer an important question,and are critical of previous work in thearea or make a critical assessment of theirown workThursday, December 22, 2011 6. WHAT MAKES ANOUTSTANDING THESIS?Novelty/originalityClear & specic objectivesCohesiveness - where it all ts togetherClarity - clear line of thought & presentationElegance of design, synthesis & executionThursday, December 22, 2011 7. WHAT MAKES ANOUTSTANDING THESIS?CreativityOverall a well sculpted piece of workA thesis is not an end in itself - rather it will open up a new vista.Thursday, December 22, 2011 8. POOR THESISLack of novelty/originalityLack of coherenceLack of understanding of the theoryLack of condenceLack of substantive dataLack of well-structured argumentResearching the wrong problem!Thursday, December 22, 2011 9. IN THE VERYBEGINNINGThursday, December 22, 2011 10. FIRST IMPRESSION COUNTS!Overall presentationNo spelling & grammatical errors in the title, abstract, table of content, summary/conclusion (because examiners will read these parts rst!)Substantive both in quantity + qualityThe thesis tells a story - takes the reader through a journey.Thursday, December 22, 2011 11. DONT LET EXAMINERS GUESSMake it easy for them to read and follow...Structure (examiner will look at the TOC)Chapter introduction & summary/ conclusion (clear prologue & epilogue)Rational of research approachAppropriate data analysis & presentationReferencesThursday, December 22, 2011 12. RESEARCH PROBLEMWhy did youundertake the researchin the rst place?How does your thesisadvance theknowledge of thesubject?Thursday, December 22, 2011 13. RESEARCH PROBLEMSufcient background - so that examiner appreciates the research problemHighlight the deciencies in current knowledge - put the work in proper context or perspective.Specic research objectives: achievable, measurable.Thursday, December 22, 2011 14. RESEARCH PROBLEM Do not leave the examiner thinking... WHY BOTHER?Thursday, December 22, 2011 15. SCOPE OF THE THESISHave the authordened & articulatedthe scope of thecurrent work clearly?Important to avoid mismatch in theexaminers expectation and what isactually delivered.Thursday, December 22, 2011 16. LITERATURE REVIEWComprehensive but conciseInclude KEY references (seminal papers)Critical appraisal - summarize & synthesize the current state of knowledgeIdentify gaps in knowledgeNeed to address conict or controversial issuesThursday, December 22, 2011 17. MATERIALS & METHODExaminers will scrutinizevery carefully &meticulously!Thursday, December 22, 2011 18. MATERIALS & METHOD Are M&M detailed enough to ensure the work is reproducible?Thursday, December 22, 2011 19. MATERIALS & METHOD MATERIAL: sample size, sample population, sampling technique, Are M&M detailedsample storage/treatment enough to ensure the work is reproducible?Thursday, December 22, 2011 20. MATERIALS & METHOD MATERIAL: sample size, sample population, sampling technique, Are M&M detailedsample storage/treatment enough to ensure the INSTRUMENTATION: work is reproducible?specications, calibrationThursday, December 22, 2011 21. MATERIALS & METHOD MATERIAL: sample size, sample population, sampling technique, Are M&M detailedsample storage/treatment enough to ensure the INSTRUMENTATION: work is reproducible?specications, calibrationINSTRUMENT: how questionnaire developed? validity/reliabilitycheck; proposed data analysisThursday, December 22, 2011 22. MATERIALS & METHODCommonly asked questions:Thursday, December 22, 2011 23. MATERIALS & METHODCommonly asked questions: Is experimental design appropriate to achieve the objectives?Thursday, December 22, 2011 24. MATERIALS & METHODCommonly asked questions: Is experimental design appropriate to achieve the objectives?What precautions were taken against likely sources of bias?Thursday, December 22, 2011 25. MATERIALS & METHOD Commonly asked questions: Is experimental design appropriate to achieve the objectives?What precautions were taken against likely sources of bias?What are the limitations of the methodology?Thursday, December 22, 2011 26. MATERIALS & METHODCommonly asked questions: Is experimental design appropriate to achieve the objectives?What precautions were taken against likely sources of bias?What are the limitations of the methodology?Is the methodology for analysis and data collectionappropriate?Thursday, December 22, 2011 27. MATERIALS & METHODCommonly asked questions: Is experimental design appropriate to achieve the objectives?What precautions were taken against likely sources of bias?What are the limitations of the methodology?Is the methodology for analysis and data collectionappropriate? Under given circumstances, has the bestmethodology been chosen?Thursday, December 22, 2011 28. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONThursday, December 22, 2011 29. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONWhat is the basis of choosing certain set of data to include in the thesis?Thursday, December 22, 2011 30. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONWhat is the basis of choosing certain set of data to include in the thesis?Have the hypothesis been tested?Thursday, December 22, 2011 31. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONWhat is the basis of choosing certain set of data to include in the thesis?Have the hypothesis been tested?Do the solutions obtained relate to the questions posed?Thursday, December 22, 2011 32. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONWhat is the basis of choosing certain set of data to include in the thesis?Have the hypothesis been tested?Do the solutions obtained relate to the questions posed?Is the level and form of analysis appropriate for the data?Thursday, December 22, 2011 33. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONThursday, December 22, 2011 34. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONCould the presentation of results made clearer?Thursday, December 22, 2011 35. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATIONCould the presentation of results made clearer?Are the pattern in the results clearly identied and summarizedThursday, December 22, 2011 36. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATIONThursday, December 22, 2011 37. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATIONLogical progression of ideas & argumentsThursday, December 22, 2011 38. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATIONLogical progression of ideas & argumentsAbility to recognize & appreciate the signicance of the dataThursday, December 22, 2011 39. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATIONLogical progression of ideas & argumentsAbility to recognize & appreciate the signicance of the dataDemonstrate higher level of thinking & analysisThursday, December 22, 2011 40. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATIONLogical progression of ideas & argumentsAbility to recognize & appreciate the signicance of the dataDemonstrate higher level of thinking & analysisAbility to recognize & deal with contradictionThursday, December 22, 2011 41. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATIONThursday, December 22, 2011 42. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATION Is the signicance of results fully explored in the context of current literature?Thursday, December 22, 2011 43. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATION Is the signicance of results fully exploredin the context of current literature? Reection - ability of the author to make acritical assessment of their own workThursday, December 22, 2011 44. DISCUSSION & INTERPRETATION Is the signicance of results fully exploredin the context of current literature? Reection - ability of the author to make acritical assessment of their own work Succinct writing withoutexcessive speculationThursday, December 22, 2011 45. THE END PARTThursday, December 22, 2011 46. THE END PARTSuccinct conclusionThursday, December 22, 2011 47. THE END PARTSuccinct conclusionHave all the conclusions linked to the results (i.e., based on available data)?Thursday, December 22, 2011 48. THE END PARTSuccinct conclusionHave all the conclusions linked to the results (i.e., based on available data)?Have all the stated objectives of the thesis been addressed, regardless of the outcome?Thursday, December 22, 2011 49. THE END PARTSuccinct conclusionHave all the conclusions linked to the results (i.e., based on available data)?Have all the stated objectives of the thesis been addressed, regardless of the outcome?Have the avenues for future work opened up by the thesis been articulated clearly?Thursday, December 22, 2011 50. FINAL ANALYSISHas the thesismade a substantiveoriginal contributionto our knowledge &understanding?Thursday, December 22, 2011 51. FINAL ANALYSIS Development of new theory ormethodology?Has the thesismade a substantiveoriginal contributionto our knowledge &understanding?Thursday, December 22, 2011 52. FINAL ANALYSIS Development of new theory ormethodology?Has the thesismade a substantiveGeneration of new body oforiginal contributionknowledge?to our knowledge &understanding?Thursday, December 22, 2011 53. FINAL ANALYSIS Development of new theory ormethodology?Has the thesismade a substantiveGeneration of new body oforiginal contributionknowledge?to our knowledge & Knowledge about orunderstanding?understanding of an issue or problem?Thursday, December 22, 2011 54. FINAL ANALYSIS Development of new theory ormethodology?Has the thesismade a substantive Generation of new body oforiginal contribution knowledge?to our knowledge &Knowledge about orunderstanding? understanding of an issue orproblem?Proposal of new policy or practicein a particular area?Thursday, December 22, 2011 55. FURTHER READING Mullins, G and Kiley, M. (2002) Its a PhD, not a Nobel Prize: how experienced examiners assess research theses, Studies in Higher Education, 27, 4, 369-386Thursday, December 22, 2011 56. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!Thursday, December 22, 2011