USM WORKSHOP  (20th December 2013)

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR PHD

Dr. Daisy Kee Mui Hung    (School of Management)

Universiti Sains Malaysia

IPS Training Room

“You fail to plan and you plan to fail.”

PLANNING

1. Plan Each Day, Each Week, Each Semester
2. You can always change your plan, but only once you have one

RESEARCH MILESTONE

Month 1

Preliminary research

Define research question/objectives

Discussion with supervisor(s)

Month 2

Finalize research framework

Research at library

Draft the literature review

Get feedback from supervisor(s) and coursemates

Month 3

Finalize Chapter 1 Introduction

Month 4

Month 5

Month 6

Attending seminars, workshops, colloquium

Finalize Chapter 2 Literature Review

Further discussion with supervisor(s)

Month 7

Finalize Chapter 3 Methodology

Month 8

Polish format of dissertation proposal and submit research proposal

Month 9

Prepare for the presentation

TO DO LIST

develop the habits of working on a daily To Do list.

You need to work SMARTER, not harder!

A FINAL THOUGHT ON TIME
Many People….
- Think too much of destinations and too little of preparations
- They don’t realize that today’s actions will determine tomorrows achievements

WRITING AND PRESENTATION SKILLS
Identify the requirement of IPS
http://www.research.usm.my/
http://www.ips.usm.my/index.php/currentStudents/examination/graduationRequirements
http://www.ips.usm.my/index.php/currentStudents/candidatureMatters/researchModeProgramme
http://www.ips.usm.my/index.php/downloads/examination

CRITERIA USED BY EXAMINERS WHEN ASSESSING PHD THESES
Conceptual clarity in the design, conduct and analysis of the research
Intellectual appreciation of the conceptual and theoretical basis of the research, and its limitations and wider significance
Coherence of argument throughout the thesis
Appropriate engagement with the literature
Grasp of methodology (methods of enquiry; analysis of data)
Presentation of the thesis and compliance with academic conventions
Originality
Potential for publication

(Winter et al. 2000: 32-35)

A GOOD TITLE
Consider this illustration:
If your topic is narrow, you can deal with it in depth. If your topic is broad, you will deal with it only in a shallow way. Thus you want to avoid a broad survey in a research paper.
Instead, focus on a narrow topic so you can deal with it in depth.


A STRONG, INTERESTING, AND CONVINCING ABSTRACT
Write your paper first. Even though an abstract goes at the beginning of the work, it acts as a summary     of your entire paper. Rather than introducing your topic, it will be an overview of everything you            write about in your paper.
an abstract works to review the entirety of the paper, including the methods and results.
always save the abstract for last. You will be able to give a much more accurate summary if you do       just that - summarize what you’ve already written.


THE ABSTRACT
I usually write the abstract last
Four sentences
1.State the problem
2.Say why it’s an interesting problem
3.Say what your solution achieves
4.Say what follows from your solution


THE INTRODUCTION (1 PAGE)
1.Describe the problem
2.State your contributions
...and that is all  
       ONE PAGE!


STATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
Write the list of contributions first
The list of contributions drives the entire paper: the paper substantiates the claims you have made
Reader thinks “gosh, if they can really deliver this, that’s be exciting; I’d better read on”

STATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
Write the list of contributions first
The list of contributions drives the entire paper: the paper substantiates the claims you have made
Reader thinks “gosh, if they can really deliver this, that’s be exciting; I’d better read on”