CONTENTS Preface to the first edition ix Preface to the second edition x About this book xi Acknowledgements xiv 1 So you want to do a PhD? 1 What is a PhD? 2 Cabinet-making - the PhD as a 'master piece' 4 Cabinet-making skills 6 Instrumental and expressive behaviour 8 Necessary skills 10 Criteria for a PhD: some reassurance 13 2 The many shapes of the PhD 17 Phases 18 Milestones 19 Different models of study 21 Different models of supervision 24 Different models of theses 26 About processes and procedures 27 3 The route to research independence 30 What does it mean to be an 'independent researcher'? 33 How skills are embodied in the research programme and dissertation 34 Developing and documenting skills 34 How to become an international researcher 37 4 Supervision 43 The role of the supervisor 45 The role of the student, or managing expectations47 Getting the most from supervisory meetings 48 Etfective debate49 Establishing a good relationship 51 Prevention is better than cure 54 Strategies for when things go wrong 54 Cardinal rules56 5 Networks58 Building a network59 Tools for networking 60 First contact - cold calls 62 People you should remember to include in your network 64 6 Reading 67 Why read? 68 Finding the right references: where do I start?71 Online searching72 Other sources of information 76 Reading between the lines of a paper or dissertation 77 Literature reviews 79 Using material from the literature 81 Keeping an annotated bibliography 82 7 Paper types 86 Data-driven papers 87 Methods papers 89 Theoretical papers 90 Consciousness-raising papers 91 Agenda-setting papers 92 Review papers 92 Position papers 93 Conclusion93 8. Research design 95 Designing empirical studies: three key steps 96 Types of research and research focus: machetes and magnifying glasses102 Ethics 106 Tales of horror and how to avoid them 108 The three ignoble truths (with apologies to the three noble truths) 111 9 Critical thinking 113 Reprise on a theme: research is a discourse 114 Critical thinking and how it is manifest 116 What's theory got to do with it? 117 Style, epistemology and rigour 118 More about evidence121 Giving structure to thinking 124 10 Writing128 What will you need to write?129 The dissertation: core concepts130 Dissertation FAQs 130 Journal papers 132 The process of publication135 Papers from theses 138 Paper checklist 140 11 Writing structure and style142 Writing style 143 Academic style: an example 149 Academic style: sending signals 150 Writing structure153 Academic style: summary158 12 The process of writing159 Removing distractions 160 Getting started 160 Surprising yourself 162 Finding a focus 162 Keeping going 163 Obstacles163 Allow time for reflection, review and housekeeping 168 13 Presentations170 Content171 Form174 Other handy tips 178 The three golden rules of public speaking182 A brief checklist for presentations182 14 Conferences183 The conference process: a novice's perspective 184 The organizers' viewpoint 187 Miscellaneous good advice189 Getting the most out of networking at a conference - a checklist190 15 The viva192 Stories of nasty surprises193 Behind the scenes 195 The day of the viva 197 Preparing yourself202 Handling revisions 205 The viva: hints, lists and things to remember 207 Generic viva questions 212 16 Sabotage and salvation 214 Reputations 215 Destructive habits 216 Time, sensible planning and useful displacement activities 219 Constructive habits 222 Professional etiquette: respecting working relationships 225 17 What next?227 Career goals 228 Academia or elsewhere?230 Academic career types 232 Various other things 234 Identifying opportunities 235 Writing a CV236 Applications and cover letters 239 Job interviews 239 18 Closing thoughts 249 Some useful terms 251 Some further reading 257 Index 262