GRS Seminar Thesis Examination · thesis is lowered by the lack of depth and thought put into the...
Transcript of GRS Seminar Thesis Examination · thesis is lowered by the lack of depth and thought put into the...
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GRS Seminar
Thesis Examination
Graduate Research School Seminar Series 2017
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Seminar outline
• Nomination of examinersConflict of interest
• Formatting the thesisFront page requirements
• SubmissionInternational students on managed suspensionDomestic students who have withdrawnRequests for submission without supervisor approval
• ExaminationExaminer concerns with thesis
• ClassificationAdverse examination outcomesResponses to Board Graduate Research School
• Revisions
• Submission of final versionEmbargo requests
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Thesis examination staff
Fung, Mr Gavin ManagerThesis Examination
6488 3535 [email protected]
Chenhall, Ms Daranee Administrative OfficerThesis Examination
6488 4280 [email protected]
Examination Process managed by Thesis Examination Officers in GRS
Thesis Examination pgexam‐[email protected]
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www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/
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Nomination of examiners
• Prior to submitting the nomination of examiners form ‐ school representative will contact examiners to • secure their agreement to examine the thesis (extended abstract) • check examiners OK to examine electronic copy thesis
• Supervisors should complete nomination form at least 3 weeks prior to intended submission date • include copy of thesis abstract• 3 examiners for PhD (and reserve) – at least 2 external to WA• 2 examiners for Masters (and reserve) – at least 1 external to WA
• Final approval of examiners by Dean of GRS
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www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/examination/submission
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www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/policies/examiner-independence
Examination of UWA theses is wholly external. Examiners are independent and without bias.
Conflict of interest guidelines aim to protect against potential negative perceptions - not a presumption that an individual will behave inappropriately.
Potential for actual or perceived conflict of interest must be declared in the nomination form – any known relationships
prior or current personal, professional or legalbetween examiner & student, supervisor(s), other examiners or UWA
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www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/814807/Examples_-_conflict_of_interest_and_examiner_independence.pdf
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Other nomination issues
• Finding an appropriate examiner in small fields
• Balancing the examination teamsubject expertiseexperience as an examiner/supervisorfamiliarity with the Australian system
• Managing co‐tutelle examination arrangements
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Thesis format
• Very few GRS specifications
• Flexibility in rules to allow for disciplinary differences
• Front page templates available to download• Logo, declarations, authorship declarations• RTP scholarship holders acknowledgement of receipt of scholarship
(including tuition fee only scholarships)• Co‐authors consent to inclusion of co‐authored work in thesis and
endorse the student’s claims to contributionParticular care should be taken when student is not the lead author OR co‐authored paper is included in two theses
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www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/style
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Thesis submission
• 4 Step Process – outlined onlinehttp://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/examination/submission
• Completed Thesis Submission Form• 1 electronic copy (PDF of full thesis on USB) and 1 temporarily bound copy
http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/style/temporary-binding
• Enrolment status changes to discontinued & scholarships cease[International students advised to check VISA expiry date]
• Provided forms complete & accurate – sent for examination • Thesis cannot be accepted for examination if there are outstanding
ethics approvals and/or ACE unit has not been passed (if required).
• Official email sent stating thesis has been sent for examination
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Thesis submission
• International students who run out of scholarship & making progress are often placed on a managed suspension (domestic equivalent of extension)• Able to manage all thesis examination processes externally• Degree can be conferred in absentia
• Students can request thesis examination without supervisor certification
• Allowable under PhD Rule 45.4 – exceptional circumstances
• GRS strongly counsels against requesting submission without supervisor support
• Managed by GRS on case‐by‐case basis
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Tracking examiner reports
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Thesis examination
• Requested examination time is 6 weeks• Average time of examination is 4‐5 months
• Examiners will provideWritten report (1‐2 pages)Scores against 6 criteria (1= exceptional, 6=flawed)Recommendation for classificationwww.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/staff/forms#thesisexam
• Board of the Graduate Research School (BGRS) will consider all examiner reports and classify the thesis
• Official email of examination outcome• Revision reports• How to apply for graduation
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Criteria for award of PhD
• The thesis as a whole is substantial and original contribution to knowledge of the subject with which it deals
• The student shows familiarity with, and understanding of, the relevant literature
• The thesis provides a sufficiently comprehensive study of the topic
• The techniques adopted are appropriate to the subject matter and are properly applied
• The results are suitably set out and accompanied by adequate exposition
• The quality of the English and general presentation are of a standard for publication
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Recommendation for classification
• PASSED no requirement for corrections or amendments
• PASSED SUBJECT TO MINOR REVISION
• PASSED SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS
• RE‐SUBMIT for examination after revision (PhD rules 65‐66)http://handbooks.uwa.edu.au/rules?code=00810,00860,00870,01820,01830,01840,01850
• AWARD MASTERS
• FAIL
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Examiner concerns
• Disjointed “There is a strong impression that this chapter was bolted on rather than being an integral part of the thesis.”
• Incomplete“There is clearly a good quality of research but that the standard of the thesis is lowered by the lack of depth and thought put into the introduction and discussion”.
• Repetitive“The thesis is spoilt by some poor quality and repetitious writing. More care should have been taken to ensure that the overlapping material was presented in a more interesting and varied manner.”
Mullins & Kiley. 2002. 'It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize': How experienced examiners assess research theses. Studies in Higher Education. 27(4)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228816715_'It's_a_PhD_not_a_Nobel_Prize'_How_experienced_examiners_assess_research_theses
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Addressing possible concerns
• Adding linking text to improve the coherence of the thesis
• Ensuring material included in thesis is justified – no ‘padding’
• Strengthening the background, rationale for study, justification of methods
• Ensuring discussion chapter provides synthesis of results and clear indication of collective significance of work
• Ensuring adequate data is shown (possibly in an appendix)
• Reducing redundancy by restructuring
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Adverse examination outcomes
• If there are adverse recommendations for classification and/or other issues arising in examiner reports
Case will be discussed at meeting of BGRS
Prior to meeting BGRS will request response from school prepared by GRC/HOS in conjunction with supervisors
• detailed consideration of all examiner reports• required revisions• explanation of why requests for revisions may be unreasonable• additional research work required• student capacity to make revisions
BGRS will classify thesis on basis of all available information, including thesis and examiner nomination information
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Thesis Corrections
• Time allowed for corrections‐ 4 months normally‐ 12 months for resubmit
• Writing a report of thesis revisions http://wwwpostgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/examinations/revisions
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Submission thesis - final version
• 5 step process www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/style/permanent‐binding
1. Certification of Final Version of Thesis form2. Electronic copy (PDF) on USB or CD for publication in the UWA Research
Repository ‐ personal hard copies prepared by UniPrint3. Printed & signed copy of Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement
100 word abstract ‐ completed in studentConnect
• Students can request embargo on thesis publication (up to 2 years)• Application for Restricted Access
http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/22623/Application‐for‐Restricted‐Access.pdf
• Students can discuss copyright issues with UWA library copyright officer Chloe Czerwiec http://www.web.uwa.edu.au/person/chloe.czerwiec
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www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/contact