Dick, Rosan and All,
I am not sure whether either of you disagree or agree with the following
two statements, as the precision level of the current discussion could be
improved.
1. A doctoral dissertation can be done without collecting data. It is
sufficient to develop new understanding by reexamining existing theory and
construct new theory via reasoning (ref. scientific theories of theory
construction).
2. Producing new observations, data or objects without comparing them with,
or analyzing them using exsisting theory (or new theory ref. statement 1),
does not constitute a doctoral dissertation irrespecive of the quantity,
quality and ingenuity of the methods employed, unless the methods employed
are compared and analyzed for their theoretical superiority of older
methods.
The core of the above is that a doctoral candidate must:
- show (s)he knows where the present knowledge borders are in relevant
discipline(s)
- demonstrate his/her contribution to (advancement) of scientific knowledge
- show mastery of scientific investigation (analyze and reason, apply
methods that can be retested after-the-fact)
A doctoral degree is an institutionalized proof that you master scientific
investigation, nothing more, nothing less. It is not a degree for mastering
a discipline or a practice. It is not a degree in teaching, even though you
may take a PhD in pedagogy. Another way to state the difference is:
Studying and researching design does not necessarily make you a good
designer, but chances are that you can help both yourself and others to
become better using different solutions for satisfying needs at new levels.
Unfortunately, many institutions are not true to the above ideal of the
PhD/Doctorate because of divergent traditions and/or funding pressure to
award PhDs for non-scientific work. I am afraid current political,
governmental and commercial pressures will dillute the theory/scientific
content of future doctoral degrees. If that happens, those who have earned
their doctorate will lose standing, and possibly income, because the buyers
of the degree holder services will no longer know what competency they are
buying.
I write this fully aware of the fact that there are many non-scientific
ways of producing values, artifacts and knowledge.
Bryn
Brynjulf Tellefsen
Visiting Professor
School of Management Information Systems
Edith Cowan University
Churchlands, WA 6018, Australia
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Mobile phone: +61-8-403 907 440 (0 instead of 8 if domestic call)
Office phone: +61-8-9273 8832
Home phone: +61-8-9287 1210
Associate Professor
Department of Technology and Knowledge Management
Norwegian School of Management - BI
Elias Smiths vei 15
N-1302 Sandvika, NORWAY
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