Dear Glen, Terry and Ken
thanks for your responses.
Glen: I am glad that you agree with me (in priniciple) and welcome to the
discussion. An important thing: i don't think it is SOLELY the phd students'
fault (if i can use this word) that we focus 'too much' on research training
(here i refer to learning about and how to use research methods to find an answer
for a research question). I think, equally responsible is the supervisors and
people in the institutions. After all, they are the ones who have power over the
students.
I think Ken has articulated what I wanted to say much better than I did. So I
won't elaborate more except to respond to Terry's comments
"...The difference between us is that
I see learning these skills as a part of 'learning-to-do-research' rather
than something different".
In theory, I think I can agree with you, but in practice I am not so sure. My
limited experiences in reviewing research literature tells me that one doesn't
have to question critically to conduct research. My observation makes me think
that the two abilities are independent. Besides, question critically is not only
a skill but also, I believe, a habit of mind or a state of being. A mind that
will govern how one does research.
"Correct me if I am wrong, but I read that implicit in what you say is
a criticism that it is possible to get a PhD by being competent solely
in data gathering techniques..."
I was not thinking that. I simply see the two abilities are equally important for
phd students to acquire and for the instutitions to cultivate. That's why i don't
agree with the conceptualization of the phd study as SOLELY as
'learning-to-do-research'. Hope I am making better sense.
Rosan
--
Rosan Chow
Sessional Instructor
University of Alberta
Department of Art and Design
3-98 Fine Arts Building
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2C9
Tel:1-780-492-7877
Fax: 1-780-492-7870
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