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PHD-DESIGN  March 2007

PHD-DESIGN March 2007

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Subject:

Re: re glossary for PhD

From:

Terence Love <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Terence Love <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:14:53 +0800

Content-Type:

text/plain

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text/plain (180 lines)

Dear Jacqui,

 

Good question. I feel it's a key issue and for a PhD is larger than simply a
list of words in an appendix. Its not been well addressed in the archives of
phd-design.  I'll make a  start  - others may see things differently?

 

As I see it, it is your reasoning in your thesis and your use of concepts
and terms that dictate whether you need a glossary and what is in it. It is
likely that for a design research PhD you will need something more than a
glossary.

 

In essence, a glossary tells the reader how the candidate is using terms and
concepts that are contested or ambiguous. This is in order that the reader
can follow and test the validity of the candidate's reasoning, and whether
the conclusions and findings of your PhD are fully justified.

 

In some fields, a glossary stating the specific and exclusive meaning that
the researcher attributes to terms and concepts is sufficient. In design
research at doctoral level, usually something more is needed. 

 

It is normally necessary also to describe why you chose to use the specific
definitions of terms and concepts in view of your research problem, the
topic area, the theoretical perspectives and paths of reasoning that you
use. This is essential on three grounds. First, almost all core concepts in
design research are disputed or ambiguous (e.g. design, creativity,
perception, useability etc) and choice of definition of these dictates which
reasoning pathways are valid. Second, design research typically addresses
multiple layers of the same issue that must be kept carefully separate. This
can be problematic because the same terms and concepts may be used similarly
or differently in epistemologically different aspects of a design research
project. Hence, it is essential to define for the reader the specific
meaning of terms the candidate is using in specific areas of analysis in
their research. Lack of awareness of this issue is a major weakness of many
PhD theses in design research. Third, the existence or not of a section
defining terms and concepts and justifying them in terms of the research  is
a strong indication for the examiner whether the candidate has appreciated
this is a problematic issue in design research. If a definition section is
weak or missing, then almost certainly the conclusions of the research are
not justified to the necessary doctoral level and hence the PhD should be
failed and returned to the candidate for amendment.

 

These are some of the reasons why design research PhD theses typically need
a significant section defining the ways the candidate has used terms in the
thesis and justifying their definition in terms of the theoretical
perspective, topic area and modes of analysis of their research. This
section must almost certainly be located in or close to the opening chapter
of a PhD  thesis because of its key role in underpinning ALL of the
discussions and analyses of the thesis.

 

There is a closely linked issue: describing the limitations and
delimitations of the research, analyses and findings in the thesis. The
definitions of terms and concepts that the candidate uses limit, bound and,
largely, define the candidate's potential research findings.  It would be
expected at doctoral level that the candidate understands and explains the
specific limitations and delimitations that can be directly inferred by
their choice of theoretical perspectives and definitions.

 

For example, if the candidate chooses a phenomenological theoretical
perspective then this forces key concepts to be defined in specific ways, it
also limits what dimensions of the research can be 'seen', it limits the
range of areas of the research that can be analysed, it limits the choice of
modes of analysis, it limits which research findings can be found and the
ways they can be justified, and hence, limits and delimits the research in
general. At doctoral level, the candidate would be expected to understand
and explain this in their thesis - especially in design research where
typically conceptual complexity is high.

 

Thoughts and comments?

 

Best wishes,

Terry

_____

Dr. Terence Love, PhD, FRDS, AMIMechE

Curtin Research Fellow

Design-focused Research Group, Design Out Crime Group

Key Researcher at Centre for Extended Enterprise and Business Intelligence

Research Associate at Planning and Transport Research Centre

Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845

Mob: 0434 975 848, Fax +61(0)8 9305 7629, [log in to unmask]

 

Visiting Professor, Member of Scientific Council

UNIDCOM/ IADE, Lisbon, Portugal

 

Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
Development

Management School, Lancaster University,Lancaster, UK,
[log in to unmask]

___

 

-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of jacqui
Sent: Sunday, 18 March 2007 4:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: re glossary for PhD

 

Hi all

 

 

 

Does anyone have any tips/advice on how to begin writing a glossary for my

thesis? Do I have to cross reference or merely give a glossary of terms?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

 

Jacqui

 

 

-- 

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12:12

 

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