On 6 Dec 2009, at 5:20 am, Sylvia Tzvetanova Yung wrote:
> If somebody has a project as a thesis the award depends on the
> examiners' opinion and on the candidate's ability to argue their
> point.
Sylvia's point here is also of interest to us. We should not forget
that it is the peer review system that grants the award of the PhD. In
one sense, whatever we think here, it is the examiners who are
persuaded by the argument of the candidate (irrespective of the number
of words, artefacts, exhibitions or anything else) based on THEIR
understanding of what constitutes a PhD.
If an examiner believes that a pot and an essay constitutes rigour
suitable for the award of PhD, then the degree may be awarded. In an
emerging research field we must never forget that some examiners may
have gained their PhDs from establishments with robust training and
clarity about the nature of the PhD, and some will not have this
advantage. Therein may lay at least some of our problems with PhDs
which resemble a good masters degree, awarded more for the development
of design practice than research practice. The robustness of peer
review - whether applied to student or staff research - is vital to us
all.
David
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David Durling FDRS PhD http://durling.tel
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