Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 The quality of doctoral education in South Africa: A question of significance / Jonathan D. Jansen -- Introduction -- The quest for significance in doctoral research -- The first requirement for significance: intimate knowledge of the subject -- The second requirement for significance: the ability to recognise the class of problems within which your research topic falls -- The third requirement for significance: the capacity to articulate an independent argument -- The fourth requirement for significance: the ability to recognise the limitations of existing research, and on that basis to make the justificatory argument for your own research -- The fifth requirement for significance: the ability to make the justificatory claim in writing -- The sixth requirement for significance: knowing what leading thinkers in your field believe is significant in your area of research --

Contents note continued: The seventh requirement for significance: the capacity of the young scholar for learning -- Kinds of significance -- Conclusion -- References -- ch. 2 Planning your thesis: Systemic and personal issues / Mary McMahon -- Introduction -- Systemic issues: choosing an institution for your research -- Institutional influences on your research -- Disciplinary influences on your research -- Systemic issues: choosing a supervisor for your research -- Working with a supervisor -- Systemic issues: you as a postgraduate researcher -- Working within the system -- Your own view of your research -- Procedures for managing systemic issues -- Conclusion -- Endnote -- Reference -- ch. 3 Choosing a topic / Brandon Morgan -- Introduction -- Choosing a topic -- Choosing a broad subject area -- Ways of identifying a broad research topic -- Narrowing down the topic -- Technical support with regard to choosing a topic -- The university library --

Contents note continued: Postgraduate resource centres -- The Internet -- Faculty support -- Research funding -- Ethics committees -- The researcher's capabilities -- Is the research original? -- Matching the topic with the research method -- Practical tips and suggestions -- Conclusion -- Endnotes -- References -- ch. 4 Writing a research proposal / Ronel Ferreira -- Introduction -- Purpose of a research proposal -- Components of a research proposal -- Introduction -- Rationale for undertaking the study/problem statement -- Purpose of the study and research questions -- Hypotheses/working assumptions -- Initial literature review/preliminary literature study -- Concept clarification -- Underlying paradigmatic approaches -- Research design -- Research methodology -- Ethical considerations -- Quality criteria -- Proposed outline and time frame -- List of references -- Practical guidelines for writing a research proposal -- Conclusion -- References --

Contents note continued: ch. 5 Theoretical-conceptual and structural aspects of thesis writing / Maurice J. Elias -- Introduction -- General orientation -- The essence of the dissertation or thesis -- Conceptual framework -- The research question -- The importance of structure -- Should one follow a particular structure? -- Introduction -- Literature review -- Method section -- Discussion section -- Conclusion -- References -- ch. 6 Basic issues in thesis writing / Elias Mpofu -- Introduction -- The research premise -- The research paradigm -- Methodological assumptions -- The SWH model -- The `So what?' question -- The `How?' question -- How to approach the thesis-writing process -- Conclusion -- References -- ch. 7 Sampling and research paradigms / Rony H. Sklar -- Introduction -- Sampling -- Probability sampling -- Non-probability sampling -- Research paradigms -- Quantitative research -- Quantitative research strategies and statistical analysis --

Contents note continued: Sample assumptions in quantitative research -- Qualitative research -- Philosophical traditions in qualitative research -- Sample assumptions in qualitative research -- Qualitative research methods -- Mixed-methods research -- Sampling assumptions in mixed-methods research -- Fixed reality and multiple realities: the ontological shift -- Conclusion -- Endnotes -- References -- ch. 8 Research designs and data collection techniques / Joseph Seabi -- Introduction -- Research designs -- Types of research designs -- Qualitative research designs -- Quantitative research designs -- Mixed-methods design -- Data collection techniques -- Qualitative data collection methods -- Quantitative data collection methods -- Conclusion -- References -- ch. 9 Conducting qualitative research: Practical guidelines on fieldwork / Macalane J. Malindi -- Introduction -- Planning your fieldwork -- Gaining access to a community -- Self-reflection --

Contents note continued: Familiarising yourself with the research setting -- Piloting -- Developing qualitative skills -- Doing fieldwork -- Being an effective research instrument -- Anticipating challenges -- Desensitising participants -- Exiting the field -- Following up on your fieldwork -- Conclusion -- Endnotes -- References -- ch. 10 Writing the quantitative research method chapter / Rony H. Sklar -- Introduction -- The components of a research method chapter -- The introduction -- Aims -- Quantitative research strategy and design -- Descriptive research strategy -- Correlational research strategy -- Experimental research strategy -- Quasi-experimental research strategy -- Participants -- Sampling techniques -- Description of the sample -- Research instruments/measures/data collection instruments -- Research procedure -- Data analysis -- Ethics in quantitative research -- Conducting quantitative research fieldwork: guidelines -- Conclusion -- Endnotes -- References --

Contents note continued: ch. 11 Conducting mixed-methods research / Justin C. Perry -- Introduction -- What is the mixed-methods approach? -- Why do mixed-methods research? -- Illustrative examples -- Guidelines for writing a mixed-methods thesis -- Conclusion -- References -- ch. 12 Ensuring quality in scholarly writing / J.G. (Kobus) Maree -- Introduction -- The recording of sessions between supervisors and students -- Quantitative approaches -- Validity -- Qualitative approaches -- Data analysis in qualitative research -- Validity -- Trustworthiness -- Triangulation -- Crystallisation -- Triangulation or crystallisation? Or both? -- References -- ch. 13 Linking purpose and ethics in thesis writing: South African illustrations of an international perspective / Linda C. Theron -- Introduction -- Alternative contributions that a thesis can make -- Contributions made by community-based research -- Characteristics of effective research partnerships --

Contents note continued: Pragmatic considerations in scholarly contributions -- Ethical principles -- Overview of the APA Ethical Code -- General ethical principles that apply to thesis research -- Informed consent -- Inclusion of university/college students as experimental participants in research -- Assessment of risks and benefits -- Equitable selection of participants -- Endnotes -- References -- Appendix 13.1: Sample informed consent letter -- ch. 14 Writing style / J.G. (Kobus) Maree -- Introduction -- General aspects of writing style in theses -- Basic linguistic and stylistic guidelines -- Common areas of error -- Abbreviations -- Referencing -- Other areas where consistency is required -- Figures and tables -- Bulleted lists -- Conclusion -- Endnote -- References -- ch. 15 Communication between student and supervisor / Gertie Pretorius -- Introduction -- Finding a potential supervisor -- The roles and responsibilities of the student --

Contents note continued: The roles and responsibilities of the supervisor -- The research contract -- Communication and conflict -- Conclusion -- Endnote -- References -- Appendix 15.1: An example of a supervisor-student contract -- ch. 16 The role of critical readers in postgraduate studies / Jan Nieuwenhuis -- Introduction -- What is critical reading? -- What is meant by the term `critical review' -- What does it take to be a good critical reviewer? -- When to involve critical readers -- The critical review process -- The first reading -- The second reading -- The third step -- References -- ch. 17 Examining a thesis and writing an examiner's report / J.G. (Kobus) Maree -- Introduction -- Generic aspects of thesis examination -- Failing a candidate -- Criteria for evaluating a thesis -- Conclusion -- References -- Appendix 17.1: Template for evaluation -- Appendix 17.2: Example of an examiner's report --

Contents note continued: ch. 18 Choosing examiners for a thesis or dissertation / J.G. (Kobus) Maree -- Introduction -- Why are examiners' reports so important? -- Should national (local) or international examiners be appointed to examine theses? -- The nature of examiners' reports -- Whom to appoint as examiners -- Ensuring a fair examination process -- Conclusion -- ch. 19 How to prepare for an oral doctoral examination / J.G. (Kobus) Maree -- Introduction -- Procedure for an oral examination -- Why an oral examination? -- Components of an oral defence -- Structure of an oral defence -- Possible questions during an oral defence -- General hints -- Conclusion -- References -- ch. 20 The ultimate aim of your studies: Getting a manuscript published / J.G. (Kobus) Maree -- Introduction -- Why write manuscripts? -- Essential information before you start writing -- Why some people get their manuscripts accepted while others do not -- Shedding light on why you wish to get published --

Contents note continued: Deciding on a topic -- The title of your manuscript -- Identifying an appropriate journal -- Analysing journals -- Academic texts that appear in journals -- Preliminary aspects of article writing -- Writing an abstract -- Writing the manuscript outline -- Writing the body of the text -- General hints -- Writing the manuscript -- Drawing up a brief checklist that can help you decide whether your manuscript is ready for submission -- Role of critical readers -- Preparing the manuscript for submission: meeting language and technical requirements -- Technical requirements -- Language editing -- Before submitting -- Submitting your manuscript -- Contacting the editor -- Dealing with feedback -- How to interpret the editor's comments -- Electronic submissions -- Conclusion -- Endnotes -- References -- Appendix 20.1: List of possible reviewers' comments -- ch. 21 Electronic submissions to journals / Sharon Panulla --

Contents note continued: Do scholarly articles with open access status attract more citations than those without? -- Submitting manuscripts online -- Background -- Open access journal publishing -- Digital distribution -- What to send and where to send it -- Submitting your manuscript online -- Conclusion -- References.