- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Open University Press (1 Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0335213448
- ISBN-13: 978-0335213443
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 240,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research (Open Up Study Skills)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
"A breath of fresh air - I wish someone had told me this beforehand." PhD student, UK
"If you are contemplating a PhD, buy the book and read it straight through to get the larger picture; then re-read each section in greater detail as you tackle each stage of your work.
I did the basic research for my PhD in about twelve months, then spent two years writing up the results - and producing possibly too much. It succeeded, but I think I might have made a better job of it if I had read a book like this first. But they didn't exist in those days." Mantex
This book looks at things the other books don't tell you about doing a PhD - what it's really like and how to come through it with a happy ending! It covers all the things you wish someone had told you before you started:
- What a PhD is really about, and how to do one well
- The "unwritten rules" of research and of academic writing
- What your supervisor actually means by terms like "good referencing" and "clean research question"
- How to write like a skilled researcher
- How academic careers really work
About the Author
Dr Gordon Rugg has a BA in French and Linguistics and a PhD in Psychology. A former English Lecturer and field archaeologist, he is now based in the School of Computing and Mathematics at Keele University, and is editor of the journal “Expert Systems”. His research interests range from medieval crptography to software evaluation and why students underachieve.
Marian Petre has a first degree in Pyscholinguistics from Swarthmore College in the USA, and a PhD in Computer Science from University College London. Her career includes working in modern dance and the computer industry. She is Reader in Computing at the Open University, UK, where she set up the Centre for Informatics Education Research. She is currently researching expert behaviour and reasoning in the design of complex systems.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
You can't imagine, even from what you have read and what I've told you, the things I shall have to see and do. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
You can't imagine, even from what you have read and what I've told you, the things I shall have to see and do. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this book during the second year of my PhD and found it to be encouraging. It gives a different perspective compared to other books on how to do a PhD. It is written in an informal way relating to students who just want to get some tips of how to survive their PhD studies. I found advice of how to plan your work and what is the right attitude for a successful student helpful. Overall, I'd characterise it as a toolbox with great tips rather than a formal to-do-list! I would recommend it to anyone both those who are planning to start a PhD and those who are almost ready to finish. Even those at the very last stage could benefit from advice on how to get through the viva.
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Think of it like your guide book, not just to doing a PhD but to being an effective researcher in general, and all distilled into just over 200 pages. The advice given is a great mixture of specifics points (e.g. how to get the best from conferences, presentations etc) and much broader background that sets your work in context. There's too much gold here to describe in detail; like one of the previous reviewers I won't bother to write more, but just suggest that you get yourself a copy immediately.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have recently been awarded my doctorate. I have bought my supervisor a drink, as advised by the authors. I feel I also owe Drs Rugg and Petre a drink, to say 'Thank you', for the guidance in this book, which has helped me and cheered me up a lot over the last four years.
When I misunderstood what was required of me, but could not find what was required, this book has often had that information explicitly laid out and pointed me on the right track again where I could find no other sources to help me.
This has led to 'light bulb' moments where I understood what I had wrong. I was able to right myself with the advice written here. I was encouraged to continue by the exact understanding and the light tone of this book.
With the 'dissertation checklist' as a guide I anticipated problems and made major changes to my thesis that I could not have foreseen otherwise. The whole tone and content of my thesis was much altered and improved as a result.
I prepared for my viva with 'how not to pass you viva' in mind.
My thesis was accepted with no changes, and rated 'well above the standard required for the award of DPhil' in the Examiners' written remarks. I was a struggling candidate totally in the dark as to how to approach scientific writing and criteria for excellence in the finished product. That I produced an acceptable document mostly without outside help I think was greatly influenced by the advice in this book.
Thank you, Drs Rugg and Petre. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all PhD students.
When I misunderstood what was required of me, but could not find what was required, this book has often had that information explicitly laid out and pointed me on the right track again where I could find no other sources to help me.
This has led to 'light bulb' moments where I understood what I had wrong. I was able to right myself with the advice written here. I was encouraged to continue by the exact understanding and the light tone of this book.
With the 'dissertation checklist' as a guide I anticipated problems and made major changes to my thesis that I could not have foreseen otherwise. The whole tone and content of my thesis was much altered and improved as a result.
I prepared for my viva with 'how not to pass you viva' in mind.
My thesis was accepted with no changes, and rated 'well above the standard required for the award of DPhil' in the Examiners' written remarks. I was a struggling candidate totally in the dark as to how to approach scientific writing and criteria for excellence in the finished product. That I produced an acceptable document mostly without outside help I think was greatly influenced by the advice in this book.
Thank you, Drs Rugg and Petre. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all PhD students.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A little bit of everything
Great little reference book, has a little bit of everything about what you need to do or at least what to think about for planning, developing and writing a PhD. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Niko Taktikos
Excellent advice about studying for a PhD
I really enjoyed reading this book and learning about the PhD process. Excellent advice is given about supervisors, reading, writing, conferences, networking, critical evaluation... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Shaun G
If you're a lost and burnt-out PhD student, get this helpful book!!
I found this book BRILLIANT! As a PhD student going through the notorious 'second-year blues', this book saved me and sorted me out!! Read more
Published 18 months ago by PurpleCat
Fantastic!
Anybody doing a PhD should read this book. It's full of pearls of wisdom you just won't get from any other book. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. Ps Hill
Good introduction to practical aspects of PhD research
Well I prefer this to the Estelle Phillips - How to Get a PhD book which was a depressing read of how to fail at getting a PhD and how to avoid being seduced by your... Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2008 by UK reader
This book is brilliant
I am about to start a PhD and bought this book having seen reviews on amazon. What a helpful and insightful book. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2007 by Wendy Jones
Helpful, if a little patronising
The only negative review I've seen of this book appears to be based on someone who 'browsed it in a bookshop' rather than read it. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2006 by Eleanor Jane Merson
Your PhD is possible!
This is a great book for anyone who has begun the long march into the night that is PhD research. It's full of tips - some obvious and some not so obvious - which remind you that... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2005 by FRANCIS JOHN CHANTREE
Rather patronising
As someone who did their PhD having already qualified in a profession, I found this book patronising and irritating. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2005
Great Book!
This is really a gem of a book. I bought one or two of the other "How to ..." PhD books at the start of my PhD. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2004 by "umeshpersad"
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