Postgraduate students from the Faculty of Education were motivated and inspired to produce their best work by coming together for the 2008 Doctoral Research in Education Conference at The University of Auckland.
Twenty-five doctoral students at all stages of their research were able to make presentations to a supportive audience of academics and their peers, receiving useful feedback and positive insights which will be invaluable in producing high quality education research.
Students presented on a wide variety of subjects including science education, student and teacher perceptions of NCEA, Kaupapa Maori methodology, teacher induction in low decile schools, and culturally responsive approaches to curriculum and research.
Professor John Hattie, veteran of 158 completed doctoral supervisions, gave his insights into what examiners look for in doctoral theses - based on a research project he completed in conjunction with Sid Bourke and Allyson Holbrook of the University of Newcastle.
According to the survey of examination reports from 804 PhDs in eight different Australian universities, Dr Hattie reported that the good news is that 99% of students pass their doctoral submissions. There’s no room for complacency however, as the survey also showed that the hardest markers are New Zealanders.
He encouraged students to "take risks and not just show what is already out there". His advice is to do what you do well, and make sure you do it meticulously. "It’s like Olympic diving, which is marked on difficulty," he says. "If you do a difficult thesis, you are more likely to be rewarded, even if you run into trouble along the way." Dr Hattie also recommends planning a platform of studies to show that you are thinking ahead to further research. "If you get three studies done in your thesis, then you have two left for further post-doctoral study and much to write about future directions from your research."
The Associate Dean (Postgraduate) and symposium convener Associate Professor Mavis Haigh says the day was so successful that it will be important for both the quality and quantity of doctoral research at the University to continue holding the conference in future years. "It is our responsibility as researchers to offer insights into the challenging problems of the world, and this is one way to encourage positive change."
