Issue
27(2)
Doing
Postgraduate Research
(Second Edition).
(2006) Stephen Potter (Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 320
pp., $39.95. (paperback w/CD). ISBN # 1412924057
Review
by: Cheryl Blake Price
Advising
First
Florida
State
University
Students
entering graduate school are often overwhelmed by the thought
of undertaking a large research-based thesis or dissertation. Stephen
Potter's Doing Postgraduate Research attempts to be
a guidebook for the complete graduate research experience: from
making the decision to undertake a research degree, to the organization
of writing, to finding employment once the degree has been completed.
Here authors take a holistic approach to writing large research
papers focusing beyond research to include information on working
with supervisors, organizing resources, and setting attainable
goals.
Authors
are realistic, yet encouraging about the graduate experience;
they are honest about the pitfalls some students experience in
graduate programs. However it
must be noted upfront that this book is designed as a guide for
graduate students in the United
Kingdom thus a majority of
the text would not be appropriate for students studying in the
United States
or Canada . The
book often references rules, guidelines, resources, and expectations
for graduate degrees, which are not applicable outside the UK
and potentially confusing
for students studying elsewhere.
Doing
Postgraduate Research is
not intended as a quick reference guide, but as a resource book
that students will continually use throughout the research process.
The chapters are organized with activities so students can not
only read about the research process, but complete it at the same
time. However, the ambitiousness of the project is sometimes its
drawback; for example, a reader would need over 100 hours to complete
of all included activities. In addition, the attempt to cover
every feature of graduate research results in trivializing some
important topics, while some areas that seem unimportant ("how
to make your home a safe work environment") are discussed.
I
was disappointed that the entire writing process was relegated
to but a single chapter that either excluded or superficially
discussed many important features of quality academic writing,
e.g., style, voice, grammar, and different citation
styles. In addition, much information is presented without distinction
between different fields of study, thus leaving students to sift
through the information to identify what is appropriate for their
fields.
The
strength of this book lies in the last few chapters on research
presentation, the dissertation defense, and career development.
The authors outline these processes as they address the real stress
and fears that can accompany presenting research and searching
for post-graduate work. What to expect during these phases
of the research degree is explored as the authors provide pointers
on how to make the process smoother. The accompanying DVD
includes mock presentation
sessions that allow students opportunities to see a "good"
and "bad" presentation. Advisors will appreciate
that the authors take a "crazy paving" approach to career
development, recognizing that the career path is not a straightforward
process but can take many twists and turns, starts and restarts.
Students
planning on graduate research in the UK
(and those who advise them)
will find this book a good resource to anticipate the differences
in the UK
educational system and how those differences will affect their
graduate studies. However, advisors also should send students
off with a good reference book on graduate level writing and research
methods in their specific fields.
