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Examination of Doctoral Theses: Research About the Process and Proposed Procedures

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Postgraduate Education in Higher Education

Part of the book series: University Development and Administration ((UDAA))

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Abstract

Despite some standard thesis examination guidelines having been established by institutions, examination of theses by individual examiners was known in the 1990s and early 2000s to be an irregular and idiosyncratic process that could delay completion of candidature. This chapter reviews research that established this disappointing position about issues in the examination process and what happened a decade after this initial situation. It then proposes some standard procedures to make sound thesis examination procedures for institutions and examiners. These procedures cover many issues that affect the thesis examination process like the definition of a degree, selection of examiners, criteria to evaluate the contribution of the research, and proposals for future policies and practices.

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Correspondence to Ronel Erwee .

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© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Erwee, R., Perry, C. (2018). Examination of Doctoral Theses: Research About the Process and Proposed Procedures. In: Erwee, R., Harmes, M., Harmes, M., Danaher, P. (eds) Postgraduate Education in Higher Education. University Development and Administration. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0468-1_4-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0468-1_4-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0468-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0468-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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