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Dr Robert Kinmond. Starting a PhD Personal experience. How Do I Find “The Right Area”?. There is no right area What interests you! Follow the money?. Why is the area of importance?. Ask yourself. What is the question you are asking?
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Dr Robert Kinmond Starting a PhD Personal experience
How Do I Find “The Right Area”? • There is no right area • What interests you! • Follow the money?
Why is the area of importance? • Ask yourself. • What is the question you are asking? • Each phd is unique, each student is, each supervisor is… there is no set pattern • What is your contribution to knowledge? • Read around the area for possible synergies….. • Change research led me to structuration theory Giddens 1984 the third way in politics
Web frame A FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMING WEB DEVELOPERS’ METHODOLOGY SELECTION
Approach • Using an interpretevist epistemological framework the principles of Grounded Theory Methodology are used to conduct a mixed methods investigation • Under pinning theory Structuration Theory offers a theoretical framework for analysis and development of the theory. • An initial web-based survey aims to capture a breadth of developers’ views and experiences. • Followed with semi-structured interviews enabling an exploration of the area in depth.
New framework WEBFRAME • Findings : web information system developers are not following a published methodology but prefer instead to develop their own ‘bespoke’ approach to suit the project. • The developers used traditional information system tools Importing them web development methodologies. • Not using published web methodologies • Why: greater flexibility and choice for developing web information systems than the published methodologies offer.
Personal experience • To the fourth degree • Dr(s) Kinmond • Problem defined : Research instrument generated :Theory :Research approach • Data gathering. • Analysis threw up some interesting patterns : • Grounded theory works!!!!! • Write up… I stalled my supervisors saved me..
What have I learnt? • Interaction with your tutors and your fellow students is where a lot of your ideas may come from. • Trying to articulate things, talk about your ideas, write about your ideas. • The process is evolutionary. • People want you to succeed. • Presentation matters. • The viva : 2 external examiners 1 internal: Southampton: Cambridge • How well should I know my thesis • Expect corrections, including move that comma