e-journal

The quest for the PhD: a better metaphor for doctoral education

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Purpose – The paper seeks to propose the adoption of an alternative metaphor to that of the
“journey”, currently the most pervasive characterisation for the student’s experience of doctoral
education.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a conceptual and rhetorical approach.
Findings – The paper offers a critique of the journey metaphor as a characterisation of the student’s
doctoral experience and proposes instead the metaphor of the Quest, a cultural and literary form found
in most societies. It argues that the six elements of the Quest identified by W.H. Auden resonate with
the contemporary doctoral experience and emphasise the uncertainty involved in research rather than
the linearity implied by the journey metaphor.
Social implications – The paper argues that the quest metaphor offers a cross-cultural basis for
both staff and student development activities through which sense can be made of the research
experience, student concerns can be surfaced, and potentially difficult issues raised for discussion in
an unthreatening way.
Originality/value – The paper is the first to apply the quest as a metaphor for the student’s doctoral
experience and offers a new way of interrogating that experience which will be of use to those involved
in supporting research students.

Keywords Doctoral education, Metaphor and the PhD, Research as quest, Research student experience,Support for research students, The research journey, The doctoral experience,Research student orientation

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Ketersediaan

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Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

International Journal for Researcher Development

No. Panggil

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Penerbit

: Emerald Group., 2013

Deskripsi Fisik

International Journal for Researcher Development Vol. 4 No. 1, 2013 pp. 55-66

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

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Klasifikasi

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Tipe Isi

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Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

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Subjek

PENDIDIKAN

Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

Asmawati/Syahrial

Versi lain/terkait

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