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The doctoral experience in science: Challenging the current orthodoxy
Author(s) -
Cumming Jim
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
british educational research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.171
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1469-3518
pISSN - 0141-1926
DOI - 10.1080/01411920902834191
Subject(s) - orthodoxy , insider , interpretation (philosophy) , narrative , qualitative research , sociology , doctoral studies , natural science , higher education , epistemology , pedagogy , social science , political science , geography , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , law
Drawing on the literature this article identifies five characteristics that are frequently attributed to the doctoral student experience in the natural and physical sciences. These are then used to assist with the interpretation of qualitative data derived from a study in the earth sciences at a research‐intensive university in Australia. Case narrative is employed to synthesise three insider perspectives—a candidate and her co‐supervisors—as well as to capture the particularity of the contemporary doctoral enterprise. While similarities to the current orthodoxy can be identified in this study, it is the subtle variations and significant points of departure that reveal a higher level of complexity than is generally acknowledged.