Category Archives: epistemology

should I number my thesis?

Posted on April 7, 2014 by pat thomson

I’ve just been in a university where doctoral researchers are issued with a thesis template. This automatically sets up the font, layers of headings and the section and subsection numbering systems. If doctoral researchers decide to use this template, and … Continue reading →

Posted in argument, epistemology, narrative, reader, thesis | Tagged academic writing, argument, narrative, Pat Thomson, reader, thesis, thesis numbering system | 9 Comments

do we ‘collect’ data? or – beware the ontological slip …

Posted on March 11, 2013 by pat thomson

A post where I have a small rant about one of my least favorite research expressions… We’ve all heard of a Freudian slip. This is where we inadvertently say something that unintentionally reveals an unconscious, or repressed, feeling, idea or … Continue reading →

Posted in data, epistemology, methodology, ontology | Tagged 'collecting' data, epistemology, Freudian slip, Nick Hopwood, ontology, Pat Thomson | 20 Comments

methodology isn’t methods.. or… what goes in a methods chapter

Posted on February 18, 2013 by pat thomson

Since I’ve been posting about methods and methodology, I’ve been asked several times to discuss the difference between methodology and methods and how these appear in a methods chapter. This post is by way of an answer. Not all dissertations … Continue reading →

Posted in epistemology, methodology, methods chapter, ontology, research design, research methods, thesis | Tagged methodology, methods, methods chapter, Pst Thomson, research design | 33 Comments

a methodological metaphor – what detective are you?

Posted on February 7, 2013 by pat thomson

One of the basic requirements for research in the humanities and social sciences is that the researcher must take a position. Well not any old position, but one in relation to the practice of research. This is often thought of … Continue reading →

Posted in crime fiction, doctoral research, epistemology, evidence, metaphor, methods chapter, ontology, philosophy | Tagged crime fiction, detective, metaphor, Pat Thomson, philosophy | 6 Comments

thirteen reasons researchers get asked to write their methods chapter again

Posted on January 31, 2013 by pat thomson

Dissertation examiners always check the methods chapter or methodological writings carefully. And the more the doctorate is seen as research training, the more important it will be for examiners to make sure that the relevant writings in the thesis really … Continue reading →

Posted in dissertation, doctoral research, epistemology, methods chapter, research methods, research project, theory, thesis | Tagged dissertation, failing thesis, methods chapters, Pat Thomson | 31 Comments

analysing blogs is messy, but that’s OK. #acwrimo work in progress

Posted on November 22, 2012 by pat thomson

This post is from Inger, Thesis Whisperer, about the process of researching academic blogs. Here she discusses making decisions about method, and provides a glimpse, via a link to her google doc, of actual data analysis happening in real time. … Continue reading →

Posted in academic blogging, acwrimo, data, epistemology, grounded theory, mess, qualitative data, spread sheet | Tagged academic blogging, acwrimo, data analysis, Inger Mewburn, mess, spreadsheet, Thesis Whisperer | 2 Comments

why doctoral researchers should go to the modern art museum

Posted on February 18, 2012 by pat thomson

Really?? Why should early career researchers bother themselves with contemporary arts? Well, the answer could be to hold better conversations at dinner parties, or to help the team at the pub quiz. Or it could be to help the stroppy … Continue reading →