Doctoral Seminar on Methodology and Techniques for Writing Doctoral Thesis

Main Study Course Information

Course Code

DN_178

Branch of Science

Clinical medicine

ECTS

3.00

Target Audience

Medicine; Pharmacy; Psychology

LQF

Level 8

Study Type And Form

Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor

Ilze Konrāde

Structure Unit Manager

Dace Bandere

Structural Unit

Department of Doctoral Studies

Contacts

16 Dzirciema iela, Riga, LV-1007, dn@rsu.lv, tel. 67409120

About Study Course

Objective

Develop the ability of the doctoral student to explain and justify the idea of his/her research work, the background of scientific evidence at the respective moment, and the research methodology chosen, as well as effective communication with other students in the small groups and the lecturer on the methods chosen, critically analyse recommendations, focus the research idea on interdisciplinary communication about other doctoral theses, implement respectful, complementary scientific understanding of supplementing other research directions.

Preliminary Knowledge

The research experience of the Master's thesis, defended research work upon completion of the Master’s degree study programme. The following study courses of the 1st year of study of the Doctoral study programme completed: “Research Methodology” and “Healthcare and Research Ethics”

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.The doctoral student uses appropriate terminology of scientific biology, medicine, pharmacy and/or psychology and demonstrates knowledge of the science sector, when describing methodology of their work; describes the types of scientific activities and steps for their implementation in accordance with the stage of the development of the thesis.

Skills

1.The doctoral student defines the methodological principles of their doctoral thesis; critically analyses the scientific literature related to their thesis; prepares a presentation on the subject matter of their thesis, including theoretical and methodological aspects; discusses strengths and weaknesses of their own and other doctoral students’ research methodology, based on various criteria: scientific novelty, topicality of the thesis, formulation of the problem and goal/precision/coherence, theoretical basis; prepares the bibliography of their thesis.

Competences

1.The doctoral student formulates the research project academically correctly, presents it, participates and maintains a scientific discussion on the subject matter of the doctoral thesis. Is able to maintain scientific discussion in an interdisciplinary environment, in the interaction between different areas of research.

Assessment

Individual work

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Individual work	-	-
To carry out in-depth research of the topic of own thesis and of doctoral theses of other doctoral students; to prepare a presentation on the idea of own doctoral thesis, theoretical framework and the (intended) applied methodology; to prepare a bibliography of own thesis according to the stage of the work. To be able to choose and give examples for publications in scientific editions, by formulating a specific action plan (time schedule, activities to be performed, cooperation). The student's contribution to the improvement of the study process is the provision of meaningful feedback on the study course by filling out its evaluation questionnaire.

Examination

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Examination	-	-
Active participation in classes and completion of the study course evaluation questionnaire: 30%; quality of the presentation (25%); scientific discussion (25%); compliance of publications with journals (20%).

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME

Part 1

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Subject matter of the doctoral thesis, draft doctoral thesis. Methodology, research techniques and the most common mistakes. Coherence criteria of the idea of the doctoral thesis.

Description

Annotation: The writing of the doctoral thesis corresponds to what Aristotle said: “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet”. Successfully produced doctoral thesis will be looked at during lectures, so that students understand the structure of the doctoral thesis and the requirements for the design of thesis at RSU, as well as some examples of unfinished doctoral theses will be analysed to try to find the way of how to deal with the situation effectively. The most important thing in successful research is timely, careful planning; the most common mistakes will be considered, to which doctoral students do not pay attention enough. 5 key planning issues will be highlighted: 1) computer literacy and systematization of information; 2) writing a systematic literature review; 3) RSU requirements for the design of thesis; 4) reading the complete doctoral thesis of a colleague; 5) drawing up a plan for writing own doctoral thesis. Examples from biomedicine for data acquisition and selection of the most appropriate research methods will be analysed. Literature: 1. Jennifer Byrom, David Lissauer. Introduction to Research Methodology for Specialists and Trainees Chapter 25 - How to Write a Medical Thesis (Online publication date: August 2017, Cambridge University Press) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107585775.026

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Subject matter of the doctoral thesis, draft doctoral thesis. Methodology, research techniques and the most common mistakes. Coherence criteria of the idea of the doctoral thesis.

Description

Class/Seminar

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2