Books on PhD

H

Hi all,

Are there any books you would recommend me to read before I start my PhD in January?

Thanks! :)

P

======= Date Modified 02 Dec 2010 13:10:26 =======
It depends on your discipline. Social research and 'scientific' research differ in their approach as well as their methods. For a general read I have found Rowena Murray to be useful, and you will find a number of pages from that book available on Google books if you want to judge the quality...

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=H2htzdy-z_wC&printsec=frontcover&dq=murray+phd+thesis&source=bl&ots=nIZj7QrBIa&sig=hE2IEZqFMNfvtuneLUiAYTbGTjs&hl=en&ei=mZn3TMv4LsyLhQeGzazGDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=murray%20phd%20thesis&f=false


Although I wrote the following as a guide for my Masters students, some of the content and references may also help...

http://www.electronjournal.com/taming/Onions_2010_Taming_the_dragon.pdf

C

Hi Chococake,

Great to be thinking ahead, i bought two books  - Patrick Dunleavy's 'Authoring a PhD: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation and Chris Hart's 'Doing a Literature Review'.

They both gave a good grounding and allowed me to have some warning about what was to come. ;-)

All the best for your studies.  Chuff

B

Hi,
I'm 1 year in to a Physics PhD, but I still found "The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research" really interesting.
This site sent me it, and I got to keep it in return for a review:
http://www.findaphd.com/student/study/study-23.asp
If you don't feel like reading the whole review, the summary is:
It told me a lot of things that once told seemed obvious, but I hadn't thought of. It also told me a lot of things that are not obvious but very useful to know.
I recommend it, even if you just skim read the parts you're interested in.
Dom

D

Hi Chococake,

It might be a good idea to get a PhD/research student handbook from your potential university. There are lots of materials in the handbook apart from rules and regulations concerning students/supervisors etc. You will also have lots of materials during your induction week; but this may be university specific. Hope this helps?

All the best in your new found love, enjoy the ride...;-)

H

Thanks everyone for your valuable suggestions, I will chase them up! :)

H

======= Date Modified 03 Dec 2010 07:14:28 =======

Hi PatrickO,

Is this book suitable for "pure science" research or social science research?
http://www.electronjournal.com/taming/Onions_2010_Taming_the_dragon.pdf

Thanks

M

======= Date Modified 03 Dec 2010 11:45:57 =======
Hi Chococake,
I'd have to recommend a book I first saw on this forum, Joan Bolker's 'Writing your
dissertation in 15 minutes a day'. It's great, even at your early stage, with fab
tips on planning, goal setting & writing that first draft.
Good luck!
Mog(up)

P

Quote From huhu:

======= Date Modified 03 Dec 2010 07:14:28 =======

Hi PatrickO,

Is this book suitable for "pure science" research or social science research?
http://www.electronjournal.com/taming/Onions_2010_Taming_the_dragon.pdf

Thanks


It was written for MSc students in Project Management and Information Technology. That would place it in the 'social research' realm, although the principles of research are common to both.

C

Hi Chococake! I would agree with Dom - I found 'The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research' to be absolutely brilliant. I am in my 2nd year and have just finished reading it - ohhh how I wish I had come across it before starting the PhD!! I would've saved myself alot of wasted time, confusion and headaches. It is full of brilliant advice and ideas, and really helped me to clarify my research topic, and my role as a PhD student. Give it a go! :)

H

Quote From caiteight:

Hi Chococake! I would agree with Dom - I found 'The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research' to be absolutely brilliant. I am in my 2nd year and have just finished reading it - ohhh how I wish I had come across it before starting the PhD!! I would've saved myself alot of wasted time, confusion and headaches. It is full of brilliant advice and ideas, and really helped me to clarify my research topic, and my role as a PhD student. Give it a go! :)


Thanks. I will try and get hold of one. Anyone know of a cheap second hand version going online?

16870