Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma Frameworks.

100 PhD rules of the game to successfully complete a

doctoral dissertation Niamh M. Brennan

College of Business, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Abstract Purpose – A doctoral dissertation is a challenging undertaking requiring determination, persistence and resilience over a long time: four to six years’ study or more. These PhD “rules of the game” are intended to help students successfully navigate this challenge. Design/methodology/approach – The author has assembled 100 PhD rules of the game from the author’s work over many years with masters and doctoral students. Each rule is accompanied by some further short guidance. Additional citations are included directing readers to resources embellishing the 100 PhD rules of the game. Findings – The paper documents 100 PhD rules of the game. Research limitations/implications – There are many other PhD rules of the game not included in the author’s list of 100 PhD rules of the game. Originality/value – This paper is a one-stop-shop brief introduction to the author’s 100 PhD rules of the game. Keywords PhD, Dissertation, Doctoral studies, Rules of the game, Thesis Paper type Viewpoint

This paper contains rules of the game unique to doctoral education. These are written specifically for doctoral students. This 100 PhD rules of the game complements Brennan (2019) “100 Research rules of the game”[1], [2]. Most of Brennan’s (2019) 100 research rules are also relevant to doctoral research and need to be assimilated and applied by doctoral students.

Brennan (1998) is a precursor to this short article, written for my Master of Accounting students, providing them with guidance on how to write a masters dissertation. Appendix 5 contains my table-of-contents template for structuring a masters/doctoral dissertation. What starts out as my table-of-contents template quickly becomes unique to students’ own dissertation table of contents as they customise it to their topic (see Rule No. 63 “Look at Brennan (1998) template to begin your table of contents”).

My colleague, Prof Donncha Kavanagh (2013), has described the PhD journey as follows: “What we find in this model [of learning] is that the lecturer takes on the servant role [rather than the sage-on-the-stage role], with the student, in effect, having responsibility for setting a unique, just-for-you curriculum, defining their own particular research agenda, and mapping out their own journey of inquiry”. Doctoral students are being trained to be independent researchers and therefore need to take responsibility for their research (see Rule No. 15 “Take responsibility for your research”).

Each rule is accompanied by a short description/some advice with citations to support the rules (Table I). Most but not all citations are short articles on a PhD rule-of-the-game topic.

I have organised the 100 rules into eight sections. Section 1 starts with some high-level general advice on doctoral education and being a doctoral student (19 rules). Then in Section 2 (ten rules) I provide advice on how to find a supervisor. Choice of supervisor is probably the most crucial decision in the doctoral journey, as a good supervisor can make or break the doctoral experience. Research shows that most doctoral students are satisfied with their supervisors (e.g. Beattie and Smith, 2012). Doctoral students may find it hard to find a topic, so I include some suggestions for finding a topic in Section 3 (ten rules). The one-on-one relationship between supervisor and doctoral student can be close and intense, so in Section 4

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal Vol. 32 No. 1, 2019 pp. 364-376 © Emerald Publishing Limited 0951-3574 DOI 10.1108/AAAJ-01-2019-030

Received 25 July 2018 Accepted 30 July 2018

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/0951-3574.htm

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Rule No. Rule Description

Overall No. 1 Enjoy your doctoral studies It is hard to be good at something you do not enjoy. If

you enjoy your doctoral studies, you are more likely to become a successful researcher

No. 2 Open your mind Do not be defensive when you receive criticism. Open your mind to new ideas. Learn from criticism

No. 3 Develop your critical thinking skills Good academics do not take anything at face value. Critical thinking is fundamental to the academic world, e.g. critically evaluating prior research to problematise differently something taken for granted or to find a gap; critically reading others’work as part of the journal-review process and providing constructive feedback. Learn to take a critical perspective during your doctoral studies. Like a film critic, learn to critique, identifying what’s good and bad and justifying your position

No. 4 Have confidence Thousands of people before you have completed doctorates. While it is daunting, have confidence in your ability to complete your dissertation. Rule No. 34 “Don’t magnify the requirement for contribution to unrealistic proportions” is also relevant here

No. 5 Be determined, dogged and persistent Try and acquire the grit credential in terms of determination, doggedness and persistence. These characteristics are arguably more valuable in completing doctoral studies than IQ

No. 6 Be resilient Be like a bowling skittle. No matter how many times you get knocked down, bounce back up again

No. 7 Manage the highs and lows The doctoral journey is a rollercoaster. You will experience high moments and more likely low moments. This is a normal feature of the PhD experience. The ups and downs of doctoral study recall the board game “Snakes and Ladders” evoked in another PhD-related context in Rule No. 96 “Play snakes and ladders”. Rule No. 5 “Be determined, dogged and persistent” is also relevant here

No. 8 Focus Put on your blinkers. Do not allow other issues to distract you from your doctoral studies (Newport, 2016). Rule No. 19 “Understand the importance of finishing” is also relevant here

No. 9 Be disciplined Initiate, plan, execute, control and complete the research and dissertation to meet the standards required for a doctoral dissertation within the timeframe allowed by your university

No. 10 Be methodological A doctoral dissertation is a large project to be managed over a long time. Be methodical, keeping careful records of your reading, your research, etc.

No. 11 Understand your philosophy A PhD is a doctorate in philosophy. Understand your philosophical positioning in terms of: What is research? What is the purpose of research? What is the nature of knowledge? How can you access knowledge?

No. 12 Don’t do too much teaching or grading It can be helpful to have some experience of teaching on your CV to obtain a job after your doctorate. But remember, all the time spent teaching is time not spent working on your doctorate (Davis, 2001).

(continued ) Table I.

100 rules of the game

365

100 PhD rules of the game

Rule No. Rule Description

Rule No. 8 “Focus” is relevant here, as is Rule No. 19 “Understand the importance of finishing”

No. 13 Look for helpa Find opportunities to get help with your research, from other doctoral students and other academics. If you are experiencing a major specific problem, do not hide it. Tell your supervisor/doctoral programme director/ head of research. It is okay to confess if you do not understand, or if your research is taking more time than expected, or even if you have a health problem. If you do not tell them, the problem may get worse

No. 14 Learn the literature Become familiar with the top journals in your field. Ensure that papers you read in lower-ranked journals are good papers

No. 15 Take responsibility for your research Doctoral students, not their supervisors, are responsible for their research (Kavanagh, 2013)

No. 16 Talk to other doctoral students in your university

Talk to doctoral students ahead of you, who have learned how the system works in your university and who can tell you stuff they’ve learned “on the ground” not recorded in writing, official policies, etc.

No. 17 Find a study buddy The doctoral journey is a lonely one. Finding a study buddy can help to make it a more sociable experience. Study buddies can support each other on the down days

No. 18 Learn from others You do not have to reinvent the wheel. Others have conducted literature reviews, completed research, written up results, etc. Watch and learn from the experts in your discipline

No. 19 Understand the importance of finishing In my opinion, the most importance feature of doctoral studies is finishing your doctorate. Focus on finishing. Do not let yourself hit a wall

Finding a supervisor No. 20 Register in a university with good

supports for doctoral students Universities with formal doctoral programmes, that require students to meet milestones (confirmations, transfer assessments), that provide space and other supports for doctoral students, will help you get through. This rule is subsidiary to Rule No. 22 “Pick a research-active supervisor”; Rule No. 23 “Choose a supervisor who shares your research interests” and Rule No. 24 “Choose a supervisor you will get on with”

No. 21 Register in a university with a track record in your chosen field of research

If the university has a track record in your chosen field, advice and support will be available from a wider group of academics beyond your supervisor

No. 22 Pick a research-active supervisor Your supervisor should be publishing in international refereed journals on a regular and up-to-date basis. If your supervisor is not publishing in top international refereed journals, you are unlikely to publish at that level (Brabazon, 2013)

No. 23 Choose a supervisor who shares your research interests

Ideally, there should be a meeting of minds, including sharing research interests, between you and your supervisor (Parker-Jenkins, 2018)

No. 24 Choose a supervisor you will get on with The relationship with your supervisor must be sustained over a long time. A doctoral dissertation takes 4–6 years to complete. It is essential you get on well with your supervisor

(continued )Table I.

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Rule No. Rule Description

No. 25 Work with your supervisor for a time before registering

I do not take on doctoral students unless I have worked with them (mainly helping them with their proposal) for several months. It is a big step for both parties and deserves time. Rule No. 24 “Choose a supervisor you will get on with” is relevant here

No. 26 Maintain a good relationship with your supervisor

Relationship with supervisor extends beyond the doctoral period. For example, your supervisor may act as your referee in coming years as you apply for promotion. Try to maintain and nurture your relationship with your supervisor

No. 27 Check whether your supervisor is likely to stay in your university

It can be difficult if your supervisor leaves the university/retires and you are left without a supervisor or with another supervisor who is not able to supervise your topic

No. 28 Check out your supervisor Find former doctoral students supervised by your target supervisor and check out the strengths and weaknesses of the supervisor

No. 29 Understand the role of supervisor The supervisor’s role is merely one of advice and guidance, to ensure the student keeps on the right track. The supervisor is not responsible for the research. Rule No. 15 “Take responsibility for your research” is also relevant here

Choosing a topic/research question No. 30 Find a topic/research question that

interests you A doctoral dissertation takes 4–6 years and longer if the period to get published is included. Your interest in the topic must be sustained for a long time. Topics chosen by students with supervisor support may be better than topics chosen by supervisors for students

No. 31 Avoid fad-du-jour topics A dissertation takes 4–6–10 years to complete and publish. Pick a topic that will be of interest when you publish it and for your readers thereafter (Davis, 2001). Academics are not journalists. Their work needs to remain relevant for a long time

No. 32 Find a topic/research question that makes a substantial contribution to the literature

For research (e.g. from a PhD dissertation) to be published in a refereed journal, contribution is critical. Cochrane (2005) advises on how to write the contribution. Issues to consider in arriving at a contribution include: What aspects of the prior research is the current study extending or revising? What is unique about your argument/contribution? To what does this unique aspect add value? What are the commonly held beliefs on your topic? What are the questions/anomalies/doubts in the literature on the topic? What are the current explanations on the questions/ anomalies/doubts? How is knowledge on this topic underdeveloped?

No. 33 Put three bricks on the wall of knowledge A doctoral dissertation should be capable of generating three publishable papers, i.e. make three substantive contributions to the prior literature, i.e. should add three “bricks” to the wall of knowledge. The literature review is critical in identifying the bricks already on the wall of knowledge.

(continued ) Table I.

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100 PhD rules of the game

Rule No. Rule Description

Students should identify the precise bricks on which they are putting their brick, i.e. the exact papers in the prior literature to which they are contributing

No. 34 Don’t magnify the requirement for contribution to unrealistic proportions

A doctoral dissertation is not expected to produce the equivalent of Einstein’s theory or, as Mullins and Kiley (2002) put it, attract a Nobel prize. A doctoral dissertation is merely a large project generating three contributions to the prior literature

No. 35 Choose a topic in an area you are likely to teach

Beyer et al. (2010) divide accounting into six categories. In which category are you most likely to teach? Can you find an interesting topic in that category?

No. 36 Write a dissertation proposal Most universities require students to prepare a dissertation proposal in advance of registration. Brennan (1998, p. 12) contains an outline structure for a dissertation proposal

No. 37 Write ten dissertation proposals My superb supervisor, Prof Sidney J. Gray, suggested I write ten proposals. I did so (I did everything my supervisor asked me to do – Rule No. 43 “Play tennis with your supervisor” is relevant here). This exercise helped me to find a good topic and contributed to my understanding of the prior literature

No. 38 Summarise ten articles I give prospective doctoral students a first task of summarising ten articles in their chosen field. It’s a good exercise to check whether prospective students have the aptitude for doctoral work. It also reveals whether students can write

No. 39 Avoid the flounder factor The finding-a-topic stage has the greatest risk for floundering, which is unproductive. The quicker choices are narrowed the better. Quickly decide on the category of the discipline you want to locate it. Quickly identify the sub-categories in that category and quickly decide which one to locate in. Recursively repeat this exercise until you find your niche

Working with your supervisor No. 40 Have regular meetings with your

supervisor It is students’ responsibility to arrange meetings with their supervisors (Kearns and Gardiner, 2011). Once every month/two months is sufficient regularity in my opinion. Get dates in diaries well ahead of time. Plan what you will talk to your supervisor about to ensure the meetings are productive

No. 41 Give your supervisor written, as well as verbal, reports of progress

Providing your supervisor with written work (well in advance of meetings) will help your supervisor give you better quality feedback on your work

No. 42 Take notes of your supervisor’s advice When meeting your supervisor, take notes of his/her advice, so you can reflect on the advice received afterwards

No. 43 Play tennis with your supervisor Do (almost) everything your supervisor suggests. If your supervisor puts a ball in your court, get it back to the supervisor as fast as you can

No. 44 Listen and respond to your supervisor’s advice

Do you hear or do you listen? Listen carefully to your supervisor’s advice. Make sure you understand the advice being given. Action the advice received

(continued )Table I.

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Rule No. Rule Description

Conducting the research No. 45 Have a doctoral-completion plan Universities impose tight deadlines for completing

doctoral studies. Prepare a detailed plan for the timeframe allowed. Keep refining your plan

No. 46 Make sure your plan is comprehensive Include every little detail in your plan, refining it over time, e.g. time to get feedback from your supervisor on final draft chapters, time for binding the dissertation, etc.

No. 47 Meet your own deadlines Try to stay on track with your plan. If there is slippage, find ways of catching up on your plan

No. 48 Identify key milestones in your plan Universities have processes to support students completing their dissertations, including requirements at stages in the process such as confirmations, transfer assessments, etc. Make sure you are clear about the time limits for these stages and make sure these stages are in your plan

No. 49 Complete your course work as fast as possible

Most universities require doctoral students to complete coursework. The sooner you complete your coursework, the sooner you can focus on your dissertation. Having completed the coursework, you will better understand what is required to complete your dissertation

No. 50 Become a world expert on your theory What theories have you considered? What theories are you using and why? What theories are you not using and why not? Do not use too many theories. However, theories can sometimes work well in concert. The theoretical thread should go right the way through the research (see Shepherd and Suddaby, 2017)

No. 51 Become a world expert on your method and methodology

Make sure you know your method with depth. Justify why you chose your method. What other methods could you have chosen? Can you justify why you did not adopt those other methods? What are the controversies and debates on that method in the literature? How is your research positioned concerning the controversies/debates?

No. 52 Be familiar with your university’s policies on research

Do you have to get ethical approval for your research? Make sure to get the paperwork done in good time, so that waiting for ethical approval does not delay your progress

No. 53 Find opportunities to present your work Be proactive in creating opportunities to present your work. The mere act of presentation is a learning experience. Preparing the presentation will help you to become clearer about your work. As you stand up to commence your presentation, some new idea may pop into your head: “how do I know what I think until I hear what I say” (Weick, 1995)

No. 54 Find opportunities to get feedback Your main source of feedbackwill be your supervisor(s). Other sources of feedback might include other academics in your discipline, visiting academics to your discipline, your doctoral colleagues, arising from presenting at conferences and seminars

No. 55 Attend doctoral colloquia and workshops Attending doctoral colloquia and workshops provides opportunities to present your work, get feedback on your work, meet other academics, meet other doctoral students

(continued ) Table I.

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100 PhD rules of the game

Rule No. Rule Description

No. 56 Attend departmental seminars Have an open mind to learn from others. Department seminars and visiting academics are great opportunities to learn from, even if their topic is not in your topic area (Davis, 2001). Keep a note of what you learned when attending such seminars. Rule No. 18 “Learn from others” is relevant here

Writing the dissertation No. 57 Start writing your dissertation on the first

day of your doctoral studies Writing is a discipline and a habit. Get into the habit of writing from the start. The more you write the better you write (see Brabazon, 2010; Cochrane, 2005; Dunleavy, 2003)

No. 58 Learn to writeb Understand structure of paragraphs, types of sentences, syntax, wordiness, pronouns, punctuation, spelling, etc.

No. 59 Know how to make an argumentb Recognise poor forms of argumentation and logical fallacies (see Cottrell, 2017; Damer, 2013; Gula, 2007)

No. 60 Decide on the model of dissertation to pursue

Some universities allow students a choice of traditional magnum opus dissertation vs a three- paper model. The choice does not have to be made immediately. Nevertheless, the sooner you make your choice the better

No. 61 Understand your university’s regulations concerning PhD dissertations

Universities have extensive regulations concerning dissertations. Make sure you understand these from the beginning. A length limit is not a target to be reached. Keep your dissertation as short as possible, just long enough to land the thesis. Find out whether your university requires students to sign a declaration that the dissertation is their own work

No. 62 Start your dissertation with a table of contents

Completing dissertations and jigsaw puzzles have a lot in common. To complete a jigsaw, the first thing one does is pick out the pieces with flat edges and form the four-sided boarder of the puzzle. The jigsaw is then completed by trial and error. The table of contents is the equivalent for a dissertation, a route map for the beginning, middle and end of the dissertation

No. 63 Look at Brennan’s (1998) template to begin your table of contents

Brennan (1998, Appendix 5) contains a generic table of contents to start a dissertation, which quickly adapts to students’ own dissertation topic. The backbone of my generic table of contents is the research questions which drive the whole project

No. 64 Think about your dissertation structure/ table of contents regularly

A clear structure for the dissertation is critical for a clear dissertation. Keep sharpening and refining the structure as you develop your project

No. 65 Prepare a dissertation master document Have a master document so that the whole dissertation is developed in a holistic manner rather than piecemeal in separate files

No. 66 Keep backup copies of your dissertation Stories are legion of doctoral students losing their work. Make sure you are not that student

No. 67 Read a bit, write a bit; Write a bit, read a bit As you are reading the literature, summarise it and, where appropriate, include in your dissertation, building up the document over time. Rule No. 69 “Write (almost) every day” is also relevant here

(continued )Table I.

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Rule No. Rule Description

No. 68 Read other dissertations Dissertations are a genre with their own style, format, structure. Make sure you understand what your dissertation should look like by looking at how others have written theirs. Find outstanding examples of top class dissertations to learn from. Avoid looking at bad dissertations

No. 69 Write (almost) every day A dissertation is around 200–300 pages long. If you write every day you will eventually complete your dissertation. Writing is also a discipline that helps clarify ideas. Providing written work to your supervisor helps in the supervision process. Rule No. 41 “Give your supervisor written, as well as verbal, reports of progress” is also relevant here

No. 70 Choose a great title Choose a clear does-what-it-says-on-the-tin title. Do not have too long a title. You do not have to explain the whole thesis in the title

No. 71 Make sure your preliminary material is presented correctly

Check out other dissertations to learn the correct sequencing of the preliminary material (Title page, Dedication, Table of contents, List of tables, List of figures, Publications (expected) from the research (?), Acknowledgements, Abstract)

No. 72 Write a great abstract Find out your university’s guidelines for the abstract. This is the first information on your topic your examiners will read. Prepare multiple drafts of the abstract to get it right. Obtain your supervisor’s input on your abstract. The contribution(s) should feature in the abstract

No. 73 Provide lots of signposts for your readers A dissertation is

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