Master-class April 2024: Writing up a Qualitative PhD: Online

Whether you are doing a traditional PhD or a PhD by publication, ‘writing up’ should never be something left to the end of your research. Instead, writing should be a continuous process,  learning from your supervisor, your peers and your own mistakes. I examine how this writing up can be accomplished efficiently if rarely painlessly.

 

 

This course is being held 'live' online via Zoom and run on Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC +11)

As Prof. David Silverman is based in the UK, his course will be offered across 4 evenings from April 8, 2024

 

Please check the course details and syllabus below.

 

 

Dates: 
Monday, April 8, 2024 - Thursday, April 11, 2024
Early bird cutoff date: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Course details:

Whether you are doing a traditional PhD or a PhD by publication, ‘writing up’ should never be something left to the end of your research. Instead, writing should be a continuous process,  learning from your supervisor, your peers and your own mistakes. I examine how this writing up can be accomplished efficiently if rarely painlessly.

 

This master-class offers lectures and data workshops covering the latest approaches to key areas of qualitative research:
•    Do’s and don’ts in writing a qualitative PhD
•    Reader-friendly literature reviews, methodology sections and conclusions. What counts as originality.
•    Persuasive data chapters
•    Publishing journal articles: a novice’s guide

 

 

 

This course is being offered online (via zoom) across 4 evening sessions from 5.00pm to 7.30pm on Monday, and 6.00 pm to 8.30 pm (Tues-Thurs), Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT +10)*

 

(ie Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne Brisbane time)

 

*Please note the 1st evening will start & finish 1 hour earlier (5pm), than evenings 2-4, due to David's prior committment.

 

 

 
Master Class - runs over 4 days
Instructor: 

Prof David Silverman is an outstanding scholar specialising in qualitative research. David is Professor Emeritus in the Sociology Department at Goldsmiths College and Visiting Professor in the Management Department at King's College, University of London and the Business School, University of Technology, Sydney. He has authored 15 books and 45 journal articles on qualitative research, ethnography and conversation analysis. He is the author of four bestselling Sage textbooks on qualitative research and has published monographs on his research on a large public sector organization, medical consultations and HIV-test counselling. Prof Silverman has hosted workshops on qualitative research for PhD students in Australia since 2009 as well as in Europe, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Tanzania. He successfully supervised 30 PhD students, three of whom are now full Professors.

Course dates: Monday 8 April 2024 - Thursday 11 April 2024
Course status: Course completed (no new applicants)
Venue: 
Online
Week: 
Week 1
About this course: 

This masterclass is taught via lectures, small group workshops followed by feedback sessions and one-to-ones with all participants. Whether you are just starting a research degree or in your final year, this is the course for you.

Among the topics covered are:

 

  • The PhD as an apprenticeship. What ‘originality’ means.
  • Learning from your supervisor and your peer groups
  • The need for consistency. Fitting your research question and methodology to your research model.
  • Reassurance strategies when difficulties arise: the low bar in qualitative research.
  • Designing a methodology that allows for rapid data gathering and early data analysis.
  • Practical suggestions about when to write a literature review and what it should contain.
  • How to avoid dull methodology chapters. Keeping a research diary.
  • How to write credible and interesting data chapters. What to include and what to omit.
  • Concluding chapters that are not summaries but which stretch the imagination.
  • Writing publishable journal articles

 

The workshop will consist of 4.5 hours of lectures, 3 student small group discussions and one-to-one supervisions for all students

 

Course syllabus: 

The course will be taught over four consecutive evenings with the following timetable:

One-to-one sessions will follow after the course with an agreed timetable.

 

Evening 1
5.00 pm: Introductory lecture: do’s and dont’s in doing a qualitative PhD.
5.45 pm: Lecture 1 The need for consistency: fitting your methodology to your research model.
6.45 – 7.30pm: small groups sessions.

 

Evening 2
6.00 pm:  Feedback from group sessions
6.30 pm: Lecture 2 Credible data sections and concluding sections; what counts as originality
7.45 – 8.30 pm: Small group sessions.

 

Evening 3
6.00 pm: Feedback from group sessions
6.30 pm:  Lecture 3 Persuasive data sections and concluding sections; what counts as originality.
7.45 – 8.30pm: small group sessions

 

Evening 4
6.00 pm: Feedback from group sessions
6.30 pm:  Lecture 4 Publishing journal articles
7.45 – 8.30 pm: Open discussion

 

Course format: 

This workshop will take place 'live' over Zoom.

Participants will be sent course documents including workshop topics to be read in advance.

The workshop will consist of 4.5 hours of lectures, 3 student small group discussions and one-to-one supervisions for all students

Each participant will receive a copy of the Prof Silverman's new 6th Edition of Doing Qualitative Research

Recommended Background: 

A basic knowledge of qualitative research.

Recommended Texts: 

Any of Silverman’s current Sage textbooks.

Interpreting Qualitative Data [sixth edition] or, for more advanced researchers, his Very Short Book [second edition].

Course fees
Member: 
$1,480
Non Member: 
$2,280
Full time student Member: 
$1,280
Participant feedback: 

 

More than giving me tools for my research, the course has made me rethink about it and how to conduct it.

 

Different theories and methods helped me to stand back from my research and think through what changes I might want to make at this point. Also offered very helpful additional refences and individual guidance for attendees

 

This course could not have been more useful, particularly as I am about to commence dataanalysis/PhD write up.

 

 

Venues: 

Delivery of this course is online - via Zoom.

 

Please ensure you have the following:

  • Reliable Internet connection with at least 5Gb per day of data available (i.e. a 5 day course will use about 25Gb of data just on the Zoom application)
  • A computer/laptop with the Zoom application installed (free)
  • A webcam (built in to most laptops)
  • A headset with a microphone (not required but ideal)
  • A second monitor/screen if possible

 

Please also check the course page for specific software requirements (if any).

 

Venue and Timetable: 

You will be attending from home, and each course may specify a slightly different timing schedule. Please expect around 4 "contact" hours per day, with the remainder of the usual working day for exercises, group work and self-directed activities.

All times specified are in Australian Eastern Time (Melbourne/Sydney/Canberra time)