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'Silly, Soft and Otherwise Suspect’: Doctoral education as risky business

McWilliam, Erica L. and Lawson, Alan and Evans, Terry and Taylor, Peter G. (2005) 'Silly, Soft and Otherwise Suspect’: Doctoral education as risky business. Australian Journal of Education 49(2):pp. 214-227.

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Abstract

This paper investigates how certain doctoral practices come to count as scandalous and with what effects on universities. To do so, it engages with a number of recent media allegations that relate to doctoral practice in Australia and elsewhere. The analysis of these allegations is developed in terms of three broad categories, namely allegations of silliness in relation to thesis content, allegations of softness in relation to entry, rigour and assessment, and allegations of suspect conduct and/or credentials. The impact of such allegations on university governance is then addressed.

Item Type:Journal Article
Status:Published
Keywords:risk;doctorates;higher degree supervision;postgraduate supervision;scandal
Subjects:330000 Education > 330100 Education Studies > 330104 Educational Policy, Administration and Management
330000 Education > 330100 Education Studies > 330103 Sociology of Education
330000 Education > 330100 Education Studies > 330199 Education Studies not elsewhere classified
ID Code:4171
Deposited By:Frost, Denise Ann
Deposited On:17 May 2006
Alternative Locations:http://www.acer.edu.au/aje/
Copyright Owner:Copyright 2005 ACER
Copyright Statement:This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the ACER journal. It is not a copy of the record. Final and authorised version first published in the Australian Journal of Career Development in 49(2):pp. 214-227 published by the Australian Council for Educational Research. Copyright © 2005 Australian Council for Educational Research.