Humanities

 

DOCTORAL COURSEWORK PROGRAMME

DOCTORAL WEBINARS – RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT II

Course Outline

(20, 27 August; 03, 10, 17 September; 01 October 2024)

 

 

1        Module Coordinators and Facilitators

 

Module Coordinators

Prof. Jannie Smit (smitj@ukzn.ac.za)

Prof Relebohile Moletsane (moletsaner@ukzn.ac.za) Prof Moletsane is on sabbatical currently.

 

 

Module Facilitators

·     Prof. Nyna Amin, Professor, School of Education (Amin@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Carol Bertram, Professor, School of Education (BertramC@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof Lauren Dyll, Associate Professor, Centre for Communication, Media and Society (Dyll@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Johannes John-Langba, Director: College of Humanities Doctoral Academy, and Professor, School of Applied Human Sciences (JohnLangbaJ@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Nhlanhla Mkhize, DVC & Head: College of Humanities, and Professor, School of Applied Human Sciences (Mkhize@ukzn.ac.za

·     Prof. Matshepo Matoane, Dean & Head of School, School of Applied Human Sciences, and Professor, Applied Human Sciences (MatoaneM@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Anna Meyer-Weitz, Professor, Professor Applied Human Sciences (MeyerWeitzA@ukzn.ac.za) 

·     Dr. Adele Munsami, School of Applied Human Sciences (MunsamiA@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Michael Samuel, Professor, School of Education (Samuelm@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Jannie Smit, Chair: Humanities Institute, and Professor, Religion & Social Transformation, School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics (smitj@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Radhamany Sooryamoorthy, Professor, School of Social Sciences (SooryamoorthyR@ukzn.ac.za)

 

 

2        The Humanities Doctoral Coursework Programme

The doctoral coursework programme in the College of Humanities at UKZN is designed as a research capacity strengthening intervention. The purpose of the coursework is to equip doctoral students with foundational and benchmarked knowledge and skills required to explore and explain societal problems to contribute to knowledge in addressing contemporary social, educational and behavioural problems in Africa. It entails advanced training in social, educational and behavioural research theory and methodology, as well as advanced content in relevant theoretical frameworks and policies in education, humanities and social sciences. Students learn and practice advanced qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research approaches and data analytical and interpretive techniques. Doctoral students are expected to work with their assigned doctoral supervisor to define a specialized area of study based on their field or disciplinary focus for their coursework assignments, and research proposal, that would guide their doctoral research study and thesis.

3        The Doctoral Module by Webinar: Research Proposal Development

Culminating in a full research proposal at the end of the first year, this module covers the following topics: Identification of a research idea and appropriate topic, conceptualizing the research problem statement, objectives and research questions; the role of the literature review and conducting a critical literature review, including major research databases and empirical sources in doctoral research; the nature and importance of theory, philosophical and empirical foundations of research in the Humanities and Social Sciences and developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks suitable for analysing particular research phenomena; research designs,  analytic/ research methodology; data generation strategies; instruments of data generation; sampling strategies (population versus sample); reliability, validity and rigour; referencing;  international and local ethical guidelines and national laws on the conduct of research with human subjects; misconduct/ fraud/ plagiarism in research; components of a research proposal; novelty and originality in a PhD thesis; organization of the PhD chapters; time scheduling and budgeting for the research project.

 

 

4        Module Learning Outcomes

Doctoral candidates are expected to attend all sessions and to critically engage with the literature before and after webinars and participate in the sessions online. The main aim of this module is to assist doctoral candidates in selecting an appropriate research topic, conceptualising an academically viable research project, and preparing a strong research proposal with all its elements, which conforms to the ethical standards for conducting of research.  The aim of the module is to support students to strengthen their skills/ capacity to:

 

a)     Synthesise information from the literature, and identify a research gap, leading to appropriate research questions;

b)     Analyse a research issue, taking into consideration, the research gap, socio-cultural and socio-political contexts, intended target population, and impact of the issue on community or society;

c)     Select appropriate research paradigms, designs and data generation methods and research instruments, to address the research problem;

d)     Describe the appropriate steps and procedures that will be adopted to protect research participants (ethical considerations);

e)     Demonstrate the viability, reliability, validity, and/ or trustworthiness of their chosen research design;

f)      Communicate the anticipated significance of their research results; and

g)     Translate their understanding of the primary components of a research proposal, into a realistic/ implementable proposal, with a budget and time frames.

 

 

5        NOTE: Recommended Basic Methods Texts (from your local/ university library) for this module and throughout your PhD include (but are not limited to):

 

Cresswell, J.W. & C.N. Poth, C.N. 2018. Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. 4^th Edition. Los Angeles: SAGE. (The 2^nd Edition of 2007, is available online on Open Access, at: https://revistapsicologia.org/public/formato/cuali2.pdf.)

Cresswell, J.W. & J.D. Creswell 2018. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 5^th Edition.  Thousand Oakes, CA: SAGE. (The 3^rd Edition, 2009, is available online on Open Access, at: https://www.ucg.ac.me/skladiste/blog_609332/objava_105202/fajlovi/Creswell.pdf.)

Trafford, V. & S. Leshem, S. 2008. Stepping Stones to Achieving your Doctorate: Focusing on your Viva from the Start.  Berkshire & New York: Open University. (An earlier, 2002 paper version of the book of 2008, is available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310055048_Starting_at_the_end_to_undertake_doctoral_research_Predictable_questions_as_stepping-stones/link/59a5707d0f7e9b348eb00f27/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19.)

 

 

6        In addition to this Course Outline, please make sure you familiarise yourself with the following UKZN policies:

·     UKZN APA & Harvard Styles of Referencing - https://libguides.ukzn.ac.za/c.php?g=1043478&p=7569657

·     UKZN Plagiarism Policy - https://utlo.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/UKZN-Plagiarism-Policy-CO05041209.pdf

·     UKZN College of Humanities PhD Policies – available from the Research and Higher Degrees Committee of each school.

 

 

7        Reading homework: To prepare for our first session on Tuesday 20 August 2024, please read the following:

Leshem, S. 2021. The Question of Doctorateness: Theory and Practice. Doctoral School Annual Lecture 2020. University of Malta Doctoral School. Available at:

https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/73548/1/DSAnnLect_2020_FOR%20UPLOADIGN%20TO%20UM%20OAR.pdf

Trafford, V. & S. Leshem, S. 2008. Stepping Stones to Achieving your Doctorate: Focusing on your Viva from the Start.  Berkshire & New York: Open University. (You may also read the 2002 paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310055048_Starting_at_the_end_to_undertake_doctoral_research_Predictable_questions_as_stepping-stones/link/59a5707d0f7e9b348eb00f27/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19.)

 

 

8        Weekly Scheduled Topics

 

Week 1 (20 August 2024) Doctorateness, the Research Process, and the Research Proposal Development and RP Finalisation

Prof Jannie Smit & Prof Nhlanhla Mkhize

 

Week 2 (27 August 2024) The Quantitative Research Process and Research Paradigms for Research Proposal Development

Prof Anna Meyer-Weitz & Prof Nyna Amin

 

Week 3 (03 September 2024): RP Development and Social and Educational Policy Analysis for Policy Renewal and Implementation

Prof Michael Samuel and Prof Carol Bertram

 

Week 4 (10 September 2024): The Basics of Scholarly Literature Review in PhD Research; and Quantitative Research Methods for RP Development

Prof Lauren Dyll; Prof Radhamany Sooryamoorthy

 

Week 5 (17 September 2024): Research Proposal Dvelopment, and Qualitative, and Mixed Methods and Quantitative Research Ethics in African Contexts

Prof Nhlanhla Mkhize; and Prof Matshepo Matoane

 

Saturday, 21 – Sunday 29 September 2024: MID-TERM BREAK

Week 6 (01 October 2024): The RP, and Research Instrument Development for both Data Generation and Analysis/ Interpretation

Dr Adele Munsamy & Prof JA Smit

 

 

9        PhD Coursework Research Proposal Submissions

 

Formative Assessment Progress Workshops - FIRST Year Semester 1 PhD Students (January – December 2024)
Monday 02 September 2024	10.00 – 13.00	UKZN PhD Students – Research Proposal Development Progress Workshop
Monday 02 September 2024	16.00 – 19.00	FIRST Year IUC PhD Students – Research Proposal Development Progress Workshop

 

Summative Assessment* Online Submissions - FIRST Year Semester 1 PhD Students (January – December 2024)
Monday – Thursday, 21 – 24 October, every day	16.00 – 19.00	Mock defence of Research Proposal in online groups, as scheduled ZOOM meetings with break-away groups.
Friday 25 October 2024	24.00	Both UKZN & IUC PhD Students – Final Research Proposal ONLINE submission on LEARN2024

 

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Formative Assessment Progress Workshops - FIRST Year Semester 2 PhD Students (July 2024 – June 2025)
Monday 03 March 2025	10.00 – 13.00	UKZN PhD Students – Research Proposal Development Progress Workshop
Monday 03 March 2025	16.00 – 19.00	FIRST Year IUC PhD Students – Research Proposal Development Progress Workshop

 

Summative Assessment* Online Submissions - FIRST Year Semester 2 PhD Students (July 2024 – June 2025)
Monday – Thursday, 21 – 24 October, every day	16.00 – 19.00	Mock defence of Research Proposal in online groups, as scheduled ZOOM meetings with break-away groups.
Friday 26 May 2025	24.00	Both UKZN & IUC PhD Students – Final Research Proposal ONLINE submission on LEARN2024

 

* Students are encouraged to submit their proposals to their respective School Research Proposal Review Committees once they have supervisor support for submission to the committees.

 

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