Ap Psychology Chapter 1

CHAPTER 15

GETTING ON WITH THE ACTUAL RESEARCH

Being smart to work smart always

15.1 Introduction

We conclude this book by summarizing the key points mentioned and highlighted over the preceding chapters. Those key points are critical understandings about completing a high impact PhD thesis which are: 1) having the right technical skill knowledge for a PhD study and 2) developing own self’s intellectual maturity to complete it. The aim of this book is providing a quick overview of the whole PhD process and highlighting key interdependencies between various tasks at different phases of a PhD. This chapter is designed as a quick referral chapter during a PhD journey. References are made to quickly guide readers where to look for the detailed

From Chapter 3 until Chapter 9, you were exposed to planning and development of the intellectual content systematically. The major intellectual components for a high impact research must have the following attainments:

i. Understanding that if you do not have a research problem, there is no reason to even think about doing any research at all (refer Chapter 2).

ii. Understanding about your RQ constructs very well which will become your future specialization after your PhD study (refer Chapters 3).

iii. Ability to understand how you can manipulate the required number of RQ constructs and form the main research question that will lead you towards new knowledge creation (refer Chapter 4).

iv. Ability to understand how to ask the appropriate comprehensive sub research questions that will “force” you to obtain specific outputs (refer Chapter 5).

v. Understanding that if your research objectives are directly related to your sub research questions, you can satisfy the research objectives when you have answered your sub research questions (refer Chapter

The Research Design Framework Table (refer to Chapter 10). Also known as the E.A.G.L.E. Table, it is a tool to manage and monitor the development of your research proposal and eventual thesis. The information will be updated as more and more literature have been critically reviewed by yourself.

ii. The Research Design Workflow Framework (refer to Chapter 11) is a guide to ensure cross-checking mechanisms are in-placed when you implement the activities for each RQ construct.

iii. The Research Abstract (refer Chapter 12) is a systematic summary compilation of the whole thesis proposal. The template facilitates the writing of a high impact research abstract very fast and with much ease without missing any critical information out.

15.4 Developing Critical Reading and Writing Skills There is no known short cut to develop your own critical reading and writing skills except you have to nurture those skills yourself. Using the literature review technique (refer Chapter 13), this is one method you can use to help you focus on the important issues while reading critically. The recommended approach is known to help many PhD students from being overwhelmed by other scholars’ excellent accomplishment presented in the literature. Below are recommendations for tackling this difficult part of a PhD