The Question of ‘Doctorateness’: Theory and Practice

Abstract

The notion of ‘doctorateness’ acknowledges its significance for those who are involved with the doctoral degree – as candidates, supervisors or examiners. The notion has been recognised, internationally, as a key issue that determines the nature and quality of doctoral degrees. Thus, it represents a critical issue for candidates and supervisors to address and then to demonstrate within a submitted thesis. Each university possesses its own institutional framework for its degrees, however, there are generic features of ‘the doctorate’ that transcend the individual university and its procedures. These are features of received wisdom which examiners often refer to as the ‘gold standard’ of the doctorate. A series of essential elements in research activity have to be accounted for and explained in the text of a thesis. These are the inescapable pre-requisites of doctoral research. When these indicators are met, they constitute ‘doctorateness’ which is what examiners look for in a doctoral thesis. This address will discuss the nature of ‘doctorateness’ from a theoretical and practical perspective, and present those critical issues that signal the appreciation of ‘doctorateness’ and acknowledge that a doctoral candidate is thinking like a researcher.

Presentation delivered by Prof. Shosh Leshem at the Second Annual Doctoral Symposium, Valletta Campus, 28 February 2020.