Change and Stability in Thesis and Dissertation Writing: The Evolution of an Academic Genre

by Brian Paltridge, Sue Starfield

Overview

Examining recent changes in the once stable genre of doctoral thesis and dissertation writing, this book explores how these changes impact on the nature of the doctoral thesis/dissertation itself. Covering different theories of genre, Brian Paltridge and Sue Starfield focus on the concepts of evolution, innovation and emergence in the context of the production and reception of doctoral theses and dissertations.

Specifically concerned with this genre in the humanities, social sciences and visual and performing arts, this book also investigates the forces which are shaping changes in this high-stakes genre, as well as those which act as constraints. Employing textography as its methodological approach, the book provides multiple perspectives on the ways in which doctoral theses and dissertations are subject to forces of continuity and change in the academy. Analyses of the 'new humanities' doctorate, professional doctorates, practice-based doctorates, and the doctorate by publication contribute to understandings of new variants of the doctoral dissertation genre. The book paves the way for a new generation of doctoral students and asks, 'what might the doctorate of the future look like?'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350146570
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/11/2024
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Brian Paltridge is Professor of TESOL at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Sue Starfield is Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. The Doctoral Thesis/Dissertation as an Evolving Genre
3.Investigating Change and Stability in Doctoral Theses and Dissertations
4. The Evolution of Thesis and Dissertation Types
5. The 'New Humanities' PhD
6. Professional Doctorates
7. Practice-based Doctoratesin the Visual Arts
8. Practice-based Doctorates in Music
9. Doctorates by Publication
10. Genre Evolution in Thesis and Dissertation Writing
References
Appendix
Index

Editorial Reviews

This is a book that should be of interest to anyone seeking an in-depth understanding of the moving target we call the PhD thesis/dissertation genre in all its rapidly morphing, increasingly multimodal, disciplinarily diverse and complex manifestations.” —Diane D. Belcher, Georgia State University, USA

From the Publisher