Product Description

A must read for all research students!

“The core material in Professor Cryer’s previous editions is classic. I welcome this new edition setting it into current contexts.” – PhD supervisor

“When I was doing my own PhD, Pat Cryer’s book was my constant reference companion. Now I am recommending her latest edition to my own students.” – PhD supervisor

Insightful, wide-ranging and accessible, this is an invaluable tool for postgraduate research students and for students at all levels working on research projects, irrespective of their field of study.

This edition has been thoroughly revised to accommodate the changes in postgraduate education over recent years. Additional material and new emphases take into account:

• the QAA Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Programmes
• recommendations of the Roberts Review
• the needs of the growing number of ‘overseas’ research students
• employment issues (including undergraduate teaching)
• the Internet as a resource for research.

There are new chapters on:

• developing the research proposal
• succeeding as an ‘overseas’ research student
• ethics in research
• personal development planning (PDP)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #278411 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Pat Cryer is Visiting Professor for the Development of Graduate Education at the University of Manchester. She has headed various studies on the needs of postgraduate research students and their supervisors, which she converted into practical support by setting up a national network for academics on postgraduate issues and a series of guides on postgraduate issues for academics, published jointly by the Society for Research into Higher Education and the Times Higher Education Supplement.

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Customer Reviews

Professor Cryer has a great guide for research students and their families
I read this as part of my preparation for my PhD course and found it very helpful, full of practical information and suggestions that will compliment any student's or potential student's preparations. What can be especially helpful is that it does not assume any substantial existing knowledge of the research courses and tries to explain things from the ground up; the author is genuinely trying to inform readers about the broad nature of a research degree and covers many things I had not thought of. Its warnings are well though of and it has helped me to avoid a number of potentially difficult situations. Even if you are already well into your research this book provides helpful hints for all stages and is not simply meant to be read before starting and then abandoned, indeed much of it is not intended to be used until you are well on your way in your work. While it does not provide a full picture of the PhD course but leaves you in no doubt which areas in which you should seek further information and suggests where this information may be found. Although the text is a little out of date when it comes to the online and electronic resources but this is easily forgiven as it provides so much in other areas. This is a useful book that will help prepare would-be research students for what lies ahead and will keep an existing researcher on track, I'd even suggest family of a research student read this book to improve their understanding of the work being undertaken by their loved one.

The best book to support research students
Amongst various publications about the doctoral research experience, Pat Cryer's contribution to the topic seems to be the best of all.

Like others, it gives a sweeping overview of the postgraduate research process, from its preparation before Day 1 of the doctoral throughout the various stages and moments of the research, supervision relation, writing up, etc. as one can see from the table of contents available above.

What is the most satisfying and the most unusual in this book is the specific takes it adopts on the various topics, prompting the reader with straightforward and highly relevant questions, to stimulate for further action.

This book is also a real companion, and I'm surprised it doesn't feature better in book sales ranking as it is really worth consideration and thorough perusal.

A Good Guide
A useful book for the research student. Comprehensive and lots of useful tips. I recommend this book to my own students.