Introduction
I have often remarked that writing a PhD dissertation in the U.K. is a bit like becoming a Jedi Knight!
The process is shrouded in mystery, you must master a strange set of skills and the only way to measure success is to complete the whole training (there’s no such thing as an almost Jedi Knight).
While this analogy may be humorous, it does capture some of the difficulty that is often associated with making it through a PhD program. Enter Pugh’s book How to Get a PhD
In this post I wanted to review Pugh’s book providing a summary of its contents and giving you my reaction along the way.
Some Preliminary Comments
I should begin by saying that Pugh’s book is written for students wishing to pursue a U.K. / British dissertation only PhD program. American students will not find it as useful.
Secondly, the book is so packed with information that you would do well to read it a few times throughout your PhD process.
My suggestion is that you read it once during your masters program if you are thinking of heading the PhD route; read it again prior to applying to your doctoral program, and then read it a third time about 6-12 months in once you have a bit of research under your belt.
I read it on my flight back from my PhD orientation and then about a year into my research. Each time I went through it was a different (and enlightening) experience!
Summary of Content
Chapter 1 “On Becoming a Research Student” while small is an important introduction to the nature and psychology of doctoral work.
One of the key concepts in the chapter: You are the person most responsible for managing your own research. (This is both frightening and liberating once you get your mind around it.)
The next three chapters, “2 – Getting into the System,” “3- The Nature of PhD Qualification” and “4 – How Not to Get a PhD” ease you into the preliminaries of choosing the right school and field of study; explain what it means to pursue graduate doctoral studies; and review common mistakes people make that result in PhD failure.
(The latter mistakes include over / under estimating what it takes to get a PhD, losing contact with your supervisor, not nailing down a thesis and many others.)
The next three chapters “5 – How to Do Research,” “6 – The Form of a PhD Thesis” and “7 – The PhD Process” represent some of the best parts of the book.
They explain the characteristics of good and bad research and the parts of a typical PhD dissertation. (Here, of course, Pugh could only discuss in generalities since the book is not geared toward a specific discipline, perhaps its one major drawback for me.)
Chapter 7 is gold, giving you an overall framework (and timeline) of the entire PhD process. This chapter also includes my favorite part of the book: A run down of the stages and psychological challenges you will face as you do research: enthusiasm, isolation, frustration, boredom, euphoria and a few others.
The final chapters 8-12 cover institutional issues including your supervisory relationship and expectations (Chapter 8), the examination (Chapter 10) and your institution’s responsibilities in the doctoral program (Chapter 12).
Chapter 8 is the best of this group since knowing how to choose the right supervisor can be the difference between a painful or semi-pleasant PhD journey.
There is an excellent chapter for supervisors on being a good supervisor as well as examiner (Chapter 11).
Finally, for women, ethnic minorities, gay and lesbian, and part-time students there is the aptly titled chapter 9, “How to Survive in a Predominantly British, White, Male, Full-time, Heterosexual Academic Environment.”
I commend Pugh for putting this chapter in his book as it deals frankly with issues that may arise for certain students within a U.K. program. There is also much practical advice to help students in these groups deal with such challenges.
One Drawback of The Book
For the student looking into a specific subject or field of study this book will be very general. It has to be in order to appeal to the widest number of students.
I was interested in a Biblical Studies degree, thus for very general issues like the nature of a PhD program, the process, choosing a supervisor, preparing for the VIVA, etc. Pugh’s book remains an essential resource.
In preparing this review, I did run across Nijay Gupta’s book on Getting a PhD in Biblical Studies…
It is excellent, and as soon as I’ve had time to digest it, I’ll be sure to give you a run down. It is geared more toward New Testament studies, but still contains much practical advice for the Biblical Studies researcher.
Conclusion
Pugh’s book is perhaps the best general introduction to the PhD process.
It is written from the viewpoint of a U.K. / British dissertation (for those interested in this perspective) and is packed with so much detail that it may take you several readings to grasp all of it.
As an orientation to a Jedi-Knight (er, PhD) program, it is well worth the read!
Happy researching.
