Introduction

1. Taking on postgraduate studies - preliminary considerations

2. Principles of postgraduateness - how to approach study at this new level

Getting started

3. Identifying and framing research questions - how to set targets and formulate hypotheses

4. Writing a proposal or research plan - how to outline your approach to postgraduate study

Key research skills

5. Developing as a researcher - appraising your skills and gaining proficiency

6. Planning and time management - how to complete your research and write up on time

7. Information literacy for PhD study - how to find relevant source material

8. Accessing content from the literature - how to read and evaluate research publications

9. Organising research materials - how to collect and file information and details of references

Interactions with others during a research programme

10. Student-supervisor relationships - how to make the most of this important collaboration

11. Dealing with the highs and lows of being a postgraduate - how to respond positively to events and feelings

12. Working in a research team - how to balance research cooperation and autonomy

13. Teaching as a postgraduate - how to make the most of opportunities to tutor, demonstrate and lecture

14. Giving a research seminar or paper - how to deliver an effective spoken presentation

15. Preparing and presenting a poster - how to summarise and communicate your findings

16. Being appraised - how to respond to progress monitoring and other feedback on your work

Research Methods

17. Critical thinking - how to apply method to arrive at valid, original ideas

18. Arriving at a position and supporting it - how to sift fact and opinion and express your conclusions

19. Research ethics and safety - how to conduct an appropriate, principled and safe investigation

20. Referencing, citing and avoiding plagiarism - how to refer appropriately to the results and ideas of others

21. Interpreting and presenting data - how to understand and produce graphs, tables and basic statistics

22. Aspects of qualitative research - how to obtain and analyse non-numerical information

23. Aspects of quantitative research - how to obtain and analyse numerical data

24. Experiments and field studies - how to design and conduct lab and field investigations

Writing up your research

25. Links between research, writing and speaking - how to gain from the interactions between investigation, communication and thought

26. The nature of scholarly writing - how to produce formal writing at PhD level

27. Scholarly writing style - how to construct effective academic text

28. Elements of a thesis - how to write up the different sections

29. Becoming an autonomous writer - how to take control of the writing process

30. Thesis presentation - how to submit your work in the appropriate manner

Examination and beyond

31. The PhD viva - how to prepare for and perform in your oral exam

32. Publishing your research - how to write and submit a successful paper

33. After your doctorate - how to make appropriate use of your qualification