Narratives of Qualitative PhD Research

‘This book offers a comprehensive account of the nature of PhD education in New Zealand, drawing on the experiences of doctoral students as they navigate their way through the research and writing process as well as providing the perspectives of experienced doctoral supervisors and PhD examiners. Reflecting the varied contexts in which students conduct doctoral research, the book provides an illuminating account of the challenges students face as they develop a research identity, the practical and emotional issues they encounter, the role played by supervisors in guiding the students’ development of a critical and original voice, and the nature and processes by which supervisors provide feedback during the doctoral process. The book will be an invaluable resource for doctoral candidates and PhD supervisors and makes an outstanding contribution to our understanding of the nature of PhD Education.’

Jack C Richards, Honorary Professor, University of Sydney

‘The PhD journey is both an exciting and challenging experience, which takes emerging scholars into new sites and sometimes difficult conversations. But as the authors in this compelling collection reassure us, the PhD journey is never taken alone. Co-editors Laura Gurney, Wang Yi and Roger Barnard have identified with care the diverse stakeholders in the PhD journey, as well as the major milestones. Through rich narratives from PhD students at different stages of their doctoral programs, as well as supervisors, committee members, and external examiners, readers gain much insight into a journey that changes lives and transforms identities. Narratives of Qualitative PhD Research makes a significant and timely contribution to the story of applied linguistics and language education.’

Dr. Bonny Norton, FRSC; University Killam Professor, UBC Dept. of Language & Literacy Education

‘A revealing interactive collection of first-hand accounts by doctoral students and supervisors exploring the scope and dynamics of doctoral research, many of its key challenges, and ways of understanding and negotiating them. A hugely valuable contribution to the development of applied linguistics research practices’

Martin Bygate, Emetitus Professor, Lancaster University

'This is a book, no the book, that I wish I had had at the beginning, in the middle and at the culmination of my own PhD journey. Not just another thesis writing guide, the introduction, the ten chapters and the most engaging narrative Afterword take us through the whole process from initial choices of topic to thesis examination. Within the three-take structure of the chapters, the first two writers recount and reflect on their relatively recent PhD experiences, dialoguing with each other, and the third take is from acknowledged experts in the field who provide a thesis supervisor’s perspective.

The volume is relevant far beyond the academic field of Applied Linguistics in which all the contributors operate. In Huong’s words (Chapter 7 Take 2) "no one can solve their own problems better than themselves". But all who are involved in the PhD thesis process can gain much from the challenging chapters in this book.'

James McLellan, PhD, Associate Professor in English Language and Linguistics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam