Front Cover -- Half-title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- Overview -- Introduction -- Reasons for returning to study -- Interpreting learning -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 2: Researching and learning -- Overview -- Introduction -- What differentiates research degree study? -- Purpose of the different levels of research degree award -- Researching on the one hand and studying on the other -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3: Studying for which kind of research degree? -- Overview -- Introduction -- Kinds of research degree study -- Levels of research degree award -- Notions of 'doctorateness' specifically -- Research degree study and the professions -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4: Thinking and learning -- Overview -- Introduction -- The personal dimension to learning -- The need for critical thinking -- A place for originality and creativity -- Reflection -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 5: Working and communicating with others -- Overview -- Introduction -- Researching and communicating -- Working effectively in groups -- Accessing knowledge -- Accessing research techniques -- Oral presentations -- Relationships with tutors or supervisors -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 6:Planning to do your research -- Overview -- Introduction -- The distinctiveness of planning within a research degree -- Preparatory and preliminary work -- Narrowing down a topic -- Phasing the development of the project -- Getting started -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 7: Effective reading and listening -- Overview -- Introduction -- Effective reading -- Making and using notes as a tool for developing research -- Listening to what is happening in professional practice as a tool to developing a research awareness -- Summary -- Conclusion.

Chapter 8: Effective writing about your research -- Overview -- Introduction -- Writing as part of the process of studying and researching -- The early stages in academic writing about research -- Developing a structure for reporting your research -- Some conventions in academic writing about research -- Writing about research within a professional context -- Using your reading -- Referencing -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 9: Constructing and presenting your research in a written submission -- Overview -- Introduction -- Establishing a thesis -- What does academic researching entail? -- Constraints on a final research degree submission -- Writing a dissertation title -- Writing an abstract -- Using graphics -- Academic investigation and professional progress -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 10: Being examined at research degree level -- Overview -- Introduction -- Distinctiveness of the research degree examination process -- Typical processes and procedures of submission for assessment -- Submitting your work for assessment -- Assessment of your written submission and of you as a research degree candidate -- Pragmatic features of the oral examination (viva) -- Likely outcomes and activities subsequent to the viva -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Chapter 11: Conclusion -- Overview -- Introduction -- Maintaining focus in the face of risk and variable progress -- The reflective practitioner -- Support from supplementary reading -- Self-doubt, uncertainty and challenge -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Further reading -- References -- Index -- Back Cover.