When PhD candidates embark on their thesis journey, the first thing they will likely learn is that their research must be a “significant original contribution to knowledge.”
A PhD should make an original contribution to knowledge. Originality can be achieved through the study design, the nature or outcomes of the knowledge synthesis, or the implications for research and/or practice.
Source: https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/how-to-make-an-original-contribution-to-knowledge/
The first step for PhD students is to recognize that a thesis will be built on other people’s work in a rigorous, precise way and is not expected to lead to an immediate and fundamental paradigm shift in the field.
The significant original contribution emerges from small gaps within saturated research areas as novel interpretations or applications of old ideas. The researcher can accomplish this in many ways, for example, by creating a synthesis, by providing a single original technique, or by testing existing knowledge in an original manner. Although the thesis has to be innovative, this doesn’t necessarily mean revolutionizing the existing discourse; there is also value in adding new perspectives.
Having a well-bounded and clear idea of one’s contribution contextualizes the work and can protect the student from undue criticism.
This is always an iterative process, starting with a literature review and later comparing results against the significance of other works.
No comments:
Post a Comment