Research Archives - Enhancing Postgraduate Environments

What is theory?

Sibusiso Ncanywa — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 07:12:48 +0000

Theory is a term with different meanings – in everyday language, it means a guess or a hunch – but in research, it means a tried and tested explanation. All research has theoretical underpinnings, though in some fields the theoretical lenses being used are discussed more explicitly, whereas in others they are simply assumed.

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Between Supervisor and Postgraduate

PostGrad — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 07:07:49 +0000

The aim of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is to give the postgraduate student and supervisor an opportunity to develop a sound and productive working relationship. There is no blueprint for such an agreement. Rather, it is the result of an open discussion in the early stages of the relationship, during which both student and supervisor can clarify expectations and preferences, surface any misunderstandings or misaligned expectations and pave the way for a productive working relationship.

The aim of this resource is to provide a starting point for such a discussion between postgraduate student and supervisor. The content given here is meant to serve as a prompt for things to include in one’s own agreement, and supervisors/students are encouraged to make as many changes as needed during their discussions. In its current form, this MoU template should not be regarded as policy or even as a fixed template. Each supervisor-student relationship is unique and the outcome of this discussion will be a personalised and adapted version of this MoU.

Having said that, it may be the case that your faculty or department already has its own MoU template. It may even be compulsory for you to complete such an MoU, according to your departmental requirements. In that case, please see this document as an additional prompt for issues you might want to discuss with your supervisor/postgraduate student at the start of your relationship. Departments and faculties are also welcome to use and adapt this template. It is then up to individual departments or faculties to explain the “status” of the MoU, e.g. whether it is compulsory, recommended or optional.

Developed by Stellenbosch University, Postgraduate Office. Thanks to Natasha Mothapo, Ethel Phiri, Jenna Leysens and Alison Bucholz who played key roles in the production of this video (SU). Thank you to Venita Januarie, David Phair, Rose Richards, Mannini Kotele, Karen Esler, Jaco le Roux, Nathaniel McGregor, John Measey and Samkele Zonyane for their valuable contributions in the making of this resource. Thank you to Sioux McKenna (Rhodes University) and Ronel Steyn for their earlier contributions to the MoU template.

Who might find this useful?

This resource might also be useful to postgraduate studies support divisions and faculties or departments that co-ordinate postgraduate supervision and that may not have an official MoU in place.

The following open questions are posed at the end of the video:

How do you feel about an MoU?
Does your department have one?
How do you intend to establish a healthy postgraduate/supervisor relationship?
Have you considered all aspects of how the different stages of the research project will be handled?
Have you agreed on the type and frequency of communication that needs to take place to maintain a good relationship?
Are you prepared to be flexible in your approach – to adapt the MoU contents if necessary as you progress along the research journey together?

Explore these additional resources

Additional reading for supervisors:

Van Schalkwyk, S.C., Murdoch-Eaton, D., Tekian, A., van der Vleuten, C. and Cilliers, F. (2016) The supervisor’s toolkit: A framework for doctoral supervision in health professions education: AMEE Guide No. 104, Medical Teacher, 38:5, 436, DOI: 10.3109/0142159X.2016.1142517
https://theconversation.com/ten-types-of-phd-supervisor-relationships-which-is-yours-52967

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Using technology to your advantage: Mendeley (Part 1-6)

PostGrad — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 07:15:00 +0000

This 6 part video series provides an in-depth explanation of how to use the free Mendeley reference manager effectively during your research process. With this application you can integrate all your literature into one platform that can be accessed on any device, anywhere and anytime, allowing you to stay organised. You can also add colour coded annotations to the documents that you read, and seamlessly insert citations with a related bibliography, into your working document.

With a wide network of researchers, Mendeley also allows you to collaborate with like-minded people and to receive alerts of new research in your focus area/s. More information can be found at www.mendeley.com

Developed by Nuraan Davids-Latief, University of the Western Cape.

Who might find this useful?

This might be useful to any student starting a postgraduate degree or research project. Even professional researchers could find this tool very useful.

Explore these additional resources

www.mendeley.com

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Selecting a Journal for your publication

PostGrad — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 08:40:42 +0000

This three-part series of videos looks at a number of crucial issues to take into account when selecting the journal for your academic publication. The first video looks at where the pressure to publish comes from. It argues that this pressure can lead us to think that the end goal is ‘getting published’. This then has negative consequences for quality and collaboration. The video argues that we should rather be thinking about publishing as joining a conversation and making a contribution to knowledge. In the second video, key issues that an author needs to take into account when selecting a journal are considered. From readership, to citation indices and more, the video outlines a number of concerns; in particular, this video engages with the debates around open access publishing and spells out what ‘counts’ as an accredited journal article for subsidy purposes. The final video reflects on the rise of predatory publications. The video spells out how we can spot predatory publications but also reminds the viewer that if we focus on contributing knowledge within an existing conversation in the field, we are less likely to be caught in such scams.

Developed by Professor Sioux McKenna, Director Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Rhodes University.

Who might find this useful?

These three videos will be of use to postgraduate scholars and supervisors and to any academics embarking on publication. It can be viewed independently or could be used within a workshop or short course on academic publishing.

Explore these additional resources

“Why developing countries are particularly vulnerable to predatory journals” This article argues that a focus on ‘getting published’ makes us vulnerable to predatory publications
Directory of Open Access Journals: This site uses a set of indicators to determine which open access journals meet academic quality norms: https://doaj.org
“Geographies of the World’s Knowledge” Flick et al (2011) Convoco This study is presented with a number of useful graphics to trace access to information across the planet.
“Predatory Publishing in South Africa: Scale and Challenges” Mouton, J (2016) This presentation outlines the scope of predatory publications within South African universities
GUIDE: How to spot predatory academic journals in the wild: Africa Check Researched by Sarah Wild. 17 October 2017 https://africacheck.org/factsheets/guide-how-to-spot-predatory-academic-journals-in-the-wild/
Think! Check! Submit! This website offers some useful questions to ask yourself so that you avoid getting caught by predatory publishers. http://thinkchecksubmit.org
Citation Indices. Many publishing houses and other organisations run citation indices which look at how often articles from a particular journal are cited. Each journal’s web page will also refer to such indices to demonstrate their ‘impact’. The index used in Part 2 is the Scimago Journal and Country rank which is based on Scopus: http://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php

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How is good scientific writing like good cooking?

PostGrad — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:42:11 +0000

How can good scientific writing be compared to good cooking? This resource cleverly describes how good scientific writing can be likened to good cooking. It describes the way that researchers should draw on other authors’ work but at the same time bring in one’s own voice and argumentation. It emphasises why ethical scientific writing must always be honest, clear and accurate and give credit to the ideas or text that belong to another author.

This material consists of a PowerPoint slide presentation narrated with voice over. The duration of the presentation is 5.20 minutes. A Word text of the narration is included and supports the PowerPoint slide presentation material for universal access.

Developed and narrated by Ronel Steyn (SU). Thanks to Jennali Leysens (SU) and Alison Bucholz (SU).

Explore these additional resources

How is good scientific writing like good cooking?

Who might find this useful?

This material may be useful to supervisors, academic writing workshop presenters/ facilitators, etc. to include in their presentations to elicit or to encourage group discussion.

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The Thesis as Argument

PostGrad — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:22:36 +0000

The thesis is the most common mode of knowledge presentation used at Postgraduate level. In this video, we suggest that the thesis is first and foremost an argument. The contribution it gives to the field is to add a particular argument – a position that is taken on the phenomenon being studied. There is a need for coherence across the thesis to ensure that this argument is built in ways that are credible, valid and aligned to the norms of knowledge construction demanded by the discipline. This demands a chain of smaller arguments, each substantiated by evidence, slowly building the thesis as a whole. This video discussed what forms of evidence these might take.

Developed by Sioux McKenna and Lynn Quinn, Rhodes University. Thanks to Sabela Cuba for filming and Dinah Arnott for production and editing.

Explore these additional resources

Thesis as argument worksheet

You may also find these blogs useful in developing a strong argument in your writing:

Aitchison, C. (2016) ‘Has this thesis got anything to say?’, Doctoral Writing SIG

Thomson, P. (2013) ‘Writing the thesis abstract’, Patter

Who might find this useful?

This video would be useful for supervisors and postgraduate scholars. It can also form part of a workshop on thesis structure or academic writing. There is a useful worksheet which can be used in conjunction with the video to help postgraduate scholars develop their thesis statement. You can download it here.

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In-depth Qualitative Interview

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:06:23 +0000

The in-depth qualitative interview is a difficult data collection skill to master. Researchers discuss their experiences of interviewing. They also give some tips on how to conduct in-depth interviews and some do’s and don’ts when interviewing.

Developed by Grace Idahosa, Department of Political and International Studies, Rhodes University. Thanks to Louise Vincent, Chipo Munyuki and Desire Chiwandire.

Explore these additional resources

Sideman, I., 2006. Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A guide for researchers in Education and Social Science. New York: Teachers College Press.

Who might find this useful?

This video can be used as a guide by academics and researchers planning to use in-depth interviews as a method of data collection.

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Off-campus Access to Library Databases

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:46:39 +0000

A demonstration of how to set up Off-Campus access so that Institutional users are able to access library databases when they are not on campus explaining and emphasising the advantages.

Developed by Anelisa Mente-Mpako (Rhodes University Library) & Susan Rionda (Rhodes University Library)

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Overview of PhD

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:29:41 +0000

This poster provides an overview of the Purpose and Scope of a PhD study, drawing on the South African Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and the South African Qualifications Authority Level Descriptors. The poster is useful for current PhD candidates, and those hoping to engage in a PhD, as well as supervisors supporting PhD candidates. The poster includes the level Purpose, scope and descriptors of a PhD, as well as a breakdown of notional hours.

Developed by Priya Vallabh – Rhodes University

Explore these additional resources

Council on Higher Education (CHE). (2013). The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. CHE: Pretoria.
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). (2012). Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. SAQA: Pretoria.

Who might find this useful?

This resource may provide a useful tool for supervisors to use in their first supervision meeting with new PhD candidates, to open a discussion about the level and scope of work required in a PhD.
It may also be useful for PhD candidates who would like to understand the scope of commitment required from them.

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Overview of Master’s Degree

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:04:58 +0000

This poster provides an overview of the Purpose and Scope of a Master’s study, drawing on the South African Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and the South African Qualifications Authority Level Descriptors. The poster is useful for current Master’s candidates, and those hoping to engage in a Master’s degree, as well as supervisors supporting Master’s candidates. The poster includes the level Purpose, scope and descriptors of a Master’s degree, as well as a breakdown of notional hours.

Developed by Priya Vallabh – Rhodes University

Explore these additional resources

Council on Higher Education (CHE). (2013). The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. CHE: Pretoria.
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). (2012). Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. SAQA: Pretoria.

Who might find this useful?

This resource may provide a useful tool for supervisors to use in their first supervision meeting with new Master’s candidates, to open a discussion about the level and scope of work required in a Master’s Degree.
It may also be useful for Master’s candidates who would like to understand the scope of commitment required from them.

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