Scholars before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation

Beile, Penny and Boote, David Scholars before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation. Educational Researcher, 2005, vol. 34, n. 6, pp. 3-15. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

A thorough, sophisticated literature review is the foundation and inspiration for substantial, useful research. The complex nature of education research demands such thorough, sophisticated reviews. Although doctoral education is a key means for improving education research, the literature has given short shrift to the dissertation literature review. This article suggests criteria to evaluate the quality of dissertation literature reviews and reports a study that examined dissertation at three universities. Acquiring the skills and knowledge required to be education scholars, able to analyze and synthesize the research in a field of specialization, should be the focal, integrative activity of predissertation doctoral education. Such scholarship is a prerequisite for increased methodological sophistication and for improving the usefulness of education research.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: academic libraries, library instruction
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BA. Use and impact of information.
B. Information use and sociology of information > BB. Bibliometric methods
D. Libraries as physical collections. > DD. Academic libraries.
G. Industry, profession and education. > GG. Curricula aspects.
G. Industry, profession and education. > GH. Education.
Depositing user: Penny Beile
Date deposited: 07 May 2012
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:22
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/16929

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