Structure

Since 2012-13, new entrants and continuing students are expected to follow a set of modules and seminars which form an integral part of the Sociology PhD Programme. The programme combines in-depth social scientific methodological training with transferrable and generic skills tailored to the needs of Sociology graduates. It consists of the following core components:

Year 1:

1. Advanced Social Research Methods – Thursdays 14:00-16:00 in Michaelmas Term (Lecturer: Dr. Alicja Bobek and Dr. Antje Röder) Venue: Phoenix House 201; and Hilary Term (Module leader: Dr. David Landy). Topics covered in the research methods module can be found further below. Venue: Conference Seminar Room, 6th Floor, 3 CG.
2. PhD Skills Suite – Wednesdays 14:00-16:00 in Michaelmas Term (Module leader: Dr. Daniel Faas); and Hilary Term (Module leader: Dr. Daniel Faas). Topics covered in this skills suite can be found further below. Venue: Conference Seminar Room, 6th Floor, 3 CG (On 9 October 2013 only in 1.16 Foster Place).
3. Sociology Research Seminar Series – Convenor: Dr. David Landy, Wednesdays 11:00-12:00. Venue: Conference Seminar Room, 6th Floor, 3 CG.

The Advanced Social Research Methods module, co-taught with the MPhil in Race, Ethnicity and Conflict during Michaelmas Term (Weeks 2-12), covers the following topics:

Introduction to research methods (3rd October 2013)
Research methodologies: an overview (10th October 2013)
Designing a research project (17th October 2013)
Fieldwork and ethnography (24th October 2013)
Interviews and questionnaires (31st October 2013)
Documentary and visual analysis (14th November 2013)
Research design (21st November 2013)
Sampling and data collection in quantitative research (28th November 2013)
Analysing and reporting numerical data (5th December 2013)
Workshop and overview (12th December 2013)

In Hilary Term (Weeks 2-12), special sessions pitched at a more advanced level only for PhD students will be delivered by internal and external speakers as follows:

Case studies (Dr. Piet Verschuren, Radboud University Nijmegen, 20th January 2014)
Qualitative panel study (Dr. Elaine Moriarty, 27th January 2014)
Mixed methods designs (Prof. Martyn Denscombe, 3rd February 2014)
Auto-ethnography (Dr. Ronit Lentin, 10th February 2014)
From postmodernism to symbolic interactionism (Dr. Barbara Bradby, 17th February 2014)
Working with quantitative data sets (Dr. Antje Röder, 3rd March 2014)
Structural network analysis (Dr. Anne Holohan, 10th March 2014)
Cluster analysis (Dr. Peter Mühlau, 17th March 2014)
Discourse and thematic analysis (Prof. Deborah Youdell, University of Birmingham, 24th March 2014)
Qualitative data analysis: Nvivo (Dr. Andrea Rigon, University College London, 31st March)

The PhD Skills Suite is delivered by Sociology staff and key external speakers in the form of master classes and workshops. It is specifically designed to aid Sociology students in their chosen career and covers the following main topics:

Michaelmas Term (Weeks 2-12):
Writing literature reviews (Dr. Ronit Lentin, 2nd October 2013)
Reading Sociology I (Dr. David Landy, 9th October 2013)
Preparing and structuring a PhD project (Dr. Daniel Faas, 16th October 2013)
Conducting interdisciplinary research (School staff, 23rd October 2013)
Ethics in social scientific research (Dr. Carol Newman, 30th October 2013)
Getting the most out of supervisions (Dr. Ronit Lentin, 13th November 2013)
Presenting your research (Dr. Camilla Devitt, 20th November 2013)
Networking skills (Dr. Daniel Faas, 27th November 2013)
Reading Sociology II (Dr. David Landy, 4th December 2013)

Hilary Term (Weeks 2-12):
Making effective funding applications (Dr. Peter Mühlau, 22th January 2014)
Reading Sociology III (Dr. Camilla Devitt, 29th January 2014)
Writing a journal article (Dr. Camilla Devitt, 5th February 2014)
Editing and proofreading (Sarah Marriott, Plain English Ireland, 12th February 2014)
Academic writing (Dr. Andrew Finlay, 19th February 2014)
Publishing your research (Dr. Daniel Faas, 5th March 2014)
Strategic career management (Dr. Antje Roeder, 12th March 2014)
Research project management (Dr. Camilla Devitt, 19th March 2014)
Reading Sociology IV (Dr. Anne Holohan, 26th March 2014)

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Years 2, 3 and 4

1. One methodological/theoretical workshop in the candidate’s area of expertise OR One module from the Innovation Academy (http://www.innovationacademy.ie/) in either the second or third year of the PhD.2
2. Presentation of PhD in-progress within the Sociology Research Seminar Series in either the third or fourth year of the PhD. Second years can volunteer.

Confirmation of Continuation on the PhD Register

The confirmation of continuation on the PhD register process shall normally be arranged within the first year of registration extended by a further year for PhD students on the part-time register. The process forms an essential part of the student’s learning experience. Students who wish to continue on the PhD register need to have completed (1) the social research methods module and (2) the PhD Skills Suite. They should have regularly attended (3) the Sociology research seminar series and (4) PhD workshop.

It is the responsibility of the PhD student and his/her supervisor to familiarise themselves with the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy's Ethics Policy. Research students should discuss possible ethical implications of their research plans as early as possible and supervisors are obliged to advise research students about potential ethical issues in the early stages of the postgraduate trajectory. Students can apply at any stage in their first year but the process must be completed by the time of the confirmation interview in June. There can of course be additional ethical approval applications in subsequent phases of research. The research ethics checklist needs to be signed off by the Departmental ethics officer, Dr Elaine Moriarty (emoriar@tcd.ie) to assess the need for a certificate of ethical approval by the School. 

In addition, students need to submit a first-year report (6,000-8,000 words). The format of the report may vary according to the nature of the research but as a general guide it is suggested to include (1) an introductory section stating your research aims, critically reviewing existing literature to inform the formulation and specification of your research question(s); (2) a theoretical and/or conceptual section which includes a discussion of how theoretical or conceptual aspects informed your project; (3) a section on methodology which discusses the design, access and sampling, data collection tools, data analysis technique(s) as well as ethical issues, [including confirmation of ethics release]; (4) a timetable; and (5) a bibliography. Five copies should be submitted to the Sociology Department Office before the end of May. Students with compelling reasons may petition via their supervisor, who will consult with the Departmental Graduate Director and Head of Department, to have their confirmation review postponed to September, one year from their entry to the programme.

The student shall be invited to attend a PhD first-year confirmation interview. The PhD confirmation panel for each student is appointed by the Departmental Graduate Director (as nominee of the School’s Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) and shall consist of at least two Department members drawn only from staff eligible to supervise, as follows: the Departmental Graduate Director and a second member of the Department with acknowledged expertise in the subject area of the student’s research (or in a cognate field). The Departmental Graduate Director makes the final decision about membership of the PhD confirmation panel in consultation with the supervisor and will endeavour to take into account the student’s opinion. The Supervisor shall not be a member of the PhD confirmation panel, but it is expected that the Supervisor (and Co-Supervisor) would be present at the interview. The supervisor’s attendance at the interview ensures that he or she is aware of the panel’s critique of the student’s work. Written feedback shall be provided to the student by the Departmental Graduate Director within one week following the interview. The recommendation of the panel shall be one of the following: (a) continuation on the PhD, (b) continuation on the PhD register after some minor changes have been made to the report, (c) continuation on the PhD not recommended at this time: a new report to be written and confirmation interview to be held again as soon as possible thereafter, (d) a recommendation to change to the general Masters register and submit a Masters (MLitt) thesis, or (e) not to continue as a postgraduate research student. A student may appeal the result of a PhD confirmation interview. This appeal will be brought in the first instance, to the appropriate sub-committee of the School Executive Committee. A further appeal may be directed to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Continuation on the PhD Register

Students in their second or higher years will return a Progress Report Form to the Departmental Graduate Director twice a year. These reports summarise the progress and research-related activities in the last 6 or 12 months (whichever is relevant), evaluate the actual progress with the projected progress, outline the proposed programme for the next 6 to 12 months, and outline any difficulties experienced. Students should discuss the progress report with their supervisors. Reports need to be signed by both the supervisor and the student. At the end of each semester the department will conduct a twice-yearly general review of the progress of each research student. Any advice and recommendations of the supervisor, Departmental Graduate Director, and/or other staff will be communicated directly to each student concerned. The content of the progress reports will have a particular bearing upon the Department’s attitude to any request for an extension of the deadline for submission of the thesis and continuation beyond year 4.

Note that this Departmental Progress Review is different from and in addition to the Progress Review of Graduate Studies Office.

At the end of their second year, each student shall be invited to attend a PhD second-year review interview. The review panel for each student is appointed by the Departmental Graduate Director (as nominee of the School’s Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) and shall consist of Department members drawn only from staff eligible to supervise, as follows: the Departmental Graduate Director and a second and third member of the Department with acknowledged expertise in the subject area of the student’s research (or in a cognate field), and the student’s supervisor.  One week before the interview, each student will submit a 1,000 word summary of their PhD research to date and pose questions they would like to discuss.  There is no formal outcome to this review – its purpose is to provide the student an opportunity to discuss with, and get feedback on their project from, a panel of staff members.