Coherence and Clarity of Objectives in Doctoral Projects

Abstract

Successful supervision of doctoral research is a defining feature and prerequisite to the survival of any research group within the academy. Within translation studies, unlike sociology for instance, relatively few scholars have acquired extensive experience in research supervision, and the discipline as a whole has so far paid little attention to examining the design of research projects at doctoral level. An attempt is made to address this gap by focusing on the design and coherence of doctoral research projects that involve the analysis of translation or interpreting data, drawing on concrete examples of current doctoral projects at the Centre for Translation and Intercultural Studies, University of Manchester. A broad overview of the UK context, in terms of increased monitoring and formalization of research training in recent years, is followed by a detailed discussion and exemplification of design issues in the initial stages of a doctoral project. The paper ends with an outline of a research design workshop for Year 1 and Year 2 students. Although equally valid in many other contexts, the workshop is designed within the context of doctoral study in the UK.