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Realization of scientific research

Course developer

Course abstract

The aim of the study course is to prepare the doctoral student for formulating and presenting the main part of the doctoral thesis, as well as for defending the guidelines of the thesis in discussions.
As part of the course, doctoral students focus in depth on developing the skills of sequentially conducting, structuring and presenting their research. The doctoral thesis is created by following the development of the research topic on a global scale, analyzing the scientific literature of various types, carrying out a critical analysis of it, arriving at a justified presentation of the research problem and defining the novelty elements of the research.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

As a result of studying the study course, students:
• knows about the state of development of the research direction and the predicted perspectives;
• can analyze the research direction and related scientific literature and critically evaluate the validity of various scientific findings, assess the place of their research in the scientific space;

• is able to independently summarize and analyze the scientific processes taking place in the direction of research on a global scale, structure and present their research, as well as defend it in discussions.

Course Content(Calendar)

The study course is presented to each doctoral student individually under the supervision of the scientific supervisor of the doctoral thesis:
1. Analysis of the state of research of the planned doctoral thesis topic at the world level and in Latvia by critically analyzing both educational and scientific literature. Analysis of doctoral theses of other authors. Formulation of the goal and potential tasks of the scientific work, formulation of the research hypothesis. Critical analysis and reasoned defense of goals and objectives. Comparative analysis of different approaches to setting research goals and tasks - 10 h
2. Types of doctoral theses (dissertation, thematically unified set of scientific publications and peer-reviewed scientific book). Suitability of a specific research for different types of doctoral thesis – 6 h
3. Possibilities of using computer technologies in the realization of scientific research. Mathematical formalization of the research – 6 h
4. Planning your research program: detailed development and reasoning of the necessary measures. Development of the research calendar plan – 4 h
5. Analysis of research methods appropriate to the research direction. Analysis of the skills required to perform research tasks and identification of missing skills. Analysis of software products related to the research direction. Evaluation of the results of the first experimental part for testing the selected research methods – 8 h
6. Creation of work annotation. The introductory section of the doctoral thesis, the information contained in it - 6 h
7. Creation of the theoretical department of work. Characterization of the state of science in the chosen research direction with a list of used literature sources. Characteristics of the leading scientific deviations and their development forecasts - 16 h
8. Publication of the results of the doctoral work. Proceedings of conferences and peer-reviewed scientific periodicals. Scientific databases and information search. Accelerated publication on the Internet - 16 h
9. Conclusions on the performed scientific work. Connection of the conclusions with the set tasks and goals. Basic principles of the development of the conclusion section of the work - 6 h
10. Researching issues related to the design and submission of the doctoral thesis. Analysis of the relevant regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers and other legislative acts - 6 h
11. Creation of a summary of the thesis - 6 h

12. Doctoral student's communication with the Doctoral Council and the reviewers of the scientific work – 6 h

Requirements for awarding credit points

The doctoral student has fully developed the introductory part of his doctoral thesis, defined and mastered his research methods, studied the special scientific literature and developed the theoretical part of the thesis. The doctoral student has performed and evaluated at least part of the experimental work. The justification of the objectives, tasks and novelty of the doctoral thesis has been developed.
The developed part of the doctoral thesis should be submitted to the head of the doctoral study program of the faculty and to the examination committee after the acceptance of the scientific supervisor, and should be presented in the examination procedure.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The studies are conducted under the supervision of the scientific supervisor of the doctoral thesis. Processing of overdue papers is coordinated with the scientific supervisor of the doctoral thesis.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The doctoral student presents the entire developed part of the doctoral thesis to the examination committee in 20 minutes. The commission also hears the opinion of the scientific supervisor and the opinion of at least one reviewer appointed by the examination commission.

Compulsory reading

1. Brause R.S. Writing your Doctoral Dissertaion. Invisible Rules for Success. New York: Taylor and Francis, 2000. 163 p.
2. Wisker G. The Good Supervisor: Supervising Postgraduate and Undergraduate Research for Doctoral Theses and Dissertations. Basingstoke, Hampshire; New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. 392 p.
3. Bloomberg L.D., Volpe M.F. Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation: A Roadmap From Beginning to End. Sage Publications Inc., 2008. 264 p.

4. Machi L.A. The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success. Corwin Press, 2008. 184 p.

Further reading

1. Day R.A., Gastel B. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, Greenwood, 2011, 300 p.

2. Hofmann A.H. Scientific Wtriting and Communivcation: Papers, Proposals and Presentations, Oxford University Press, 2009, 704 p.

Notes

Compulsory study course for students of the ITF doctoral study program "Information Technologies": special course of the research direction.