Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an introduction to the nature of a research degree. It draws on research on the experiences of research students and emphasizes, in particular, the importance of the student-supervisor relationship. The book includes a number of personal accounts of postgraduate research by both students and supervisors. It discusses what examiners are looking for in a thesis. The book is concerned with using documentary sources in the social sciences. It highlights some of the more important issues one need to address in using documentary material. The book is also concerned with the sorts of ethical issues that are likely to confront research students. It points out much research in social science involves ethical questions, the answers to which are not always straightforward. The book also discusses the related issue of the relevance of equal opportunity considerations to research in the social sciences.