ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns the doctoral attributes sought by examiners and the influence of professional and personal characteristics in the judgement. It is based on partial findings from my doctoral thesis (Houston, 2018). The chapter focuses on data that enabled development of a comparative typology of the attributes examiners said they were seeking. I suggest that these attributes are not only research-specific but also include professional and personal characteristics, and that they all contribute to the judgement, even if originality and publishability are initially prioritized. The interdependence of the attributes indicates that the candidate’s overall profile is important in evidencing ‘doctorateness’.
