UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLIDE.T.S. de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación

MIN 2011 27 de octubre de 2011

Life Cycle of PhD Theses.A comparative study.

Javier Royuela del ValJavier Gamarra Cristina Martin Palazuelo

Life Cycle of PhD Theses. A Comparative Study.MIN 2011 27/10/2011 2 / 10

Outline

1. Introduction

2. Research question

3. Hypotesis

4. Evaluation method

5. Validation

6. Conclusions

7. References

Life Cycle of PhD Theses. A Comparative Study.MIN 2011 27/10/2011 3 / 10

Introduction

• PhD Thesis constitutes the final step to become an investigator.

• Long and difficult process.

• ICT Thesis have some special characteristics.

– Science <-> Engineering --- Investigation <-> Development

– Quickly changing. Dynamic.

• Choosing the topic of interest is one of the most important decisions for a student.

• Research groups look for talented students and recruit them.

• Most of PhD theses are elaborated in investigation groups.

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Research Question

To what extent do investigation groups influence the PhD student?

•We will address influences in two major stages of thesis development:

– Student introduction to investigation. Choice of field.– Elaboration of the thesis itself.– Future work. Career.

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Hypotesis

• Research groups largely determine the course of the thesis.– Main topic / Investigation field.– Application.– Methodology.– Some periods in the life of the researcher contribute more to the value

of the thesis (teaching period, reseach stays).– Future career is heavily influenced by the closeness of other researchers.

• Environment and economic constraints can be a factor of influence, too.

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Evaluation method

• Qualitative evaluation method based on two cases studies (2 theses).– “A pattern-based design process for the creation of CSCL macro-

scripts computationally represented with IMS LD” by Davinia Hernández.

– “ART neural architectures for pattern recognition and function approximation” by Eduardo Gómez.

• Chosen because the topics/methodology are different, and previous knowledge of Gomez’s work.

• Relationship of doctoring students with their investigation group and environment is analyzed at each thesis stage.

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• Both authors worked at GSIC/EMIC before publishing the thesis.– They focused (and continue) their late investigations in

educational research.

• Both authors worked as associate professors in the University of Valladolid (Uva).

• Hernández’s thesis is highly influenced by her research stay at the Educational Technology Expertise Centre (OTEC).

Results

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Results

• Gomez’s and Hernandez’s thesis is based on previous work of other GSIC members.

• Both authors have a lot of cites and references pointing to GSIC work.

• Future work in influenced by the closeness of other researchers.

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Conclusions

• Research groups are highly influencial in the thesis and guide future work.

• Being in a research group acts like a ‘self perpetuating circle’.

• Closeness and ‘friendship’ with other investigators are key factors.

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Future work

• Measuring influence (more study cases and quantitative research).

• Application of theories in Sociology of science.

• Do research groups constrain creativity?

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References

• D. Crane, "Social structure in a group of scientists: A test of the" invisible college" hypothesis," Am. Sociol. Rev., pp. 335-352, 1969.

• P. J. Denning, "Is computer science science?" Commun ACM, vol. 48, pp. 27-31, 2005.• U. Eco, Como Se Hace Una Tesis. Gedisa, 1997.• G. Dodig-Crnkovic, "Scientific methods in computer science," in Proceedings of the

Conference for the Promotion of Research in IT at New Universities and at University Colleges in Sweden, Skövde, Suecia, 2002, .

• G. Génova, "Is computer science truly scientific?“ Commun ACM, vol. 53, pp. 37, 2010.• E. Gómez, "Arquitecturas neuronales ART para el reconocimiento de patrones y la

aproximación de funciones,“ ETSIT, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, 2000.• GSIC-EMIC investigation group. Homepage. http://www.gsic.uva.es, octubre, 2011.• D. Hernández-Leo, "A pattern-based design process for the creation of CSCL macro-

scripts computationally represented with IMS LD," ETSIT, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, 2007.

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References

• D. Hernández, "Publicaciones por Davinia Hernández,“ http://daviniahl.wordpress.com/about/ , octubre,2011.

• D. Hernández, "GSIC / EMIC Group and towards my doctoral thesis," http://dspace.ou.nl/bitstream/1820/621/1/davinia@otec_15may06.pdf, 2007.

• K. D. Knorr, R. Mittermeir, G. Aichholzer and G. Waller, "Leadership and group performance: a positive relationship in academic research units," Op.Cit, pp. 95-120, 1979.

• Varios Autores, "Sociology of scientific knowledge,“ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_scientific_knowledge, October, 2011

UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLIDE.T.S. de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación

MIN 2011 27 de octubre de 2011

Life Cycle of PhD Theses. A comparative study.

Javier Royuela del ValJavier Gamarra Cristina Martin Palazuelo