PostGrad Scholars

  • Home
  • PostGrad Scholars

PostGrad Scholars Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from PostGrad Scholars, Digital creator, .

My Responses to Common Assertions on Academic write ups Part 3**Assertion 9: You must acknowledge ALL teaching and non-t...
20/12/2023

My Responses to Common Assertions on Academic write ups Part 3
**Assertion 9: You must acknowledge ALL teaching and non-teaching staff in the department where you earn your degree. You must acknowledge your spouse if you're married, and if you have children, they must be acknowledged.**
*My View* Acknowledging individuals in a thesis is generally considered a personal choice rather than a strict academic requirement. While some may suggest acknowledging specific groups, such as teaching and non-teaching staff, spouse, and children, *there's no hard and fast rule* . Researchers should be encouraged to exercise their discretion in expressing gratitude, considering personal relationships and preferences rather than being forced as to who must be acknowledged. Departments and assessors may offer suggestions, leaving room for researchers to decide otherwise based on their individual circumstances. I once witnessed a beautiful work that was stepped down simply because the research student did not acknowledge the HOD, and very interestingly, another student's was stepped down because he did not acknowledge his supervisor. What do you think?

13/12/2023

My Responses to Common Assertions on Academic write ups Part 2

**Assertion 5: The background section of your thesis/dissertation should not have more than 10 citations.**
*My Response:* While citation quantity can vary, limiting the background section to a specific number of citations is not a strict rule. The key is ensuring that the citations are relevant, authoritative, and contribute substantively to your literature review. The focus should be on the quality of sources rather than a rigid citation count.

---

**Assertion 6: Your Likert scale tools should not have options such as not decided or not sure; the academic best practice is to force respondents to make a decision, agree or disagree.**
*My View:* The best practice for Likert scales may vary based on the research context. While forcing decisions can simplify analysis, allowing respondents to express uncertainty with options like "not decided" or "not sure" can provide valuable insights into the complexity of opinions. The choice depends on the specific goals and nature of the research.
So to me I don't think there's a hard and fast rule about this. But then, if there's is a specific guidelines against this, then, as I always ask, any harm in complying?
---

**Assertion 7: You must test hypotheses in your PG research thesis/dissertation as answering only research questions is for undergraduate research work.**
*My Response:* I do not like to argue, but I have a very strong opinion against this assertion. Yes, testing hypotheses is common in research, but it's not the use of hypothesis as against research questions that dictates the quality of a pg research work, ( I stand to be corrected please). To use research questions or hypotheses or both depends on the nature of the study. The choice between testing hypotheses and addressing research questions should align with the research objectives, methodology, and the depth of analysis required.

12/12/2023

I'd just concluded a hectic day, involving the usual academic exercise in the life of academics. I find it imperative to address certain assertions about academic writing that surfaced during the thought-provoking activities of the day. A couple of assertions, claims and cautions that touch upon nuances and misconceptions within the realm of academic writing came up, all of which had prompted me to share my views on some of the matter.

---

**Assertion 1: Do not begin your introduction with a quotation or a citation.**
*My Response:* This is not a strict rule but rather a matter of preference and style. Some writers may choose to start their introduction with a quotation to capture attention, while others may opt for their own words or a question. However, it's crucial to ensure that the quotation is relevant, accurately cited, and doesn't overshadow your voice or analysis. A quotation should complement your paper and not replace your original perspective.

---

**Assertion 2: Never cite a dictionary in your work; it's unacademic.**
*My Response:* This assertion is generally true, but there can be exceptions. Typically, citing a dictionary is discouraged as it lacks the depth and context found in scholarly sources. However, in specific cases, like exploring word etymology or using a specialized dictionary relevant to your topic, citing a dictionary may be acceptable. Still, it's advised to predominantly rely on more authoritative sources such as books, journals, or reputable websites to substantiate your arguments.

---

**Assertion 3: It's wrong to rely on an encyclopedia and not cite them in academic writeup.**
*My View:* This assertion is partly accurate and depends on the encyclopedia's type and quality. While encyclopedias are generally not comprehensive or detailed, there are situations where citing them is acceptable. For instance, when providing a general overview or background of a topic, or when using a reputable, specialized encyclopedia relevant to

*How To Use Generative AI To Cook Up A Storm In Research*. Hello, Do you like cook...
26/11/2023

*How To Use Generative AI To Cook Up A Storm In Research*.
Hello,
Do you like cooking? Do you like research? Do you have wanted to learn how to combine cooking and research in a delicious way🙉? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are in luck. I have a special treat for you today. I have watched a film that taught me a lot about generative AI and how it can help you in your research. The film is called *Ratatouille* , and it is about a rat that can cook like a master chef. He teams up with a human boy who works in a famous restaurant in Paris, and together they create amazing dishes that wow the customers and critics. The film is very entertaining and inspiring, but it also has a deeper message. It shows how generative AI can be a powerful tool for research, and how you can use it to create new and original outcomes and insights.Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new things by itself. It can write poems, stories, code, essays, songs, and many other things. It can even draw pictures for you. It is like the rat in the film, who can create new recipes and dishes based on existing ingredients and techniques. The human boy in the film is like a researcher, who uses the generative AI to produce new results and findings, but also needs to validate and improve them. The film shows how the rat and the boy work together to achieve their goals, and how they learn from each other. That is how generative AI can augment human research by providing new possibilities and perspectives, but it also needs human guidance and evaluation to ensure quality and ethics. Using generative AI for research is not cheating, but a smart way of using the power of data and computation to enhance human creativity and innovation.If you are interested in learning more about generative AI and how to use it for your research, then I have good news for you. We're creating expertise in this field,

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when PostGrad Scholars posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Claim ownership or report listing

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Share