The Journey to Success in PhD: A Case of a Malaysian Social Science Student

Norhasni Zainal Abiddin, Shamsuddin Ahmad

Abstract


ABSTRAK: Pelajar Ph.D. perlu memikul tanggungjawab dalam menguruskan pembelajaran mereka untuk memperolehi Ph.D.. Mereka juga bertanggungjawab untuk menentukan apa yang diperlukan, di samping melaksanakannya, dan perlu sentiasa berhubung rapat dengan penyelia mereka. Para pelajar merupakan individu yang terpenting untuk kajian Ph.D. mereka. Pengajian peringkat Ph.D. menyatakan dengan jelas bahawa segala kerja penyelidikan adalah dilakukan oleh pelajar. Kajian asal telah dilakukan ke atas tiga pelajar Ph.D. dari Malaysia yang terdiri daripada tiga disiplin pengajian yang berbeza, iaitu sastera, sains dan sains sosial. Walau bagaimanapun, hanya satu kajian kes dengan menumpukan kepada pelajar sains sosial di dalam pengajian ini. Ini adalah kerana terlalu banyak petikan kata-kata yang perlu dibentangkan bagi membolehkan pemahaman yang lebih baik dicapai. Ianya juga akan menyebabkan perkara ini terlalu luas dan panjang jika tiga kajian kes dibentangkan di dalam artikel ini. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menyediakan panduan yang lebih baik dari segi peranan yang efektif untuk menjadi pelajar Ph.D. dalam bidang sains sosial, terutama sekali bagi pelajar dari luar negara. Hasilnya, kajian ini berjaya membentuk peranan yang lebih efektif untuk pelajar mencapai kejayaan dalam pengajian mereka.

Kata-kata kunci: pengajian di luar negara, program Ph.D., serta penyelidikan dan penyeliaan.

About the Authors: Norhasni Zainal Abiddin, Ph.D. is a Lecturer at the Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, UPM (Universiti Putra Malaysia). She was born in Taiping, Perak, Malaysia on July 5th, 1974. She earned her Ph.D. (Education) from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom in 2004. Her Ph.D. thesis was “Effective Supervision of Research Students: A Study of United Kingdom University Practices and Overseas Students’ Experiences”. For academic purposes, she can be reached at: Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. E-mail: nonie@ace.upm.edu.my Shamsuddin Ahmad, Ph.D. is also a Lecturer at the Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, UPM (Universiti Putra Malaysia). He was born in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia on February 7th, 1954. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia USA (United States of America) in 1995. His Ph.D. thesis was “Contextual Factors Associated with Evaluation Practices of Selected Continuing Education Providers in Malaysia”. For academic purposes, he can be contacted at: Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor D.E., Malaysia. E-mail: sham@ace.upm.edu.my

How to cite this article? Abiddin, Norhasni Zainal & Shamsuddin Ahmad. (2008).The Journey to Success in PhD: A Case of a Malaysian Social Science Student” in SOSIOHUMANIKA: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Vol.1, No.1 [Mei]. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press, UPI Bandung, and UMS Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, ISSN 1979-0112, pp.49-68.

Chronicle of the article: Accepted (March 11, 2008); Revised (April 16, 2008); and Published (May 20, 2008).


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