IDSR Qualifying Examination Dossier
Drafted September 2021
Purpose
The purpose of the IDSR PhD Qualifying Examination Dossier is for students to demonstrate to their supervisory committee and examining committee that they are prepared to begin dissertation work in interdisciplinary social research, by demonstrating their proficiency and familiarity with a rich scholarly body of literature related to the problem of study (to be defined by the supervisory committee), and methodological competencies (knowledge and skills) necessary for undertaking research at the doctoral level. The qualifying examination dossier is to developed in alignment with the vision and mission of the IDSR PhD as articulated in the program logic model.
Format
IDSR PhD Students will develop a qualifying dossier which includes:
An introductory statement, and;
3 scholarly components that demonstrate the student’s capacity as an interdisciplinary scholar:
Interdisciplinary scholarship component(s): Examples may include: research and scholarly paper(s) submitted for publication1; synthesis of key bodies of literature, demonstrating breadth and depth of knowledge related to the problem of study; fulsome and detailed databases of literature under review (including authors, year, n, method, findings summary and key quotes, etc.).
Research into action component: Examples may include documentation of: MITACS or other research internship/placement, knowledge mobilization initiatives, community outreach, community action projects, symposium or conference organization/leadership, series of reflections on research activity, art/creative research products and their dissemination.
Dissertation research proposal component: A dissertation research proposal is a required element of the qualifying examination dossier. Appendix B offers guidelines for the structure of the dissertation proposal.
NB: Examples of components for each category are offered for illustrative purposes. These suggestions are not exhaustive, and they are not intended to limit innovation or creativity, which are exciting elements of interdisciplinary social research.
1 Papers that have been submitted for publication and are included for evaluation in the qualifying examination dossier may be derived from coursework assignments, so long as, in the assessment of the examining committee, the submitted paper is sufficiently revised and developed from the originally submitted course assignment.