(03-06-2012, 11:19 PM)ham Wrote:Quote:A key tenet to the validity of a degree program and school at the doctoral level is that the work of its faculty and staff are accepted into the academic literature in order to make their contributions to it. That doesn't seem to be the case here.
Also, I note your comment about the "diss" being worthy of a doctorate. Do you happen to hold a doctorate in this person's field? Or one at all? I'm just wondering where you draw your expertise in such matters, especially since the original thesis (not "diss") was not accepted and published as one. It would be helpful to understand your credentials in this matter. (And since you use a pseudonym on this board, please feel free to hold back any personally identifying information.)
Why, does every member on ANY dissertation committee hold established expertise in the field? Hmm...not where I studied (all accredited); only one university mandated that the EXTERNAL MEMBER(s) of the jury HAD to be chosen according to relevant expertise in that given field, but the committee had the last word over who qualified.
Quote:the work of its faculty and staff are accepted into the academic literature in order to make their contributions to it. That doesn't seem to be the case here
You mean the scholarly corpus of global warming, mexican flu and race hoaxes?
You know as well as I do that's claptrap like the Rotary club...rotarians certainly aren't bums, but not everything that shines is gold.
I would expect all members of an examining board (not the student's committee, but at the viva) to have the expertise necessary to examine and judge the student's work. Thus, making comments about the quality and worthiness of this person's work should also be backed up by such qualifications--qualifications of subject matter to judge the worthiness of the conclusions and qualifications regarding methodology to judge the dissertation's structure, process, and form. The writer of the opinion may have one, the other, both, or none. Hence, the question.
As for questioning the value of academe, fine. But if that body (scholars) are not to be taken seriously, would not an attempt to join them be even less worthy of praise beyond the criticisms of the work, process, and school issuing the degree? Faking one's way into a club is one thing, but isn't faking one's way into a club not worthy of membership even worse?
(03-07-2012, 12:38 AM)Ben Johnson Wrote:(03-06-2012, 10:06 AM)Really? Wrote: Also, I note your comment about the "diss" being worthy of a doctorate. Do you happen to hold a doctorate in this person's field? Or one at all? I'm just wondering where you draw your expertise in such matters, especially since the original thesis (not "diss") was not accepted and published as one. It would be helpful to understand your credentials in this matter. (And since you use a pseudonym on this board, please feel free to hold back any personally identifying information.)
You seriously need to see a surgeon to have your nose detached from Bear's ass. I am not sure of your distinction between dissertation and thesis, there is none other than geographical. My good friend, Dr. Douglas, received a doctorate from the Union Institute and U. and I don't believe any of his committee had a degree in his field.
In the UK, for example, a dissertation is performed by an undergraduate. The doctoral candidate prepares a thesis. The opposite is true in the U.S.
Normally, I would caution against relying on anecdotal evidence to make broad conclusions. But since you have offered one, if your anecdote is false, does that defeat your argument? (Careful....)