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The Doctoral Dissertation: Observations, Perspectives, Protean Nature?, Jean-Pierre Herubel

2019 Symposium on Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissertations represent different doctoral cultures as well as artifacts of research achievement. Beyond general contours identifiable as contribution to knowledge, the dissertation is as much symbol as acculturation within disciplinary cultures. Each dissertation represents training, discovery, unique contribution, as well as the acculturative properties inherent to the dissertation’s liminal process and raison d'être. This exploratory presentation challenges us to consider what the dissertation is and how it may vary in purpose and form.

Closing keynote address at the Symposium on Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) at Purdue University on May 23, 2019.