Pragmatist supervision of doctoral writers

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present pragmatism as a useful way for supervisors to help their research students become effective research writers.

Design/methodology/approach

I first provide a brief overview of pragmatism, paying special attention to key figures such as John Dewey and Richard Rorty. Second, I suggest ways in which pragmatist supervisors might help research students improve as research writers by focusing on a set of issues including developing an andragogical relationship, adopting a pragmatist approach to ethics and discussing writing styles.

Findings

Pragmatism is not offered as an approach which must necessarily be adopted by supervisors but, rather, as a useful set of resources for them to use as they try to help doctoral students develop as thesis/research writers.

Originality/value

Pragmatism is rarely, if ever, discussed as a potentially fruitful and valuable way of helping students develop as doctoral writers.

Citation

Badley, G. (2014), "Pragmatist supervision of doctoral writers", Quality Assurance in Education, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 384-396. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-06-2013-0027