Guide: Exposé for doctoral studies

academic wrting advisory service / doctoral studies programme

Index

1 A guide to writing your PhD thesis research exposé

1.1 The aim and purpose of the research exposé (and this guide)

• Clarification: It helps to structure and focus your project.
• Planning: It serves as a guide and roadmap for the project.
• Communication: It provides a framework for feedback discussions with your supervisor.
• Profiling: You can use it to apply for funding or a scholarship, or to present your project.

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1.2 The key features of a PhD exposé

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2 Content of the PhD Research Exposé

Information about the applicant and supervisor

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2.2 A brief description of the project

• Field of study
• Statement of the topic in no more than 5 lines
• A brief summary of the project in no more than 15 lines
• If the doctoral project is part of a (third-party funded) project, please also briefly describe the overall project.

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2.3 Detailed description of the project

2.3.1 Overview: What is presented in the exposé?

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2.3.2 Topic

A research topic rarely emerges from nowhere. It is developed from questions, curiosities, and observations, from theoretical readings, methodological problems or social/political issues. What motivated your project? What problem do you want to investigate, or what phenomenon do you want to explore? What specific topic and research interest have you identified?

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2.3.3 State of research and research gap

A well-written research literature review is more than just a summary. It provides systematic support for your own research goals and highlights the academic relevance of your project by showing that you are familiar with the relevant discussions and that you intend to make a specific contribution to them.

In the state of research, show that you have engaged with relevant academic studies, theories, debates, and findings in a comprehensive and structured way. Organize the literature on your topic in a systematic way so that it relates directly to your project. The aim is to critically reflect on the existing state of research and to identify key points of reference for your own work.

Based on this, identify a research gap or a specific need for research. This does not necessarily have to be a complete absence of research. A research need may be identified if a topic has only been studied to a limited extent so far, certain aspects could be explored in greater depth, a methodological or theoretical approach has not yet been applied, or existing studies suggest new perspectives or updates.

The key question is: What is missing from the academic discussion so far, and how can research in this field contribute, expand upon, or explore these topics in greater depth? Answering this question will help you define the objectives and contribution of your project.

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2.3.4 Objectives and Contribution to Research

Show how your research contributes to an identified research gap or addresses an identified research need. Describe the objective of your project and explain how it contributes to, builds on, or challenges existing research. How does your project add to the existing body of knowledge in your field?

While the precise outcomes of your research will remain ambiguous until the completion of your research, it is important to explain what you are trying to achieve and what contribution you are aiming to make. For example, this can be in the form of:

• new empirical data or case studies,
• innovative methodological approaches,
• theoretical developments or changes in perspective,
• thematic deepening or expansion,
• critical reflection on existing assumptions.

It is key to state the goal not only as a research objective, but also as a valuable contribution to the field.

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2.3.5 Research Question

Clearly and comprehensively state the central research question. The extent to which the question needs to be finalized at the beginning versus refined over the course of the research depends largely on your approach.

The central research question may lead to sub-questions that help you explore different aspects of your topic step by step. State these as clearly as possible at this stage.

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2.3.6 Methods and Materials

The exposé should outline both what will be researched and how it will be done. Demonstrate that your methodological approach is realistic and feasible, and indicate areas that could be refined.

• Methodological Approach: Describe and support the methodology of your research project. Are you working qualitatively? Are you working quantitatively? Are you working with a mixed-methods approach? Why is this choice particularly suitable for your research question and objectives? How does your approach relate to your theoretical perspective? If you plan to combine or further develop methods, describe your plan and explain your rationale.
• Data Collection and Data Analysis: What specific methods of data collection and analysis are used? Why are these methods suitable for addressing your research question? Briefly list any software programs used (e.g., MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, R, Stata, SPSS, or Python).
• Case Selection and Sampling: Describe how you select cases, individuals, or research units. What sampling strategy is used to make your selection (e.g., theoretical sampling, random selection, targeted selection using specific criteria)? Briefly explain why this selection is appropriate and useful for your study.
• Data: What data or materials will you examine using the chosen methods? Which do you generate yourself (e.g., interviews, observations, surveys), and which are already available or accessible to you? State why this data is relevant to your research and what insights it offers.
• Access to the Field: : How will you gain access to the field and establish contact with the relevant people, groups, and institutions? What has already been organized or agreed upon, and what details still need to be worked out? Address potential ethical considerations related to your research, such as consent, data protection, and sensitive content.
• Standards of Quality and Reflexivity: Which quality standards are relevant to your research, such as transparency, intersubjectivity, validity, reliability, reflexivity? How will you ensure that these standards are met? If applicable, consider your role in the research process, especially in qualitative designs.
• Challenges:What difficulties or uncertainties are you seeing at this point, and how might you address them?
• Originality: If applicable, highlight the originality of your methodological approach. Is your approach particularly innovative or promising due to its combination of methods, application to a new field, or further development of existing methods?

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2.3.7 Theoretical Framework

Describe the theoretical perspectives that guide your scientific thinking. Explain how they function as analytical tools, interpretive frameworks, or starting points for further development. Describe the concepts you use and explain how they relate to each other and to the epistemological or knowledge-generating process of your research project.

• Theoretical Background: Describe the fundamental theoretical framework of your research project. Explain the basic theoretical assumptions on which you are building and the perspectives you are taking.
• Theories and Concepts: Describe the specific theories, concepts, or models that you will work with. If there are multiple approaches, explain how they complement or contrast with each other and why this combination is useful for your project. Clarify how the theoretical components contribute to addressing your research question, as well as how they relate to specific sub-questions or aspects of your topic.
• Purpose: Reflect on the purpose of theory in your project, as well as its function in the research process. In quantitative designs, theory often serves to develop or derive hypotheses. In qualitative research designs, theory may serve as a framework for interpretation or be developed through dialogue with empirical data.
• Originality: : Emphasize the originality of your theoretical approach, if possible. Is your theoretical perspective unusual, innovative, or particularly promising in this field of research? Does your project contribute to the further development of existing theoretical approaches? Are you applying analytical concepts or theories in a new context, questioning them critically, or expanding them?

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2.3.8 Preliminary Work

Your doctoral research does not start from scratch. Even if your project is groundbreaking, you can draw on your experience, knowledge, and preparatory work. In this section, outline the work that precedes your project and explain how it contributes to its thematic, theoretical, or methodological foundation.

The goal is not to impress, but rather to demonstrate that your project is based on a solid foundation. What matters is not how big or noticeable the preliminary work is, but how relevant it is to your planned project. Your preliminary work can be both formal and informal. Clearly explain how it relates to your dissertation project. Specific, concise examples are more convincing than a long list with no apparent connection.

Here is an expandable list of possible preliminary work:

• Theses: Theses at the BA or MA level that are relevant to the themes, theories, or methods presented.
• Coursework: Term papers, essays, literature reviews, and overview papers that are particularly relevant.
• Research experience: Participation in a student research project or involvement in other research projects.
• Publications and presentations: Early publications, conference attendance, poster presentations, contributions to colloquia or lecture series, etc.
• Methodological experience: Application of qualitative or quantitative methods; workshops; summer schools; methodological training; software skills (e.g., MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, R, Stata, SPSS, Python); and working with data sets.
• Preliminary surveys: Early exploratory interviews, observations, pre-tests, surveys, initial statistical analyses, and data that has already been reviewed.
• Field access: Through internships, volunteer work, professional activities, contacts with organizations, networks, or communities; informal discussions with experts, field visits, background discussions, approvals and agreements.

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2.3.9 Project Plan and Timeline

A PhD project requires not only a good idea but also sound planning. A realistic timeline demonstrates that your project is well-founded and practically feasible. It helps you break down the research process into manageable steps and makes your progress visible.

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2.3.10 Bibliography

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2.4 Text Composition Advice

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3 The exposé is a space for thought, ideas and considerations

“A exposé is a planning aid. It is not a dogma. You can continuously improve your concept while working on your dissertation. However, you should not completely discard your plan twice a year. Doubt is a classic side effect of writing a dissertation. And stay optimistic: refine your concept, make it more concrete—but don't throw it out completely.” (Franck 2021, p. 29. translated)

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4 Literature & Tips

4.1 References

• Franck, Norbert (2021): Das Promotionshandbuch. Die Doktorarbeit erfolgreich schreiben, verteidigen und präsentieren, 2. Aufl., Stuttgart: UTB.
  Volltext digital über die SUB verfügbar
• Schöneck, Nadine M./Wenzelburger, Georg/Wolf, Frieder (2012): Promotionsratgeber Soziologie. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
  Volltext digital über die SUB verfügbar

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4.2 Further reading

• Bolker, Joan (1998): Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day. A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis. New York: H. Holt.
• Rienecker, Lotte/Jørgensen, Peter (2013): The Good Paper. A Handbook for Writing Papers in Higher Education. Frederiksberg: Samfundslitt.
• Thomson, Pat/Kamler, Barbara (2016): Detox Your Writing. Strategies for Doctoral Researchers. London/New York: Routlege.
• Wergen, Jutta (2019): Promotionsplanung und Exposee. Die ersten Schritte auf dem Weg zur Dissertation. 3. Auflage. Opladen: Verlag Barbara Budrich.
• Wymann, Christian (2021): Der Schreibzeitplan: Zeitmanagement für Schreibende, 2. Auflage. Opladen: Verlag Barbara Budrich.

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4.3 Blogs and websites

• Patter
• The Dissertation Coach
• Scriptoria
• Manchester Academic Phrasebank

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4.4 Consulting and workshop offerings

• Academic wrting advisory service (Faculty of Social Sciences)
  Uta Scheer | Valerie Bleisteiner | schreibberatung@sowi.uni-goettingen.de
  Website
• Göttinger Graduiertenschule Gesellschaftswissenschaften (GGG)
  Website
  Workshop offerings

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Contact