Being Bright Is Not Enough: The Unwritten Rules of Doctoral Study [Paperback]

Peggy Hawley Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1993 | ISBN-10: 0398058482 | ISBN-13: 978-0398058487

This particularly interesting book is written from a student advocacy perspective, intended to speak to non-traditional students as well as those typical of past generations. In making the unwritten rules of doctoral study more explicit, the author is insightful rather than scientific, personal rather than objective, and practical rather than theoretical. Hundreds of doctoral students (and many professors) provided the inspiration for a guide to pave the way for those recipients who will pursue and capture academe's highest award, the terminal degree in a particular field of study.

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The following excerpt is from the preface by the author....

Looking back on my academic career, one of the memories that brings me the most pleasure is a message that students used to pass along to one another, "If you've a problem, just go see Peggy Hawley."

My interest in students as individuals, and my interest in social science research in general, combined to provide the impetus for writing this book. Students inspired much of it; I interviewed hundreds of doctoral students (and many professors) on a sabbatical leave which gave me an opportunity to visit a wide variety of academic settings across the nation. Now as professor emeritus, I have finally found the time to put my thoughts into written form.

Written from a student advocacy perspective, this book is intended to speak to non-traditional students as well as those typical of past generations. Because of the large influx of women into graduate study, I have become very conscious of pronouns; instead of the awkward "he or she," I have occasionally alternated masculine and feminine pronouns.

In making the unwritten rules of doctoral study more explicit, I have attempted to be insightful rather than scientific, personal rather than objective, and practical rather than theoretical.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0398058482
• ISBN-13: 978-0398058487
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,115,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an important resource for doctoral students, October 16, 1999

By 

Elaine R. Parent "Elaine Parent, Ph.D." (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Being Bright Is Not Enough: The Unwritten Rules of Doctoral Study (Paperback)

This book should be on every university library shelf, just for starters. Written by a psychologist, who was also founder and former director of a joint two university doctoral program in Education, it is written in a warm, easy style and yet spells out in clear detail the unwritten rules of doctoral study. She states that her experience with hundreds of doctoral students as well as professors provided the inspiration for this valuable guide which is designed to help pave the way for doctoral students in any discipline. She makes explicit, in a knowing and straightforward way, the kinds of information that can make the difference in the feelings of confidence with which students can make their way through their doctoral experience. It deals with many of the 'nuts and bolts' of graduate study that many books present. However, it is her insightful knowledge about the role of personal relationships and how they effect student progression that puts the book in a special class.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides grad students with info they find nowhere else, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Being Bright Is Not Enough: The Unwritten Rules of Doctoral Study (Paperback)

This book includes more than technical assistance. It describes pursuit of a doctorate in the social sciences as an emotional journey. Most students fail, not for lack of intellectual ability, but for psychological reasons. This book describes relationships that help or hurt the student's quest. It is invaluable.

4.0 out of 5 stars Be Bright and Smart, November 27, 2011

By 

Edmund Delsol "The evANDgelist: say AND, do M... (Ajax, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Being Bright Is Not Enough: The Unwritten Rules of Doctoral Study (Paperback)

"Peggy Hawley knows," could be the simple interpretation of this advice guide for those in pursuit of the terminal degree.

I expect that, like me, many doctoral learners will approach this book with some hubris. After all, we got this far without Peggy looking over our shoulders and coaxing us on right? Motivation isn't something we lack; knowledge is something we have a lot of and thrive on acquiring. Therein lies the immense appeal of this book: the foreknowledge of things that may go badly.

That is never on our radar in a meaningful way--and a good thing too, otherwise we'd be a world of pessimists. However, it pays to know the pitfalls that have befallen many like you and me, who have been no less capable or motivated. The best laid plans of mice and wo/men are won't to go astray. If you're keen on knowledge then you should have the fundamental curiosity to know why?

The Dropout Phenomenon is a sobering look at the variety of challenges that reduce the completion rates of an already small pool (in relative terms). Beyond that Peggy provides an informed guide on how to proceed through the several stages toward earning your degree. It is not a monolithic task. A finely tuned understanding of the different elements--topic selection, chair, committee and you, writing the proposal, your dissertation and its defense, etc.--will lend insights that should help any student to optimize time and effort, and maximize results.

For me the lessons are doubly prescient as I attempt to stop my slide from Ed.D to ABD. The gremlins are lurking nearby.