Abstract

DIFABIO DE ANGLAT, Hilda. The Functions of Directors of Doctoral Theses in Education. RMIE [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.50, pp.935-959. ISSN 1405-6666.

This article analyzes the general and specific functions of directors of doctoral theses. General functions include the following tasks, which are defined and explained in the article: an initial, realistic evaluation of student needs, a pedagogical focus, clarification of expectations and limits, academic challenge and evaluation, knowledge management, frequent meetings, review of written work, immediate constructive feedback, notification of danger signs, promotion of access to culture of research, and acculturation in a community of practice. Specific functions involve the conceptual linguistic process of producing the thesis: project, definitive text, and defense. The final part of the article outlines two topics of importance that aim at the improvement of directors: the conceptions of research (of students as well as supervisors), and training directors.

Keywords : thesis directors; researcher training; graduate thesis; higher education; Argentina.