How to Write Health Sciences Papers, Dissertations and Theses

A u t h o r : S h a n e A T h o m a s , Ph D. I have just completed the considerable task of preparing a doctoral thesis for assessment. Shane Thomas' pocket-sized How to book was invaluable. Thomas is an experienced academic, based in Melbourne. He has qualifications in social science, public policy, and research. He holds adjunctive professorial or research fellow appointments at four universities, and is engaged in the training of health science professionals as well as in the supervision of research students. His experience and expertise in evident in his writing, yet he seems to recall what it felt like to be a postgraduate student-often isolated, sometimes bewildered. The life of a postgraduate student can be lonely, particularly if undertaking a research degree. The need to conceive original research and contribute to knowledge necessitates that, largely, students work alone, and on projects few other people understand. A good supervisor or two can be immensely supportive and family and friends who stay the distance alongside a research student truly deserve the accolades heaped upon them from the acknowledgements page of a thesis. Thomas' book does much to dispel the sense of isolation. It is written in a conversational, sometimes colloquial style and will make comparatively light reading for any postgraduate student accustomed to ploughing through textbooks or academic journals. Thomas' book reads more like a good chat with a supervisor than an instruction manual. It's really useful in those moments when you'd like to pick your supervisor's brain about xyz, but unfortunately, he's at a conference in Sweden! How to… is a most appropriate title. This book is clear and necessarily directive. It will meet the needs of most health science students, writing in most forms. Thomas gives sound instruction about what belongs in each section of a health science thesis, and includes a checklist at the end of the book. Even the highly disorganised student can probably manage to get all the bits of a thesis in the right places by following Thomas' lead. Some interesting and useful asides are included in this book. I found myself tempted to make Chapter 2: Supervision and the chances of success compulsory reading for all research students at the university where I am employed. If I had my way, they'd read it before enrolment! Throughout the book, Thomas makes suggestions as to how …