Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: a handbook for Supervisors

Representation of the researcher (with special
reference to qualitative research)
Academic writing is typically viewed as largely depersonalized. Textbooks tell
students that for scientific writing to be objective, it should be impersonal and
use the passive voice – thus removing or reducing the presence of the researcher
in the text. However, in qualitative research the researcher’s role is fundamen-
tally reconsidered as he or she is no longer required to be an ‘objective’ and
detached researcher. Writing accounts of qualitative research can prove chal-
lenging for student writers in this regard as they work out how to ‘present’ their
role in the research in the written text. It is vital that thesis writers persuade
their examiners that they understand the role of the qualitative researcher
(Rudestam and Newton 2001). The extract in Box 8.12 clearly shows the
writer’s awareness of the need to make her methodological position explicit.
We find that one of the most frequently asked questions is whether the
thesis writer can use the ‘first person singular’ (i.e. use ‘I’). The quickest
answer is usually ‘it depends’ which, while largely accurate, is, of course, not
entirely satisfactory. The response we usually give students in our classes is
Writing the Methodology chapter
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Writing the Methodology chapter
that the conventions of the discipline and/or the approach chosen shape the
choices available to the researcher as writer as to how they present themselves
in the written text. This may be an area that the supervisor as an accom-
plished writer in a particular discipline may not be consciously aware of. We
suggest an explicit discussion with the student on this issue as it is often of