Qualifying Examination Social and Behavioural Health Sciences (SBHS)

Overview

The overall guidelines for the Qualifying Exam for all Social and Behavioural Health Science (SBHS) students is described in this document, along with the processes unique to Health and Behavioural Science (HBS) and Social Science and Health (SSH) specializations.

Principles

• The Qualifying Exam is tailored to the student’s dissertation research with the guidance of an examination committee led by the student’s supervisor.
• Given the individualized nature of the Qualifying Exam, different emphasis will be placed on theory, substantive or methodological approaches for each student, depending on the area of specialization. SSH students will focus on social science theory, while those in HBS are expected to demonstrate methodological expertise as well.
• The final paper should contribute to the final thesis proposal, but does not replace it.
• The paper should demonstrate the student’s scholarly independence, as well as clarity of thought and writing; ability to synthesize the literature; creativity; analytic and interpretative abilities; innovation; focus; thoroughness; and organization.

Purpose

The Qualifying Exam will:

• Assess the student’s intellectual abilities and suitability for continuing doctoral studies;
• Prepare the student for the dissertation by providing him/her the opportunity to examine, contextualize and synthesize relevant scholarly material in his/her respective specialization; and
• Enable the student to develop expertise in preparation for a research and teaching career.

HBS Specific

This Qualifying Exam paper requires the candidate to contextualize the theory and method relevant to a public health issue selected by her/him, to develop a focus or research question, and to provide a critical analysis of theoretical and methodological materials relevant to it.

Once the outline has been approved by the supervisor and the thesis committee (see below), the student is expected to work independently to produce the final written paper for examination.

Elements to be included in the paper are listed below:

• An introduction will provide a clear statement of the issue, policy or problem area which the candidate plans to examine. The introduction provides an overview of the selected topic along with a statement of the rationale for pursing the topic of interest.
• The paper will provide a concise statement of the focus within which the issue, policy or problem will be examined. It will include the specific dimensions, parameters, or factors which will be included in the critical analysis of the literature.
• The paper will provide an analysis of major research literature which relates to the topic of interest chosen by the candidate. This will include the search strategy used to identify the literature, and rationale for the use of the literature that is included in the analysis. Also, there will be an indication of areas of research literature that are excluded and why.
• The paper will provide an exploration of the theoretical perspectives from which the topic can be considered. It will situate the main theoretical perspectives within the broader domain of theories and will indicate what is to be excluded from the critical analysis and reasons for exclusion.
• The paper will reflect upon several possible methods and methodologies that may be applied to the broad topic area. It will provide an analysis of the value and contribution of different methods.
• The paper will propose a number of feasible study questions, which might be undertaken in future study, and that arise from the broad consideration of the topic gained through the literature review, theories and methodologies.
• In the paper the student will select a specific question that appears to be promising and provide a rationale for the selection of this and an appropriate methodology.
• The paper will include a full bibliography.
• The paper will be double-spaced and will be about 50 pages excluding the bibliography.

Timeline:

• Normally the Qualifying Exam takes place after all course work has been completed and prior to the beginning of thesis work.
• The preparation for the exam should be initiated no later then 18 months after entry into the PhD program and be completed by no later than 24 months from the program start.
• It is expected that students will complete the process (preparation and outline, written paper, and oral examination) within a 3-6 month period.
• Flex-time students must submit a program schedule, which is negotiated with the Supervisor and Program Director. The student must notify the Program Director at least 6 months in advance of his/her intention to write the exam.
• Failure to complete the Qualifying Exam within the expected time frame could jeopardize a student’s academic standing.

Examination Preparation:

Each student is encouraged to form a thesis committee within the first 12 months of registration in the PhD program. The thesis committee will have an active role in defining the nature and scope of the examination. The student’s Supervisor has a key role in the qualifying examination.

The required core theory courses are the starting points for the preparation of the Qualifying Exam. These courses outline the general scope of the field. However students are expected to integrate this material with that from other relevant theoretical, substantive and methodological course work and independent study. It is expected that each student will devote three to six months of focused study, above and beyond course work, to prepare for and write the exam.

Since development of the student’s capacity to define and analyze theoretical and substantive areas, as well as relevant methodical approaches, is one of the purposes of the Qualifying Exam, students will develop their own reading list, in consultation with their supervisory committee. This will evolve as the student researches and writes the Qualifying Exam paper. Students are expected to establish their own framework(s) for classifying and analyzing types of theoretical approaches and areas of application. The ability to do this is considered to be a critical competence of a PhD graduate from this program.

Evaluation is based on a written paper and oral examination of the paper. The paper treats the broader theoretical, substantive and/or methodological issues, which will shape the focus and context of the student’s research activities in the remainder of the program.

Steps in Preparing the Qualifying Exam Include:

• An outline of the paper (maximum of 10 pages and references), to be approved by the student’s thesis committee, prior to proceeding with the writing of the final paper.
  • The supervisor shall inform the Program Director and submit a signed and dated copy of the outline to the student’s file in the Graduate Office
• A final written paper should be about 50 pages in length (plus a bibliography/references and appendices if relevant)
• An oral examination to be held 1-2 weeks after the submission of the paper.
  It is approximately 1.5 hours, beginning with a 15-20 minute presentation by the student.

Examination:

The examination committee is composed of three voting faculty plus the other (non-voting) thesis committee members.

• Program Director or designate – one vote
  Generally serves as chair of the oral examination.
• Supervisor – one vote
• External Examiner – one vote
  Identified by the Program Director in consultation with the supervisor and the student, the examiner should be a member of PHS graduate faculty who is not directly involved in the student’s work and can be considered to be at arms length. He/she could also be a member of graduate faculty from another department at U of T who will not serve on the candidate’s final thesis examination.
• Non-voting:
  Other supervisory committee members
  Additional non-voting members may be added should the program director and supervisor consider it necessary to augment the committee.

Outcomes/Evaluation:

• The decision of the committee is by simple majority, two of three votes will be considered a pass.
• The student will be informed of the decision at the end of the oral examination.
• The Chair of the committee will complete a form indicating the decision of the examination, indicate improvements that are required, and in the case of failure, provide an explanation.

Possible outcomes for the QUALIFYING EXAM:

• “Pass with no revisions”
• “Pass with revisions” – student has one month to make the necessary changes
• “Fail”- student must re-sit the examination within 3 months
  • At the time of examination the examining committee may provide an additional 3 month extension if deemed appropriate.
  • The same faculty members should be present at the reexamination.
• If the student receives a second fail he/she must leave the program.
   

SSH Specific

Expectations

In general, students are expected to demonstrate their ability to:

• Identify the major social science theories and theorists, and describe and understand their basic frameworks;
  Integrate across theoretical perspectives, including identification of the generic, essential features of different theoretical perspectives;
• Identify common theoretical underpinnings across different substantive topic areas;
• Apply social science theory to health issues; Critique social science theories and their application to health;
• Take an ‘externalist’ analytic stance towards social science theory and its applications; and
• Recognize and articulate a personal stance vis-à-vis various theoretical positions, a stance that is grounded in a thorough knowledge of the theoretical alternatives.

In relation to their dissertation topics, students are expected to demonstrate their ability to:

• Identify the key theoretical perspectives that have been taken on their topics in the conceptual and empirical literature (i.e., analyze what theoretical approaches have been and are being taken on a topic; for example, if the topic were “mental illness in the workplace,” one key approach might be the “experience of chronic illness” framed within symbolic interactionism);
• Identify other perspectives that might be brought to bear on their topics (e.g., how would mental illness in the workplace be framed within alternative theoretical positions, such as institutional ethnography, Foucauldian, political economy, or Bourdieusian); and
• Articulate a preferred perspective on the topic area (e.g., argue for approaching the experience of mental illness at work less in terms of local social interaction and more in terms of structural/political forces – such as how experience is governed by forms of institutional management of employee health, the role of insurance, etc.).
• This exercise will demonstrate that the student grasps the broad theoretical positions that can be taken to topics in health, and how they can be used to frame and inform their own particular research topics.

Timeline:

• All course work MUST be completed prior to the Qualifying Exam.
• The Qualifying Exam MUST be completed in May of the second year of full-time studies. In exceptional circumstances where students are not able to submit their exams at this time, permission MUST be sought from the Program Director to postpone the exam until the following November.
• Formal preparation for the Qualifying Exam should be initiated no later than 15 months after entry into full-time studies.
• Flex-time students must submit a program schedule which is negotiated with the Supervisor and Program Director.
• The student must notify the Program Director at least six months in advance of his/her intention to write the Qualifying Exam.
• Failure to complete the Qualifying Exam within the expected time frame could jeopardize a student s academic standing.

Examination Preparation:

The required core theory courses are the starting points for the preparation of the Qualifying Exam. These courses outline the general scope of the field. However students are expected to integrate this material with that from other relevant theoretical and substantive course work and independent study. It is expected that each student will devote three to six months of focused study, above and beyond course work, to prepare for and write the exam.

Since development of the student’s capacity to define and analyze theoretical approaches relevant to their substantive research area is the key purpose of the Qualifying Exam, students will develop their own reading list, in consultation with their examination committee. This may evolve as the student researches and writes the paper. Students are expected to establish their own framework for classifying and analyzing theoretical approaches and areas of application. The ability to do this is considered to be a critical competence of a PhD graduate from this program.

Evaluation:

Evaluation is based on a statement of purpose (or outline) of the paper, a written paper and an oral examination of the paper.

• The statement of purpose is a sketch of the contents of the final written paper. This includes the theoretical approaches that are relevant, in general, to the student’s dissertation topic. It also includes the specific theoretical focus that the student will use to raise questions about her/his research topic. The statement of purpose should be no longer than 2 pages in length, and must be approved by the student’s exam committee in advance of the final written paper (preferably, at least 6-8 weeks before it is submitted).
• The final written paper critically examines theoretical issues which will shape the focus and context of the student’s research activities for the remainder of the program. It should be 25-30 pages in length (12-point font, double-spaced, excluding bibliography and other attachments).
• An oral examination will be held 1-2 weeks after the submission of the paper. It is approximately 1.5 hours, beginning with a 15-20 minute presentation by the student.

Oral Examination:

The examination committee is composed of three voting faculty.

• Program Director or designate – one vote
  Generally serves as chair of the oral examination
• Supervisor – one vote
• Examination Committee Member – one vote
  Identified by the student and his/her supervisor

The decision of the committee is by simple majority, two of three votes will be considered a pass. The student will be informed of the decision at the end of the oral examination. The Chair of the examination will complete a form indicating the decision of the examination and any revisions, if required. In the case of failure, the Chair will provide a written explanation.


Possible outcomes for the Qualifying Exam:

• “Pass with no revisions”
• “Pass with revisions” - student has one month to revise paper.
• “Fail”- student must re-sit the examination within three months.
  The same faculty members should be present at the reexamination.
• If the student receives a second fail he/she must leave the program.