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PhD in Health and Behavioural Sciences (HBS)
Supervision
At the time of admission students are assigned a supervisor
based on their area of interest. PhD students must be supervised
by a faculty member who has an appointment with DLSPH and Full
School of Graduate Studies (SGS) status. Students are advised to
plan their courses in consultation with their supervisors,
keeping their career aspirations and overall skill/training in
mind. Faculty outside the core SBHS group may be eligible to
supervise with the approval of the program director and/or
graduate co-ordinator. Students who change their area of
interest and wish to change supervisors should discuss this with
their supervisor and program director.
Students have the right to appropriate assistance and guidance
from their supervisors. Supervisors and students are required to
meet on a regular basis throughout the program to discuss
academic, financial and personal matters related to the
student’s progress. Students should assume responsibility for
contacting the supervisor, arranging meetings, setting agenda
for committee meetings and taking minutes of the discussion. A
copy of the signed minutes is provided to the supervisor. In
addition, all PhD students and their supervisors are required to
complete an annual progress review and an annual funding
agreement. They should review and comply with the SGS Graduate
Supervisory Guidelines for Students, Faculty and Administrators.
PhD
Dissertation/Thesis
Students are required to write and defend a
thesis. This work could include collecting primary data, or
using existing research projects provided that the students
develop their own research questions and are responsible for
undertaking their work, including the data analysis. Students
may choose to write a traditional format thesis, or a
journal-based thesis, following approval of their program
director and supervisor.
Thesis Proposal
These guidelines address only the broadest parameters of the
structure of a thesis research proposal. The proposal must be
reviewed and approved by the student’s Thesis Committee before
the student may proceed.
Proposal components
Title Page – student’s full name, proposed title of
thesis, date, degree sought, department, university and names of
the committee members.
Abstract – One page maximum (350 words), briefly
summarizing the overall purpose and objectives of the proposed
research, its significance, theoretical and methodological
approaches, and the primary research design components.
Problem Statement and Research
Questions should include:
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A clear and concise statement
of the research problem or issue and an indication of why it
is important; problem may be theoretical/methodological
(e.g., a conceptual issue) and/or substantive (e.g., a
particular health or health care) issue. There should be a
clear statement of what is included and what is left out in
formulating the research problem/question.
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A clear statement of the
overall research purpose.
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The research questions (and
if appropriate, several sub-questions) and how these relate
to the overall purpose of the research. Rather than research
questions, it is acceptable to provide research objectives
or research hypotheses.
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The significance of the
study, including contribution to theory, method and/or
practice. This should include an appropriate rationale and
justification for the importance of the research.
Theoretical Approach
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An outline of the theory or
theories that will guide or be related to aspects of the
proposed research (research questions, literature review and
research design), and how the proposed study will test,
extend, refine or otherwise relate these theories. In some
cases theory may be less explicit but will provide a
framework and suggest the level of analysis to be
undertaken, or how multiple levels of analysis will be
related.
Review of Related Research
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A review of recent literature
in both substantive content and methods including (where
appropriate) both primary and secondary sources. A rationale
for the literature search should be provided, as well as,
the specifics of the search strategy.
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A critical review of the
empirical or other relevant literature with clear indication
as to how it relates to the proposed research. In
particular, this section of the proposal should point to
areas overlooked or inadequately addressed by past studies,
and discuss how the proposed study will address these
deficiencies and make a unique contribution to the
literature.
Research Design
Research Sample
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A description as to how
research participants will be identified and recruited (in
the case of primary data collection) or how secondary data,
documentary and other evidence will be selected. The design
should justify and demonstrate the feasibility of acquiring
the anticipated data.
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The rationale underlying the
particular choice of respondents and/or documents (e.g., why
a particular group and not another).
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Inclusion/exclusion criteria
for research respondents (primary data collection) or for
research records (for secondary data collection or
documentary evidence)
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Sample size justification and
its representativeness (where appropriate). For example,
number of survey respondents, interviews, focus groups to be
conducted or how many documents will be examined and why.
Data Collection
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A description of how data
will be collected with sufficient detail that someone else
can replicate the study.
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Data collection procedures
(e.g., surveys, interviews, documents) and tools (e.g.,
questionnaire, interview guide, selection of written
materials) and relevant consent forms.
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Appropriateness of the
proposed data collection to the overall research purpose and
to the research questions.
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Validation of measurement
instruments (e.g., Have instruments been validated? How and
with what results?).
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Sources of bias (e.g.,
influence of interviewer, type of questions), and, where
appropriate, means to reduce bias.
Data Analysis Procedures
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How will the data be
analyzed?
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How are the analysis
procedures consistent with the research questions, design
and data collection methods described elsewhere in the
proposal?
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How (if appropriate) will
different types of data be combined?
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Procedures for substantiating
the rigor of the research process:
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Quantitative: e.g., validity,
reliability, generalizability
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Qualitative: e.g.,
trustworthiness, authenticity or other concepts of validity
relevant to qualitative research
Limitations * A discussion of
study limitations
Ethical considerations * A discussion of the major ethical
issues and how these will be addressed.
Timeframe
Suggested References
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Lu Ann Aday & Llewellyn J.
Cornelius "Designing and Conducting Health Surveys; A
Comprehensive Guide", 3rd Edition. Josey-Bass: San
Francisco, CA. 2006.
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Groves RM., Fowler FJ.,
Couper MP., et al. Survey Methodology. John Willey& Sons.
2004.
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Holland Walter W. Oxford
Textbook of Public Health: Methods of Public Health. Oxford
University Press, 1991.
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Kerr, Charles, Taylor
Richard, and Heard Greg. Heandbook of Public Health Methods.
Syndney, McGraw-Hill, 1998.
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Neuman WL. Basics of Social
Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Pearson
Education, Inc. 2004.
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Neutens JJ, Rubinson L.
Research Techniques for the Health Sciences. Third Edition.
Benjamin Cummings. 2002.
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Creswell, J.W. (1994).
Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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Krathwohl, D.R. (1988). How
to Prepare A Research Proposal: Guidelines for Funding and
Dissertations in the Social and Behavioural Sciences.
Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.
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Marshall, C., and Rossman,
G.B. (1995). Designing Qualitative Research (2nd Ed.).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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Becker, H. (1986). Writing
for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish your Thesis,
Book or Article. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
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John D. Cone and Sharon L.
Foster. (2006) Dissertations and theses from start to
finish : psychology and related fields / 2nd ed. 2006
Washington, DC : American Psychological Association.
Ethics Review
Students must comply with the
Guidelines on the Use of Human Subjects, obtained from the
Office of Research Services, Simcoe Hall, University of Toronto.
For up-to-date information and forms see http://www.library.utoronto.ca/rir/
Prepare Ethics Protocol
For research that needs to undergo research ethics board
approval, the student must prepare the ethics protocol in
accordance with the guidelines, including a research plan with a
detailed outline of stages and tasks with anticipated dates of
completion. Copies of the research instruments, letters of
introduction to participants, consent forms, etc should be
included in an appendix.
Be sure to check the ethics guidelines for information on
Standing Committees, to determine if the protocol must pass
review by a specific Standing Committee. Each Standing
Committees has its additional/unique requirements.
Submission of Ethical Protocol
After the thesis committee has approved the
protocol, the student must obtain ethical approval to proceed or
receive confirmation that review is unnecessary.
All required copies of the ethics form and protocol must be
submitted to the Office of Research Services in the McMurrich
Building. Research submitted for funding by granting agencies
must be submitted through the Director of the Dalla Lana School
of Public Health to the Faculty of Medicine Research Office,
located on the main floor of the Medical Sciences Building.
Protocols for research not funded by a granting agency can
proceed directly to the Office of Research Services. Check with
the Faculty of Medicine Research Office regarding specifics.
Please note the application should be submitted under your
supervisor’s name.
Review Process
The Ethics Review Committee meets at regular intervals
throughout the year, so students should cheek with the Office of
Research Services for the meeting schedule and plan submission
of their Ethics Protocol accordingly. Ethics can take up to
8-weeks since revisions are often required.
Thesis/Dissertation
The PhD dissertation must demonstrate an original contribution
to scholarship. The nature of the dissertation is agreed upon by
the supervisor and the student, in consultation with a Thesis
Committee. The Thesis Committee, generally formed after the
basic topic has been selected, must consist of, in addition to
the supervisor, two faculty members with full or associate
membership in SGS and common interests and willingness to be a
committee member. Generally the supervisor makes the final
formal approach to prospective committee members, confirming
their willingness to serve, and formalizing arrangements. The
thesis committee should meet regularly (at least every six
months). More regular meetings should be held with the
supervisor.
PhD Oral Examination
Arrangements for the PhD Oral Defense and for the preparation of
the final thesis are given at length in the SGS calendar. See
the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences forms and
information for thesis preparation and defense.
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