To be considered for the “Joan Eakin Award for Methodological Excellence in a Qualitative Doctoral Dissertation”, the graduate should:
- Be a University of Toronto PhD student who successfully defended their doctoral thesis within the last academic year* either in a paper-based or traditional (monograph) thesis style;
- Have conducted a qualitative research study (mixed-methods studies are not eligible) for their doctoral work on a health-related topic (broadly defined); and
- Have included in their dissertation dedicated papers/chapters that discuss, in-depth, the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the research.
*For example, September 2022 – December 10 2023. Consideration will be given to requests for eligibility criteria exemptions due to extenuating circumstances.
The award will be given to the graduate who best demonstrates in their work:
- Strong congruence between theory and critical qualitative methodology
- Strong congruence between critical qualitative methodology and research question
- Methodological innovation
- Depth and breadth of critical qualitative knowledge and understanding
- Creative, sophisticated and coherent deployment of critical qualitative methodological strategies and techniques
- Logical, clear and well-written and well-presented description of the critical qualitative methodology
- Critical and reflexive insight into the research process, including ethical considerations
- Critical consideration of rigour/trustworthiness as it relates to critical qualitative methodology
- Currency of references, especially in relation to substantive knowledge
Applications:
For traditional (monograph) theses, please submit the following:
- Completed application form (see below) including a brief paragraph (max 200 words) explaining the merits of the work submitted and its contribution to critical qualitative health research
- Abstract
- Table of contents
- Theory chapter (or section where theory is discussed)
- Methodology chapter
- Reference list from the applicant’s successfully defended doctoral thesis
For paper-based theses, please submit the following:
- Completed application form (see below) including a brief paragraph (max 200 words) explaining the merits of the work submitted and its contribution to critical qualitative health research
- Abstract
- Table of contents
- Stand-alone chapter(s) or section(s) that describe the overarching theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the research and how these were linked across the various papers
- Reference list from the applicant’s successfully defended doctoral thesis
CQ Dissertation Award Application Form
The deadline for submissions is December 10th each year. The recipient of the award will be announced in April each year.
Please email submissions and/or any questions to ccqhr@utoronto.ca.
