Significance in research: An opinion paper

Ross Woods, 2025.

As the title says, this is an opinion paper only. It is based on my observations of student questions and dissertations coming to me over the last few years.

We might define significance in research as the potential for implications and consequences. This seems to be a major difference between the best dissertations and research articles and those of lower standing.

Several other factors come into play:

In all cases, the dissertations have no errors.
In humanities, the desired length is between 80,000 and 100,000 words. Anything under 60,000 words is suspect.
Some researchers simply follow existing procedures.
US programs vary, and can be quite different from UK and Australian institutions.

	Overly ambitious The project is not feasible within the bounds of the PhD.
	Excellent This is the sweet spot. Findings are highly significant and the length is also good. It would be acceptable in elite schools and be eligible for an academic prize in other institutions.
	Adequate The researcher has demonstrated some significance, and the dissertation is a good length.
	Barely adequate This dissertation is good enough to pass the PhD in accredited non-elite schools; it shows that the student can fly solo running a major research project. However: a. The whole research project is highly proceduralized, in that it follows conventional methods and procedures. b. In humanities, it is shorter than expected in the more elite schools. c. It is quite suitable for going into the profession, but might not help to get an academic position in a high-ranking institution. d. The topic is likely to be of only local or short-term relevance. e. In some fields, it might focus more on interpreting subjects’ perceptions than revealing facts. f. In some countries, the student is at risk of being downgraded to a Master of Philosophy.
	Inadequate In some countries, the student will be downgraded to a Master of Philosophy instead of a PhD. In other countries, the student will not be approved to go to a defence.

CC BY-NC-ND
This work is released under a CC BY-NC-ND license, which means that you are free to do with it as you please as long as you (1) properly attribute it, (2) do not use it for commercial gain, and (3) do not create derivative works.