8: Amplifying Candidates' Voices: Using Feedback Conversations to Develop Doctoral Identity and Writing

The core parts of doing a doctorate are developing a strong thesis that contains a novel contribution to knowledge and developing a researcher identity in the process (Kamler & Thomson, 2014). This essentially means focusing not only on the product of the doctorate itself (i.e., the thesis) but also the process through which it is researched and written, and the development of the person doing the research and writing (Clarence & van Heerden, 2023). This three-pronged approach (i.e., product, process and person) to doctoral supervision and development has been understood as developing ‘doctorateness’ (Trafford & Leshem, 2009); doctorateness is visible in a candidate's writing, in their engagements with members of their disciplinary community (e.g., through seminars, conferences and literature), and in the confidence, independence and agency they display as researchers. Doctorateness is not a magical ‘X-Factor’ that students either have or do not have by virtue of their preparedness for a doctorate; it is not their innate ability or smartness, or some other aspect of who they are personally. Rather, doctorateness can be consciously developed and built over time, particularly through supervision and feedback.