Framing the PhD project: How to connect parts to a whole in a paper-based dissertation within qualitative Social Sciences - 2 ECTS

Course Coordinator: Professor Susana Borrás

Faculty

Professor Susana Borrás
Department of Organization, CBS

Professor Jesper Strandgaard
Department of Organization, CBS

Aim

A core challenge in paper-based PhD dissertations is ensuring that the individual papers are connected by relating to an overarching research question, so that the papers systematically supplement each other, and collectively enable a solid overall conclusion. This course focuses on establishing robust linkages between the papers in a paper-based PhD dissertation by composing and writing an effective framework (”kappe”). This process is creative and experimental, involving movement back and forth between the whole and its parts, in order to identify a clear and engaging narrative within the disicplinary domain of the PhD dissertation. Participants will learn what different types of readers in qualitative social sciences expect from a paper-based PhD dissertation, and how to craft a framework that meets these expectations.

Course content

The course adopts a pragmatist approach to composing a coherent paper-based PhD dissertation within a given research domain. It centers on the question: How can a framework be written to engage readers and withstand “assaults from a hostile environment” (Latour, 1987)? Four tools are introduced: “framing” (what is the domain and approach of the dissertation?), “storyline” (what is the relationship, logical structure, or golden thread across the papers?), “enrolment” (how can readers be engaged and objections minimized?), and “narration” (what type of story should be told, and how should it be told in terms of time and space?). The participants will employ the tools to each others’ framework outlines to help make them as effective as possible.

Prerequisites

To participate, the PhD student must be working on a PhD dissertation within qualitative Social Sciences. Priority is given to PhD students in the final year, but other PhD students are also welcome.

Each student must submit a presentation of up to three pages that includes the following core elements of their dissertation framework: a) The thesis’ overall narrative b) State-of-the-art and overarching research question; c) Overall theoretical approach and research design; d) The role of each paper in the narrative. At the end of the document, please, mention briefly What specific aspects would you like to receive feedback on? and What are you struggling with? Submit your three page overview before 15th October 2026.

The student must then prepare a 10 minutes presentation in one of the break out sessions, and act as discussant to a peer participant.

It is expected that all students engage actively in those sessions, discussing each other’s dissertations with constructive feedback.

Teaching style

The course runs as a mixture of lectures and facilitated breakout sessions where participants give and receive feedback on the composition of their PhD frameworks.

Lecture plan

Thursday 22nd October 2026

09.00-09.30: Welcome and introduction lecture Susana Borrás

09.30-10.30: Lecture: The core constituents and role of the frame in a paper-based dissertation Susana Borrás

10.30-10.45: Coffee break

10.45-12.00: Break-out sessions: Discussion of participants’ outlines

The teachers will chair and moderate each session

12.00-12.30: Lunch break

12.30-14.00: Lecture: Constructing coherence among parts (what’s the story?) Jesper Strandgaard

14.00-14.15: Coffee break

14.15-15.45: Break-out sessions: Discussion of participants’ outlines

The teachers will chair and moderate each session

15.45-16.00: Wrap up

Friday 23rd October 2026

09.00-10.30: Lecture: Who are you writing for? Selecting and understanding your readers Susana Borrás

10.30-10.45: Coffee break

10.45-12.00: Break-out sessions: Discussion of participants’ outlines

The teachers will chair and moderate each session

12.00-12.30: Lunch break

12.30-14.00: Lecture: How to tell the story? Genres and temporality

Jesper Strandgaard

14.00-14.15: Coffee break

14.15-15.45: Break-out sessions: Discussion of participants’ outlines

The teachers will chair and moderate each session

15.45-16.00: Wrap up and goodbye

Learning objectives

To understand the core elements of a paper-based dissertation and the characteristics of an effective “framework” in organization and management studies.

To identify the overarching narrative of the participant’s PhD dissertation and craft a framework that makes this narrative clear and compelling.

Exam

N/A

Course Workload

Development: 9 hours
Lecturers 4 x 1,5 time x 3,5: 21 hours
Presence: 18 hours
Preparation: 1 hour per student: max. 12 hours
Total: max. 60 hours

Course Literature
Murray S. Davis (1971) That's Interesting!: Towards a Phenomenology of Sociology and a Sociology of Phenomenology. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 1(2), pp. 309–344

Adam M. Grant and Timothy G. Pollock, 2011: Publishing in AMJ—Part 3: Setting the Hook. AMJ, 54, 873–879, https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.400

Zilber, Tammar B., and Renate E. Meyer. "Positioning and fit in designing and executing qualitative research." The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 58.3 (2022): 377-392.

Reading the text of the other participants

Registration Deadline and Conditions

The registration deadline is 10 September 2026. If you wish to cancel your registration, it must be done by this date. By this deadline, we determine whether there are enough registrations to run the course or decide who should be offered a seat if we have received too many registrations.

If seats are still available, we will extend the registration deadline to fill the remaining spots. Once you receive our acceptance/welcome letter, your registration becomes binding, and no course fee refunds will be issued. The binding registration date is the deadline mentioned above.

Payment Methods

Ensure you choose the correct payment method when finalizing your registration:

CBS students:

Select the payment method CBS PhD students. The course fee will be deducted from your PhD course budget.

Students from Other Danish Universities:

Select the payment method Danish Electronic Invoice (EAN). Provide your EAN number, attention, and any relevant purchase (project) order number.

If you do not pay via EAN number, select Invoice to pay via electronic bank payment (+71).

Students from Foreign Universities:

Select the payment method Payment Card. If you are unable to pay by credit card, choose Invoice International to pay via bank transfer.

Information about the Event

Date and time Thursday 22 October 2026 at 09:00 to Friday 23 October 2026 at 16:00

Registration Deadline Thursday 10 September 2026 at 23:55

Location TBA
To be confirmed
Frederiksberg
DK-2000

Organizer

Nina Iversen, CBS PhD School
Phone +45 3815 2475
ni.research@cbs.dk

About CBS PhD School

Copenhagen Business School (CBS) offers a range of PhD courses, covering the scientific disciplines of the school. The courses include research design, publication techniques, research methods such as qualitative or quantitative methods, and specialisation courses in eg. organisational analysis, marketing and political science.

Most courses are organised as intensive week-long courses, but other formats are applied as well. The courses are open to PhD students from other countries and institutions, but some prerequisites may apply. Please see the individual course descriptions.

The PhD courses are offered in English and are for PhD students only.

Framing the PhD project: How to connect parts to a whole in a paper-based dissertation within qualitative Social Sciences - 2 ECTS

Course Coordinator: Professor Susana Borrás

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