What are the two most important adjectives that describe a doctoral dissertation?

A doctoral dissertation is fundamentally rooted in the principles of originality and substantiality. Originality indicates that the research presents novel findings or innovative perspectives that contribute to the existing body of knowledge in a particular field. This is crucial because doctoral work should build upon prior research while also pushing boundaries and introducing new ideas or methods.

Substantiality refers to the depth and breadth of the research conducted. It implies that the dissertation presents a significant amount of data or in-depth analysis that holds value within the academic community. A substantial dissertation typically encompasses comprehensive literature reviews, robust methodologies, and thorough discussions of results and implications, ensuring that it makes a meaningful impact on the discipline.

While attributes like clarity, conciseness, accessibility, and applicability are important for effective communication and engagement with the audience, they do not capture the core essence of what distinguishes a doctoral dissertation from other types of academic writing. Originality and substantiality are central to demonstrating the candidate's capability to conduct independent research and contribute valuable insights to their field.