Na isitoshe, PhD examiners care less on how much or how less your research will change the world - key things that they look for are:
1. The research must be original meaning it has to involve fresh/new enquiries/empirical data collected from the field;
2. The research should develop after a critical examination of the current state of knowledge in the subject area; in the process, the researcher should demonstrate that there are some research gaps that he/she has identified; for instance, Nchimbi's research was based on Credit Challenges to Micro and Small Entrepreneurs; as long as he pursued his research by reviewing the literature that was available prior to his research and examined it critically and demonstrated that to the examiners, expose the identified gaps in the current research i.e. detected issues what other studies prior to his, haven't looked at, and consequently tackle them accordingly, his research should be a good pass; and this is where the issue of original contribution to research comes in; you should be able to demonstrate how your research contributes to the current state of knowledge;
3. Also, during defense, examiners seek to determine whether the scholar has gained an understanding that Research is something that an individual undertake in order to find out things in a ‘systematic way', thereby increase his/her knowledge; also that - research involves describing, explaining, understanding, criticizing and analyzing data; importantly, your research should be based on logical relationships and not just personal beliefs;
Pia what is more important than the title of your research, your research design or strategy is the validity of the study itself. That is to say, whether the research method (s) devised really assesses what it is intended to assess; Also of equal importance are ethical issues in the data collection phase e.g. privacy of research subject/participants, respect….and that they were not forced to provide the researcher with data but instead collaborated based on a mutual understanding and agreement;
We have many exemplary Professors at Mzumbe, UDSM, SAUT and other places (Tanzanians) who can enable a serious scholar perform based on the above; Hongera Dr. Nchimbi;
Lastly, Mwalimu Nyereer hakutuacha bila kulizingumzia hili:
"Kujielimisha siyo maana yake kwenda shuleni; Kama ingekuwa ndivyo, TANU ingekuwa imefanya kosa kubwa sana kutamka kila mwanachama ajitahidi kujielimisha na kutumia elimu yake kwa ajili ya wote; Kujielimisha ni kutafuta ukweli wa mambo; kwenda shule hutusaidia;"
Pia Mwalimu anazidi kusema:
"Tunayo haki ya kutazamia matunda kutoka kwa wale waliohitimu katika chuo kikuu, na wengine waliopata elimu ya juu ya aina yoyote; hatuna matumaini matupu, tunatazamia kuvuna; tunadai huduma kwa wananchi, na huduma ambayo ukubwa wake utalingana na kiasi cha elimu mtu aliyopata;"
"Ni dhahiri kwamba mtu anaweza kuitumia elimu aliyoipata shuleni au katika chuo kwa faida yake mwenyewe binafsi, na faida nyingine kwa wananchi zikapatikana kwa bahati tu; Na kwa kweli wakati mwingine inaonekana kwamba utaratibu wa nchi zetu ndivyo ulivyo, kwa sababu vishawishi vya mishahara ya juu vimewekwa kwa zile kazi ambazo hazina faida kubwa kwa wananchi kwa ujumla; Lakini hata katika zile kazi za kuwahudumia sana wananchi, mara nyingi watu wenye elimu au utaalamu wanaweza kutumia vibaya dhamana yao, wakipenda;"
Dr. Nchimbi anaongoza Wizara muhimu ya Maendeleo ya Vijana, Kwahiyo hii ndio nafasi yake ya kuonyesha mfano katika kujenga taifa based on ujumbe wa Mwalimu.