Hi all.

thanks for all the replies.

15 participants, purposeful sampling of employees in a specific field. Average of 1 hrs 30mins interviews - so lots of data, i'm happy that saturation point was reached. "just" need to firm it up a bit.

I'll have a look at the links. i've been skimming through journals in my field tonight and have found one or two studies with similar samples.. so i'm getting there. No Mrs Bigg yet though.

Thanks again.

No intrusion bleebles - rules are there for breaking aren't they - otherwise nothing would ever change ;-)

Thanks Natassia.

Anyone got any Mrs Biggs or Mr Importants ?

Who's Eskobastion ? am i allowed to ask ?

======= Date Modified 13 Oct 2010 18:41:19 =======
Hi Sneaks.

They are all in a certain type of occupational field, yes.

I referred to the Cassell book in my work already along with other generic references ie Patton who says size doesn't matter, Denzin and Lincoln etc. I guess what i'm looking for is big name studies that have "only" used small sample sizes.

be great to say, for example Mrs Bigg did this, Mr Important did that.

i'll carry on looking there must be some... must be

Hi all.

I'm hoping someone can help with some references that i can use to "justify" or "defend" a small number of research participants in a qualitative PhD.

I'm sure this must be a regular occurrence but despite a good google, can i find anything? (down)

Be v. grateful for your help. Thanks

Hi Sneaks.

Have you mentioned any collaborative activities in your slides ? A prof was recently talking about the importance of peer to peer work - social capital and all that - and the greater impact that this work can have.

as for order, start strong, finish strong omitting as far as you can what they may already know ie you can do a PhD. Unless of course you did yours differently.

humour is always good, a funny story as you're setting up your presentation often works - so its not part of it.. you're not trying to be funny, you're just putting all at ease.

all the best with the presentation - please let us know how you get on. Regards. Chuff

Hi

I would cite unpublished, shows breadth of research, but i wouldn't hang too much it - certainly not in my area which is awash with publications.

However, if your research area is new and shiny what else can you do but cite new work? tricky.  great opportunity though. 

You'll be referring back to whoever he /she has cited too though? so that will give you a more substantial basis.

don't know if I've helped actually :$

Hi JC.

Its lovely that the rest of the piece is academic enough, abstracts are a nightmare aren't they ?

I like comfort zone but if you're not comfortable with it ( sorry ;-) ) then... what about normative experience or experiential sphere / field / realm ?

Regards, Chuff

Thanks both.

my sup is a new sup, at this late stage, as my two others have left - one maternity leave and the other to a new post overseas so face to face contact with anyone who knows my work is limited.

my new sup is fab though, as were my other two .. so in that sense i have been lucky. feel sorry for new sup thought , has to read a first draft when its 85k+ .. poor thing.

thanks again

Hi all.

Congrats to all those recent Docs and those who have just submitted.. we seem to have has a lot lately... i'd like to ask your advice please.

I've given my first draft to my sup, meeting next week to discuss. i'm p/t phd, working f/t.

I'd like some ideas on how to manage the process of the inevitable revisions.

do you re-send whole thesis every X weeks, noting where changes are ? send just revised chapters ? etc. how often, every X weeks ?

meet every X weeks to discuss.

I'm hoping to submit by the end of the year, did i just write that then... that's a secret ,-)

But given my meeting with sup next week, if i get asked how do you want to play this from here on in.. i'd like some ideas on ways that have worked for you guys.

thanks Chuff

======= Date Modified 05 Oct 2010 17:30:05 =======
Thanks Dr B, for both posts..

The questions were really useful, really really useful as they are, although perfectly reasonable, quite tricky I would imagine when you're on the knifes edge in viva-land. 

My viva won't be for quite some time but hopefully before the internet is eaten by the cookie monster and so this post will be v useful to refer back to.

If you think of any more do tell won't you?   May be a useful pinned thread actually.. somewhere we can look when the time is nigh.

Regards, Chuff

Thanks Chris, I believe its Dr Chris ... i seem to recall reading a few of your trials and tribulations ... and eventual victory. How does it feel ? tempted to do another one ;-)

Hi All.

Quick question - sending off paper for publication... how do you start your biography ?

Chuff undertaking a PhD with an interest in ...
Chuff PhD student has an interest in ?
Chuff as part of PhD research is ... going mad :-)

What do you reckon, what's the norm ?

Thanks

Big Up Dr B.

Congrats.

Would appreciate the Qs & As when you sober up :p

All the best for tomorrow Bakuvia... please let us know all that goes on.. in detail, every tricky question and every knock-out answer.

Its so useful to read the accounts, thanks to AL for her report this / last week ( can't remember now, days are merging :$ )