Good response Teek!

Hi Vini,

If you pass the first stage of the MSc do you automatically get onto the 2nd stage of doctoral training? If so, and if it's what you want then go for it! If it's a separate application stage to then get on to the doctoral course I suppose you need to give it further consideration and consider the pros and cons of quitting your current PhD. These decisions are never easy and I wish you all the very best regardless of what you decide.

I couldn't advise regarding the course but Universities normally have rankings and individual departmental rankings. I think The Times and Guardian list the rankings, if that helps. Try Google searching 'best universities' or such like. Hope this helps.

It could be because you're doing everything right in that you give presentations that are comprehensive, clear and address everything that there's no need for questions.

It could be people are aware of your student status and don't want to put you on the spot out of consideration. I tend to do this.

It can be difficult to be the first to ask a question as people look at the person asking the question as well.

I'm not being polite in making the points above, these could be the reality.

Good on you DanB! Enjoy YOUR day!(gift)

Milly_Cat, your post pretty much sums up what I'm feeling. No, it sums up what I'm feeling. Sadly, for a number of reasons I have to stick with it. I found reading your post very helpful and strangely enough comforting, thank you.

Good luck with your PhD.

Hi peljam,

Thanks for the reply. What you have said is very interesting in terms of ownership and control and I think you're right. It was a set project but from the outset my supervisors kept verbally telling me to take ownership and to make it my own but I can only say every time I tried to I felt overruled but in a subtle way. In my opinion, one of the supervisors (the main one) had a very clear idea of what they wanted and how they wanted the project to go and I very much see it as 'their baby'. If I made a suggestion it was listened to but rarely, if ever, followed up and even when I expressed concerns I don't feel these were addressed. Both supervisors have known each other for a very long time and seem to get on really well but I think this is the first time that they have supervised a project together. I feel the other supervisor would have been more willing for me to put my stamp on it but can't be sure. In reality, I think of myself as a research assistant but one who is trusted to get on with things. It has been a disappointing experience and as researchers I've little respect for my supervisors but as people I do like them. To be honest, it really is just a wage packet to me which is such a shame.

I'm always happiest doing something I really enjoy and so if you enjoy what you are doing and can get a PhD out of it that's a bonus - good luck!

As I write this I'm in good form and haven't had a bad day. I've always felt very detached from my PhD, the area holds no interest whatsoever, never has, and I very much treat it as a job or a way to make money. However, to be completely honest I did think I would learn something from doing a PhD but I haven't (only more about a subject which I have no interest in). I can only say I felt I learned a LOT more from all the research posts I held before and I'm being very serious. I haven't acquired any more research skills during the PhD and, again, I'm being very serious. I think my supervisors are nice people and pretty much leave me to it but they don't inspire me (previous supervisors have) and they haven't taught me anything, in my opinion. Actually I feel terrible for saying this but I think I could have designed a better research project and feel it's very, very flawed. I genuinely don't feel comfortable with it because I think it could reflect badly on me as people may think I've designed it which I most certainly didn't. I know if I was an examiner I would tear it to shreds and yet I am very proud to have my name attached to all the other research I undertook as I rate it highly.

Does anyone else feel embarrassed about, and completely detached, from their PhD? I hate the idea that people will read it and think it's 'me'. It's a bit like being given a recipe and being told to cook a meal. If the recipe isn't up to much it's likely to impact on the meal, regardless of the skills of the cook.

I'm not sure if it varies between Universities but my understanding is a research fellow usually has a PhD and a research associate doesn't necessarily have a PhD.

Research assistant is a lower grade than a research associate and a research associate is a lower grade than a research fellow.

You've done well.

Good luck!

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I honestly don't think beta blockers are the way to go. It's better to accept that you're going to be nervous but with time and experience you'll get less nervous giving presentations (while we feel very nervous it's worthwhile pointing out that people will not be able to 'see' just how nervous we are!). Remember, most people experience some degree of anxiety, especially when starting out. If you go down the beta blockers route you're not really dealing with the situation and are masking the problem. If you plan to go down the academic route as a career, would it not be best to try and tackle your nerves in another way or do you plan to live on beta blockers for periods of time for many years to come? What about training yourself in relaxation techniques? It will take time because it is about training yourself but it's a natural way of helping yourself and will serve you well in other areas of life.

Just my thoughts.

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Thanks Sneaks and Wally. You've both been very helpful. Wally, Ill send you a PM.

Hi all,

I know it is wise to talk about the reliability of measures used in any study. What is the best way to discuss validity, and its various form, since it can't be computed on SPSS. Is there any other way aside from looking at previous research which may have used the same questionnaires?

Thanks!