Overview of Hugh on PostgraduateForum.com

Overview of Hugh

Signup date: 12 Mar 2010 at 9:38am

Last login: 24 May 2017 at 8:31pm

Post count: 1264

Recent Posts

Updating references within a study that is in the thesis

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Hi,

I completed my 1st study two years ago which I wrote up as a complete chapter, including discussion and conclusion. Based on the results and findings of that completed study, my next study was designed.

Do I now (two years later) need to go back to that discussion in that initial study and update the reference to literature in the discussion with more up to date articles, or is it OK to make reference to the new literature in the overall discussion chapter in the thesis and the literature review of the thesis? I suppose I am asking is that my 1st study was time stamped in a way. Is that OK to keep it that way?

Starting 3rd year

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Hi everyone! How's every one doing? Feel like I've reached a milestone today because I've just submitted a chapter! :)

Now back to work on the next chapter!

Dissemination of findings to participants after study

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From Edwardianguy:
Hi all! I wondered if anyone has experience of reporting their study findings back to participants after the study is finished. The study was very straightforward, and the results are very easy to understand. I was thinking of an email with headings such as "what we found", etc. Any advice or examples would be appreciated (I have had a search online for an example without success). Thanks everyone :-)

Did the participants ask for the study findings? I know some of mine did, and I intend to send them the published findings once its published. I think it may be a good idea to use mailchimp?

What's in a chapter?

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From catalinbond:
Just had to check my thesis (never believed I'd move on and forget some of the specifics!)

It may differ somewhat by study, but mine follows structure TreeofLife suggested.

My thesis involved doing various tests (psychosocial, cognitive, MRI) on a clinical population. My structure was as follows;

- Intro and lit review (this chapter for was short ~5000 words and introduced the general area)
- Methods (general method such as recruitment, testing procedures)
- Four data chapters each with intro, methods, results, conclusions (in the intro here I went into more specific research, e.g., in the cognitive chapter I reviewed previous research into cognitive deficits in this population).
- General discussion (bringing everything together, future directions etc).

I did discuss having a methods chapter where I covered all the methods, but decided with my supervisors that this chapter would be long and potentially quite boring to read!

Did you include discussion in your individual chapters?

Undecided of which supervisor to choose

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From EastWest:
Dear all,
I've been reading a lot of postgrad forum but it makes me feel more overwhelmed and worried.

I got a potential supervisor from Oxford with a topic that is very new to me so I don't know if I'll like it. The supervisor said that the case is common among his students. His students said that the supervisor organise a lot of meetings to increase understanding about this field. The reason I choose this topic is because the place where I'm going to work (abroad) need a person with new expertise. I've never met him so I don't know about his personality.

I'm considering to approach 2 other supervisors from my previous uni in London (very good uni just below Oxford) because I'm also undecided between the two. One of them is very busy & famous prof. His field is very interesting for me and I really want to work with him. But the field is very common so it's not very impressive and the fact that he is super busy might be a problem for me (his student said that she is still able to meet the supervisor). The other person is in the same department and quite similar field, but he is younger (very young and new academic) and I believe he has much more time. I've met them before but I'm not very sure if my personality matches theirs. Since I had my master in London, I really love this place and Oxford might feel a bit dull.

Funding might not be a problem anywhere since I'm going to use scholarship from a third party but I have to finish it within 4 years.

Anyone has any thought about it? Thank you in advance.

Gosh this is a difficult question.

I would say go with the one that has expertise in the area of your PhD AND has time to supervise you and give you support.

But honestly I'd be tempted by Oxford, just because its Oxford :-|

Having said that, already having expertise and knowledge in the PhD topic is a huge huge benefit.

Unemployed postdoc

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From Drpurple:
Hello :)

I'm pleased to say I was successful with the nhs psychologist position :) 2 year contract which leads to chartered psychologist status. Over the moon :)

Very well done! :-)

First week PhD - Disappointment

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From Eds:

Quote From Chococake:
I've been told viva examiners will eat me alive! :(

...that's what happens to a chococake though! ;)

Haha! You genius :-P

First week PhD - Disappointment

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From ZaoRazor:

Quote From Chococake:
What exactly are you doing that there is so much to do? Its normal to feel lost in the 1st year.

Hey :) On my first day they just through a bunch of information at me (deadlines for a review, changes in the proposal and protocol to begin testing before xmas, teaching and marking schedule, modules I have to take etc.) It's in an area significantly different compared to the things I've been doing for the last 3 years. It can be overwhelming when they ask you questions you don't know the answers to.

Oh I'm in my 3rd year and I still don't have answers to most of the questions they ask me. I've been told viva examiners will eat me alive! :( But hey ho, life goes on :) Try not to take what supervisors say too seriously.

Starting 3rd year

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

wowzers, fingers crossed for you, I hope it'll all go well! :)

Does anyone find it frustrating when you just need a simple answer to a question but have to wait a whole week or for a supervision to get a response, and it just halts your work? That is where I am, and I know my email, will not be replied too. I wish Siri could help sometimes!

First week PhD - Disappointment

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

What exactly are you doing that there is so much to do? Its normal to feel lost in the 1st year.

What's in a chapter?

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

I agree that it varies. What I have seen commonly though is:

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter 3: Methodology of the thesis
Chapter 4,5,6: Study 1/2/3 (each with an intro, aim, methods, results, discussion, conclusion)
Chapter 7: Discussion (of the whole thesis)
Chapter 8: Conclusion and Further work

Top tips for the first year?

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Do you know which research methods you will be using? Master the methods; then you will be king :)

Actually, before that, narrow down your research topic, so you have research questions and know exactly what you are doing. That is key.

Viva next week: tips and advice for before and during?

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Congratulations glowworm! :-) Very pleased for you!

Are two qualitative studies enough for a thesis?

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From chickpea:
I'd definitely talk this one over with your supervisor. My thesis is quite heavily reliant on a qualitative study (it also has a quantitative one, and a small qualitative follow-up to that one) but one thing I have been talking to my supervisor about is the need to get an external examiner who has qualitative experience/knows how much work has gone into it.

Thanks Chickpea. I'll have a chat with them, although I have developed a questionnaire based on my qualitative study, and it'd feel a bit of a waste if it wasn't used. Although the development and validation of questionnaire could be a study in itself?

Starting 3rd year

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Nesrine, welcome :)

It is great you have booked a holiday in April! I have booked one then too and it is just so great to have something to look forward to, even though I am going to end up spending more time researching the country then actually spending time on holiday! But it is still great!

I can relate to the red lines! I wonder if they'll ever come a point where my supervisors will be happy with my work!

With regards to starting a family, my advice would be wait till you have passed your viva. I know plenty of people who have horrendous morning sickness, and baby brain settles in very early in the pregnancy. Honestly, I would wait it out a couple of more months, unless its your only chance at getting pregnant. Best of luck :)