Hi
I am going through a tough time at the moment, both about my pending PhD and physically but I make it to the gym every morning. It just gets me away from my situation and lets me clear my head. Even if I am tired afterwards, if I don't do it, I am a mess by lunchtime. Chin up, you are nearly there, I have 3 years of slog to face

Goods, you are rude
That has just added 4 years to my age

Oh, awfully sorry, we all make mistakes by reading too quickly and doing two things at once, easily done you know

'Writing in the Dark - Phenomenological Studies in Interpretive Inquiry' by Max van Manen (The Althouse Press)

'Discourse Theory and Practice by Margaret Wetherell, Stephanie Taylor and Simeon J. Yates (Sage Publications)

'Discourse as Data' by Margaret Wetherell, Stephanie Taylor and Simeon J. Yates (Sage Publications)

These deal with both written and spoken discourse and are good books. Like I said, I have read them all through but I did use them for analyzing a TV program, Question Time.

Phenomenological research is an interpretation of the subjects experiences. This can include such aspects as motives, means, ends, plans, expectations etc. You would either gather this data through interviews, writing or questionnaires. Depending on what you were looking for, you could develop a coding system which would give you a quantity to be measured. E.g., Length of sentences used, pauses in speech, references to being sad/happy etc. Another way of analyzing this type of data would be to ground your analysis in a theory,
a theory/theme that emerges from your data, rather than applying a theory to it. It would depend on what your subject is. I can help you a bit more by knowing a bit more. I have a book or two on this method and had to study it in my MSc.

I am so sorry 404. You did well, be proud and file it into your experience file
(I know I am a fine one to talk but not getting my scholarship so recently makes me hurt for you)

Thanks dazed, oz, 404, newmakes, verdy etc. you are very encouraging. I haven't been looking around for more sponsorship as I have been taking time out to enjoy things other than the pending PhD. Now, I feel ready to look into some more funding opportunities. The gloom has lifted. I am not going to look for another uni. etc. as my project is quite specific, was part of my MSc and I looked long and hard for someone to take it on. This Prof. is in the same field, one of only a few in the country and wants to incorporate his research into mine. He has applied for funding (£7000) in his name and will give to me but I don't know the outcome yet. I have just decided that if worse comes to worse, I will take a student loan for the 1st year, at least. I am fortunate to have my husband support me but I want to do this on my own, hence, find my own funding. So, I am onwards and upwards

aaah, that is so cute, Rogue. I had a chihuahua once, that was before my senile neighbour made it spatchcock when he flew down our farm lane at 90 miles an hour.

Looby, get down off that computer now

Yes, I know, unbelievable money! I paid this lady £250 and it was all over in 10 minutes!! So, go Teddy go!
I also noticed Looby is posting, funny, I didn't see her up here!
Fortunately, Shih Tzus only have around 4-5 pups, something I can handle and just enough to pay the fees!

My Shih Tzu, Looby Loo met her husband on Monday and it went very well :):):):):):):)
Hopefully by early September, I will have my 1st year fees looking very very cute and cuddly ;)
Now, my little boy Shih Tzu needs to grow up and strut his stuff too :)

Well, I am dinosaur
My birth certificate tells me I had my 40th in 2005 but my favourite saying is 'Your'e only as old as you think you are'.
I am starting my PhD now after a big long family-making break. So, I wouldn't let age be a factor, it is all about attitude, drive and ability
My husband interviewed some people recently for a position. He chose the older person (50 ish) as he had more experience and maturity than some of the other candidates.

Coming out of a hibernation of morbs over lack of funding.....

I have 5 qualifications and for one of them, I had to sit in on clinics where everyone was a 'Dr', I was just a 'Mrs', I didn't get the time of day. Even to the extent that I was asked to leave a clinic as an observer in favour of a 'Dr' as they could only have one in there. I can only assume, I was considered inferior as the only info they had on us was our title and name, despite me being equally or more qualified, in some respects. How I wished I was a 'Dr'. I am doing my PhD out of progression, passion and interest but, I can't wait to be called 'Dr' and get a bit more recognition of my abilities. So, for me, it is both a carrot and a passion and natural progression of career. I will wear my 'Dr' badge with pride (in appropriate circumstances, mind you ) And.. I don't care admitting it, I am too old to care

Thanks 404. I am having major wobblies at the moment and don't even feel like looking on the forum
Just got a lot on and I don't know, I guess, a delayed reaction coming out in a big confidence knock. The funding was just bad timing as I was already having doubts as to my ability to do a PhD and be a Mum to millions (how it feels today). I will get over it, but going to take a bit to get back on track, I have done no work for ages, keep trying but just way way de-motivated. So silly, I know.

Its cloudy, been raining, will rain again soon, probably will rain just now. They say we are in for a hot summer because of all this rain, I need more convincing. I need to work, I feel demotivated and dumb. Onto SPSS....

Thanks Juno, this link was great. I am feeling much more positive now. It is a learning curve and I am too stubborn and pig-headed to give up. I am getting wobblies about the whole PhD but if I get some focus, like on funding, I am hoping it will help all round. Thanks again everyone