Hi all post write-uppers.....
I have just got through my upgrade and I am busy finishing off my testing,about to do my analysis. The analysis has to be finished by 1st September as my Prof. is presenting my work at a conference then. After that, I am planning on writing up and submitting by May 2010. Is this reasonable? I will be presenting a sub project (fMRI) in Atlanta, USA next April, which I have already completed and analyzed but apart from that I will just be analysing and producing a further 4 studies to be included in my thesis and writing.
Is this enough time or am I really optimistically deluded?
PN

Hi Aberdeen
I have just gone through my upgrade on Friday and both examiners suggested Endnote as I had numerous errors in my reference list. I am going to get it tomorrow from my Uni. They both recommended it and said they had used it themselves for their PhDs. So, I figure, I will go with what is well known. Will let you know how I get on with it. Oh, I did pass my upgrade, it was just the comment about my referencing....!
PN

Hi
Thanks everyone. I think it is evident just by these few replies that to finish in 2.5 years is crazy. I am giving it my best shot but especially, with what Athos said, I am going to have to pull back. My Prof. plans for 6 publications out of my data and continue into a post-doc. My study is huge, I have 205 participants completed, 2 hours testing each plus a sub study of 30 participants through an MRI scanner, which I am busy analyzing right now. I have another 95 participants to test and the end analysis is going to be huge with 174 variables per participant and I have to master SEM. This, on top of looking after my family of one husband and wait for it....7 children (all my own ;)) plus tutoring for the Open University. I am self-funded and I have to tutor. I am burning out and my Prof did mention once that if I ever can quite make the aimed for deadline, he would put in for a good excuse as one one child broke his spine last year and another got hit by a car (she is ok now), so I have had my fair share. I am definitely going to put in for the added 6 months to extend to the full 3 years and look up when to sort out the timeplan and viva plans etc. Thanks again for sharing, it does encourage me to think that 2.5 years is not the norm and is only achieved by 100% committment 100% all of the time, which I naturally can not do, although I work jolly hard all the time!
PN

Has anyone done an fMRI project using EPrime, exported the task data into SPSS and then run an initial analysis on the data. I have already processed my images in Matlab, run the stats script and got my brain images, I now need to look at my data in SPSS to match it up to what I am finding in my brain images. I need to ask some advice.....
Thanks
PN

Hi
I set myself an ambitious task of completing my PhD in 2 and a half years (Sep 07 to Apr 10) and now I am flagging big time. I am too scared to tell my Prof but I really need the extra 6 months to complete in 3 years. My Prof is incredibly ambitious for me and I have gone along with it, always saying 'yes', always up to demands and challenges but I am burning out and the family is suffering. I can't even get my head around some of my SPSS at the moment. I want a quality PhD and at the rate I am going, it is just not going to be quality. I have my viva upgrade next month and I know I have done enough to stay on the PhD but what will they say about my change in timeplan?
Is 3 years average? Has anyone else set out to do it a short time and had to add on the extra time?
PN

I think you are right, Phdbug, I just need to set aside a time to do it. I have got about 5000 odd words made up from my MSc project, and this project. Most of it, I have sent my Prof. but he doesn't read it, he is not the greatest supervisor in town. He just wants my data to get some publications with his name on. I need to find a slot in my day, I think, to just write. I have a week to get him something, I cancelled today's meeting and it has given me a week to get something down. I never thought this would be a problem, I thought the testing would be hard, the testing is time consuming (1.5 hours per participant) but easier than writing. I guess it is easier because I have to make an appointment and honour it.

I think I posted something similar to this a year ago! Believe me, it does get better. I still feel like a fraud most of the time but confidence does grow and the big bad monster supervisor is not so big and monster-like after all. At the end of the day....you got into a PhD, you were accepted and if you do badly, the supervisor does not look good! They are there to help you through this PhD both for yourself and their reputation. From the beginning, be honest, learn and don't be afraid of how inadequate you feel...it goes with the territory. Hang in there, it does get better, I wouldn't have believed this from someone a year ago. I just cancelled a meeting with my supervisor today because I just had too much to do to finish what he wanted. I was terrified of cancelling but I knew I had to do it. A year ago, I would never have done this. In the end, he said 'no worries' and we re-scheduled for next week. Hang in there, it is worth it :)

Who has a problem with writing?
I am really struggling to just get down and write. I am in my second year, I am 1/3rd through testing my main project (300) participants, completed another but I just can't seem to sit down and write. My Prof. is on my case to get something in to him to read. Yes, I am totally snowed under, testing: plan is, that I test until the end of the year, then analyze, then write and publish. I need to start writing and I am finding it hard to just sit and do it. Am I alone, is all lost because I am in my second year and I am struggling to do this? I need to finish my PhD by Jan 2010 for many reasons, someone, KICK ME. Hi everyone, I have been quiet for ages......:)

Oh, well done! Out of the blue, I came on here to see what is what and recognised you! All thumbs held :)

Thanks Smilodon. No, my Uni doesn't package it with SPSS as very few use it. Even my Prof. has told me to start saving, he doesn't even have it. The only other person I know using SEM uses Lisrel, not AMOS. I will keep asking and looking though because my Uni is so tight, they even moaned about putting an EPrime Run Time licence on my laptop as I am testing off-site! They had to do it twice too as my brand new laptop crashed and I needed a new hard drive.

Hi
Does anyone here use or have AMOS to do SEM?
I need to buy a copy and I would like to know where is the cheapest place to buy except off the SPSS website. My Uni sells SPSS for £20 but not AMOS.
Thanks
:)

Yes, chrisrolinski, the tutor post is great. It is not brilliant money but two presentations in one year basically pays my fees, which is all I want. Nice to see you around still

Hi, I am PinkNeuron!!!
I am finishing my first year in my PhD in neuroscience.
I am doing well and have kept on schedule despite a family crisis, setback. I could be doing more on my Lit. Rev. but the testing is going well. I am a dinosaur, about 2 million years old

Hi again
Pamw, I tutor on an Openings course, Sports Science. My first degree was sports science and it was a good place to start. The Openings courses are totally un challenging but very rewarding as the students are usually older people or people who never had a chance or who did badly at school. I have an interview for a psychology one in a couple of weeks.
Shani...Hi!!
The funding my Prof. proposed meant more research methods modules and another year or two on my PhD. I am a dinosaur compared to most on this forum so I don't have time or patience to do two more years
Best Wishes

Hi Everyone. I haven't been on here in ages. My first year of three is drawing to a close and I can't believe how much work this PhD has been! I know you oldies will be smiling and nodding right now.... :)

I am testing every day (1.5 hours per participant, 43 down, 257 to go) and will be until the end of the year, then the studies will be put together and hopefully, at least 6 publications will be produced over the next two years.

And, I have self-funded. It hasn't been easy...
But, I have done it...
My dog had puppies ('cash puppies', one of you called them :)). That paid for this first year.
I have also managed to obtain a tutor position with the OU for one subject and I have now got an interview for a second subject. This will help pay the fees for the second year.
This has been how I have funded my PhD so far.

Hope you are all keeping well????