Shows how much I know, it is Structural Equation Modelling!! Just looking up books on Amazon... would rather be Christmas shopping...

spiegboy, thanks so much, I will call on your expertise, if I get stuck Could look interesting as a sideline topic

My supervisor is keen for me to use this method of analysis. Are there any of you using it and are there any books you can recommend that I buy to understand it in piggies and duckies?

My supervisor never seems to give me positive feedback, he just expects and pushes pushes pushes and tells me when I am wrong :(
Yes, he is keen for me to hand in on time as I am self-funded but I am now terrified of slowing down because of it. I am expected to pull a few publications out of my results and also run another study based on his work and work it into my work, sometime in the next 4 months. He is on research leave for 8 months from Jan. He wants me to keep up with the writing so that by the time all my studies are done, there won't be much thesis to write.

Is this the average procedure/pace? It is a bit faster than I imagined, I feel like this is heading for a 1.5 year PhD as is but think at this pace, he will just be getting me to do another PhD half way.

A question for all the 2/3rd/4th years...
I have no idea if I am doing enough for a 3 year full-time PhD. I started the end of September and at the moment, I have done....

My protocol, based on my MSc dissertation.

Applied for ethics and obtained.

Written up a participant advert/consent form/biographical question form/debrief and all are ok...

In process of requesting permission to use facilities, plan to start testing end of January (300 participants, approx. 1.5 hours of testing on each).

Starting my Literature review now and running it parallel with testing, aiming to be finished testing and literature review by April, ready for upgrade process.

Is this enough for the upgrade requirements? I will have collected results and analzyed them, hopefully by then too, but using a new method, SEM, which I have never used.

zazaa, you may want to post in a separate topic using a different heading as it might not get noticed in this topic. Then, at least anyone who knows will notice it far quicker. Sorry, I can't be of any help

Lol, O.stoll!!!
Wasn't sure how to answer that flyball, so decided to leave it!!!

Yes, the children are so proud of me that sometimes, I think it just keeps me going. Whenever I get a wobbly, I just do something different, like shopping at Tesco and then get back on track. good luck all. :)

There, I thought I would start with a positive title after not checking in here for a bit, with shell-shock from actually starting my PhD as an 'oldie, non-funded, mother of many and having taken a year out of academics'
I go into uni to do a class in fMRI which is basically nuclear physics as far as I am concerned, I am working on my protocol, I have submitted my ethics form, I am reading who knows how many papers and I am supposed to be testing by January as my supervisor is on research leave for 8 months from then. And, I love it. I may eat my words but I want to encourage everyone feeling daunted, just starting, out your depth,older than most (I am nearly 42!!) etc. etc. Go For It, we can do it :)

My supervisor thinks the chances of me getting the funding are very good. If I just did the two RM modules and had them together with my MSc, in other words, had a PG Dip. in Res Methods plus my MSc, do you think they would look favourably on that?

Yes, I know, it is annoying. Part of my MSc, 60 credits in fact was research methods. I also have 20 credits from another PG Dip I did at masters level. I don't mind doing the advanced stats. as I know I need it as my project has heavy statistics involved. In fact, I already have the stats book to study myself. But, it is another £500 I can't afford and then another £500 in May and then, it might not even get me funding. I only have today left to decide, they are already keep a place open especially for me. I actually feel like staying self-funded, even if it means working night shift somewhere, at least there are no strings attached

Hi
I have been told by the Open University that my MSc Psychology is not ESRC recognised but the MSc Psychological Research Methods is. I have also been told by another study colleague that if I complete the PG Dip. in Psychological Research Methods, it will look good for ESRC recognition, together with my MSc. I already have the one research module, I have to add an advanced statistics and another research module. Is it worth doing this? Has anyone actually achieved ESRC funding without the extra research modules or a recognised ESRC MSc? My Prof. wants to apply for a CASE studentship for next year but I need to know if I ought to help the application along. I don't want to do them but am willing to if it will help me find funding. I am self-funded this year. Thanks.

Puppies. I borrowed £250 off my husband to have my Shih Tzu mated with a very good stud. She has 6 beautiful puppies, 5 weeks old that I am supposed to now advertise for £550 each to pay for my first year fees. BUT they are so beautiful How can I sell these
Who wants a beautiful Shih Tzu puppy, a snip at £550

I started feeling ill during the exams of my first undergrad. degree. I was still running (athlete) and I just felt dire. My Mum told me to go for preg. test. Imagine the shock, it was positive, just a few months into my marriage. I was about to finish my degree and travel overseas to do my MA with my new husband. We still went, I didn't do my MA but I got on with having children, had loads actually as some may know on here. Five years ago, I started studying again and now I am doing my PhD and my grown up children and little children are my best friends, fans and supporters. There is never a perfect time, it is what you make of the timing, that makes it perfect

Hi Walrus, I feel good I am not alone too :) Also in London, also just feel dumped in amongst a lot of demands and I dread looking in my inbox now as I know it will be a 'Have you done....', 'Have you contacted...' 'Have you considered...' and I have only just started.

He is also expecting about 6 publications to come out of my research?????? I cancelled my induction course after finding out it wasn't compulsory because I just don't feel like going in. I am enjoying the MSc module I am doing to learn imaging, I enjoy the research reading and my project is sort of focussed but just the whole thing seems beyond me and my capabilities. So, don't feel alone, I am hoping I will feel better soon too. The other day when feeling down I just told myself this is a big project like I have done before but bigger and to just forget the PhD letters.