It could be the P2P software that I use, I'm thinking. And then there's malware that can open 'backdoors' I've been reading. Whatever the case, my PC's like a fortress now (not that I'm turning into a tech nerd)with setting for my antivirus software and firewall turned to nuclear, so I'm just hoping it never happens again.

Well, I'm almost back to normal with my work now. I've recovered the bits I lost. Thanks for your suggestions r.e. how to avoid virus infections. I'd love to get a mac and one day I will when I can afford it (so that's quite a few years yet!). Tomfinland, I do have a firewall and good antivirus software, but this infestation was evil, and ironically, it made having my computer infected an even worse experience. I watched in despair as it my antivirus went: virus detected, virus detected, multiple viruses detected. Unfortunately, it just told me I was doomed and didn't help me out!

Hi Pineapple, if you're using SPSS, you can download SPSS For Dummies here: http://www.mediafire.com/?x5w1nxyzdrn
It's a good introduction if you're not too familiar with SPSS.

In a word: virus. I really thought it was the end for me a couple of days ago. My PC got the most evil virus (something I just couldn't get rid of as my comp wouldn't even start properly) and I thought I'd lost everything. It actually occurred whilst I was finishing my work for the day. I had never been so stressed in my entire life - all that hard work! Fortunately, my data was salvageable (for a small fee of £50 - I'd have paid 10 times that!) and work loss has been minimal. I should soon be able to replace the work I lost - phew! Big relief. Anyway, I've learnt something extremely valuable...from now on, everything I do will be backed up online.

I wish you all the luck in the world with your viva tomorrow, really hope you get by without any major problems and defend your work well. Please let us all know how you get on. Good luck!

Hiya, Joyce. Hope this isn't an over-simplification but I see it thus:

1)Methodology - the general approach to taken to carrying out a piece of research, which informs the choice of methods.

2)Methods - particular techniques used to collect and analyse data.

BTW, you're right about there being so many definitions. My supervisor insists that methodology means the discipline dedicated to the study of methods! And he's correct when you look at some definitions, but incorrect when you consider others.
Anyway, the definitions above are written by a university professor on a .ac.uk website, so I stick with them.

I'm glad Raif went because, you know, I was really like, you know, sick of him, you know, just saying: 'you know'. On top of that, I think he was extremely condescending, out-of-touch and generally just otherworldly. He's definitely the kind of person to confine in a roomful of Raif-like robots in front of 'artistic' expensive pictures so they can all point, look at one another and babble 'yah, you know' incessantly all day long.

In no way am I a fan, but I do think it'll be Man U. I hope not though.

I give up! But at least I'm still winning!

(procrastination)

(rabbit)

(funny and novel little picture, please)

Hi A116, check out this link: http://wiki.themixingbowl.org/Digitising_cassette_tapes

It's easy to do and free audacity software will allow you to slow down the recoding once you've digitised it, if you need to.

As far as I'm aware, a PhD is not about coming up with some great new invention, findings or dazzling methodological approach. It's training, training to become a good researcher who can evaluate and negotiate problems. Don't mean to over-simplify the situation, but so what if it doesn't work? If you've followed the method correctly and done everything you can, it just doesn't work and your supervisor will just have to accept that - or have his facial features re-arranged through being beat about the head with a frying pan in an attempt to get some sense into him. Perhaps you can look at why it hasn't worked (you probably already have, so I apologise). Anyway, as you frequently may have read on here, things don't always work out the way we want them to (cliche alert!) and we have to just work around it by 'slightly' changing methods and aims. Your supervisor of all people should realise it's not all plain sailing. The stupid prat!