Hi Sneaks, thanks for replying. My supervisors are great really and the supervision that they give in terms of feedback is always punctual and useful. So I'm even more concerned about having a good working relationship with them. They do generally leave me alone between deadlines, but then things come up in meetings and it all becomes a bit passive-aggressive and contradictory, like "this chapter is much better, good work, but why the hell did you go there and give this presentation?". I think the problem is that there are departmental politics at the moment which mean that some of the staff in my department (two of my supervisors included) are not interested in teaching on this other campus even though they are obliged to. I have only just become aware of these politics, after my supervisors questioned why I went there. Apparently the colleague who invited me to give this talk has had an argument about this with my supervisor.

I think that they're getting stressed about the progress review meeting that I have next week (as am I), because it reflects a lot on them. I'm hoping that providing everything else is okay in this meeting, that I will be able to say that I feel micro-managed and then the head of the graduate school can do something about it; that is how it works at my institution anyway.

Hi everyone, I'm having some trouble with my supervisory team (three supervisors) and would really appreciate some opinions/advice. This is getting me down and I feel as if I can't do anything right despite all my best efforts.

I have my upgrade in March 2013. There were some concerns about my literature review 2 months ago, but now my supervisors are saying that my work is much better, and they are talking about the future again; I should be starting my data collection in January and we are all looking forward to that.

The main problem is that they are very controlling, to the point where they are constantly asking me what I'm doing, when they know what I am working on and they see the evidence when I submit work regularly and punctually. I gave a talk about my research to students at another part of the university (same department, different campus) last week and they were annoyed about that as they saw it as a distraction. I had been invited to do this talk before the summer, and agreed as the colleague who asked me is a friend and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know the students there as I start teaching on that campus in February. If he had asked me last month I would have said no as I am so busy, but I like to stick to the arrangements that I make. Besides, I adapted a previous presentation and so it didn't require too much work.

I'm just getting a bit fed up with being controlled like this, and I feel quite manipulated by one supervisor in particular. It makes me feel so insecure; yesterday she told me to "grow some balls" about something else, and I think that it's difficult for me to do that when I'm constantly having to justify my actions to them, she always tells me how mature I am when receiving feedback but then makes me feel like a naughty child.

Any advice really appreciated, Natassia

As far as I am aware (in the UK and the social sciences), very few PhD applicants will have publications, as it is difficult to get published during a Masters degree. So I think that publications would be likely to really enhance your application, rather than being a necessity. But that is just my opinion and I'm sure others will know more about your field/applying in the US.

I understand that it's difficult having been there myself, but I think you just have to wait! I'm sure she'll get back to you soon, and by asking for it you might irritate her. I'm sure you have plenty of other things to get on with in the meantime?

Good afternoon all, I got my presentation done yesterday and it was fine, so I'm happy about that. Have completed my first couple of goals, now to edit my participation info sheet and consent form to send to supervisors. Then lunch, then editing my methodology chapter; I hope to sort out the structure today. Then I'll go through my presentation a few times this evening.

I also need to take the dogs out for a walk at some point.

Have a lovely, productive day everyone :-)

Hello all, I'm doing a bit of work today as well - I'm giving a lunchtime seminar on Tuesday and I need to finish writing it, ready to send to the colleague who's invited me to give it tomorrow. When I've done that I need to catch up on emails...

Have a lovely Sunday everyone!

I get £42 per hour, but that includes all time spent preparing and marking. And I get taxed quite a bit as well, although I always get a rebate at the end of the contract.

That's a fabulous result - well done Dr Swetcha! Looking forward to hearing all about the viva soon :-)

I only have access to this journal post-1999, so can anyone access this please?

Brannen, J. 1988. Research note: The study of sensitive subjects. Sociological Review 36 (3): 552-563.

Thanks in advance :-)

I really thought that I would see some fantastic news then when I saw that you had posted. :-(

Hang in there Pineapple, you so deserve this PhD. Thinking of you, Nx

I think that this is when the candidate's work is closer to the standard of an MPhil and the examiners don't think that a revise & resubmit decision will be enough for the candidate to bring their work to the required standard. Surely this can pretty much be avoided through the upgrade process that most students have to go through? Although I am aware that my university has a very rigid and strict structure when it comes to monitoring research students; actually getting to the upgrade seems hard enough sometimes, and the supervisors often complain about it as well.

That sounds fine - I'm in my second year and live 60 miles from campus, which is just under two hours on the train; I'm usually in two or three days a week and work from home the rest of the time. I actually find I get more done at home, especially if I'm writing. I'm also in the social sciences.

Good afternoon everyone! I'm re-joining today after a really busy week last week (finishing amendments to theoretical section of methodology chapter, teaching etc) and then suffering from a terrible sickness virus from Friday until yesterday. It really wiped me out and I had no energy at all so I wasn't able to work through it.

Today I'm not 100% but I'm back working again, have done my first few goals which were basically catching up with admin and housework. Now I'm re-reading the section of my methodology chapter that I submitted last Thursday and then I'm going to plan the rest of the chapter. So today isn't really a major day, but I'll be on campus for the rest of the week so will be busier then.

Hope everyone is having a good day :-)

I have been following your posts as well and I am so pleased for you - congratulations and very well done!!

Have a wonderful relaxing evening and celebrate! :-)

Good morning Linda! I've achieved my first little goal of riding and mucking out my horse, got home at 9 so have de-horsed and done some admin, now it's time to start working. Need to take the dogs for a walk at some point and go back to the stables at 4 so will be working this evening as well.

I have a deadline for the amendments to my methodology chapter tomorrow afternoon so I'm working on that today; have done the easier ones and some extra reading for the more major ones (of which there are three), so my goal is to get those done today, so tomorrow morning I can just read through it a few times and do some last-minute editing.

Good luck with your chapter Linda! :-)