Hope you feel better soon Sneaks, how is your dog's foot/leg now?

Goal one for this morning is to finish my proposal for the final time, on the last draft now and my supervisors are happy which is a relief..then I have to try to come up for a title for my PhD which I don't start until October. Then I'm meeting a friend for coffee, then back to work.

Have a good day everyone, Nx

I'm a bit busy tonight bit will definitely do it by tomorrow.

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KC - maybe it depends on the field, but I guess 'whilst' is quite an old-fashioned word. I'm trying to learn how to use it properly without being told.

Sneaks - generalisability is a word I think, generalisation is so I guess it should be, if that makes sense!

Here's another one I like - 'efficacy'

Hi KB - I'm really pleased to see this post from you, I was going to pm you this week to see how you were getting on. It sounds like as well as feeling better in yourself things are going really well with your PhD - well done!

I've been working from home more lately so have had a bit more time for myself and less commuting to uni (60 miles away) so I've got a bit more energy, even though I have a lot to do I don't feel like I am on a constant treadmill so much, it really does make a difference to be able to go at your own pace for a few weeks. I'm just working on my MSc dissertation at the moment with my PhD to look forward to which is lovely!

Take care, Natassia xx

I have three dogs so when I have a break I sometimes go and pick up my 10 month old yorkshire terrier and give him a cuddle...he's the cutest little thing. Or I play with him if he's irritating the other 2 dogs. Or I check my phone and respond to texts/calls as I don't really look at it and have it on silent in a drawer if I'm really busy with something. I always make another cup of tea/coffee as well, generally accompanied by biscuits but I'm trying to watch what I eat at the moment.

Pervasive is one of my favourites, I'm trying to fine tune my grammar at the moment so learning how to use 'whilst' as apparantly that's better than some alternatives. Also I've been told to use 'this' less.

I think that sort of look would be fine Sneaks, in terms of formality in the summer a shirt/blouse with a collar would be fine, I think it is too hot to wear a jacket. If you want to treat yourself I think that top from Next is nice, like the cut of the shirt. If I were dressing for an interview I would wear a pencil skirt with a collared blouse, something a bit fashion-y but not overly so, that is just because I prefer wearing skirts to trousers. Good luck! Nx

I've completed the survey, good luck. Natassia

I was taught how to use NVivo as part of a MSc module but to be honest I never got on with it that well as I think the use of technology removed my thoughts from the data, if that makes sense. However, I think that was due to the type of method that I am using (biographical narrative/discourse analysis); if I was using thematic analysis/grounded theory and interviewing 100s of participants it might have been more useful.

I also found it a bit over-complicated to use, but if I was going to use it for my PhD I may have been more inclined to get to grips with it, I just had to tick a few boxes to prove that I'd been on a training seminar!

I wear an antique diamond and silver ring every day, hardly ever take it off and it is fine, doesn't really get dirty either. So I'm sure you'll be able to wear your necklace in the shower without it changing colour or anything like that. There are lots of jewellary cleaning solutions that you can buy from jewellers that are quick and easy to use, that's what I do occasionally to keep it sparkling!

That's fabulous news, well done! Have a lovely weekend and enjoy taking a break from it. Like others have said, you've been an inspiration and also found the time to help me with my little issues, congratulations. Nxx

Have a hug from me as well Chris, and good luck for tomorrow's submission. Will be thinking of you, Nx

Sorry to hijack your thread here Jepson but I am also thinking of getting EndNote as I am starting my PhD later this year and already losing track of my many research papers and articles; a lot of what I am using for my MSc, and a few of the things I used during my Undergrad degree will definitely be useful so it's not like I am starting totally from scratch. I think I'd prefer to use EndNote, but I have Windows 2007 so would it be better/easier to use OneNote?

Also, how does the online version of EndNote differ from the version you pay for? When I start my PhD I will be in uni approximately 3 days a week and they have EndNote on the computers there, would it be easy to transfer data from the uni computers to my laptop at home?

Finally, my dad is doing a part time MA in art history with the OU and may benefit from Endnote as well (might be an incentive for him to put a bit of money towards it!). Is there a way that I can have two separate sections on it, one for my PhD and one for his MA? Also, could I install it on my laptop and his desktop, but only pay one fee?

Hope those questions make sense, but I'm quite ignorant when it comes to things like this!

Nx

Hi Splendins, congratualations on getting your PhD place straight after your undergrad degree, as well as a job, sounds like your new supervisor has a lot of faith in you! I'm kind of in the same position as you, I start my PhD later this year but I am also doing my MSc dissertation (submit at the beginning of September) so have a lot to be getting on with. I am also writing my PhD proposal as they accepted me before I had submitted a formal application (I did my UG and MSc in the same department so they know me). I am having to redraft my proposal with my supervisors so that the writing is PhD standard, they say they want to "hit the ground running" when I start so they want it to be as perfect as it can be. I think you're doing absolutely the right thing by reading papers etc, but make sure you enjoy your summer as well! I would also try to do a bit of writing as well, and maybe ask your supervisor about when your first review is so that you can start quite quickly. Hope that makes sense and has helped, good luck with everything! Nx

I don't know how they are benefited in terms of money, but it looks good for academics to have successful PhD completions on their CVs as it shows that they are able to supervise early research and help to develop students' careers. It's a major responsibility and shows a lot of committment, I would imagine. Also a research student is someone to possibly collaborate with for research and publish with.