It depends what your supervisors mean by validity. It is very common in interviewing research to send the person/people that you interviewed either a transcript, your written work, their quoted words in your work, etc and asking for their review of it. You might find that they even want to add information to what was said ( and if allowed by your methodology this can be a boon of new information and insight). It is not always necessary to send a whole transcript--it depends what you are doing with the work. For instance, how are you analysing the interview results? Do you treat the interview data as raw data to be analysed further ( ie via some methodology such as grounded theory) or do you treat the raw data as final data? Do you do statistical analysis or the like on interview results ( etc...)

Questions about validity other than the accuracy of your depiction of what your interviewees said should be done according to the methodology you are using. For instance, grounded theory would not use measures of reliability and validity, but of theoretical saturation and other means to see if the data has been analysed well and whether more data is needed. Your chosen methodology should have some clear guidelines on establishing the satisfactory quality of research. If you are using a non-quants, non-positivistic method, its likely something other than validity and reliability and replicability.

Hi Angelette! I think its not common, but only because the ability to access funds may put the cost out of practical reach for many. I was able to get funds as an overseas student from my home country--in the form of student loans--and was self-funded. There were two other funded students doing a PhD in my department.

I finished--on time!

They are both still there, funding gone, submissions no where in sight, way past time....

I think if you are self funded you definitely feel the "investment" in a literal sense to the work. Not saying that funded people are not invested, but that self-funding brings an entirely different set of circumstances to the work.

I have read where being self-funded is a red flag as one of the markers of students who do not complete. In my own experience, it has been just the opposite--self funders complete!

of a place to be

:::pushes rocks and sand and bricks and logs and iron and cast iron and concrete and such until a marvelous bridge appears:::::

plenty of spaces underneath as well

:::admires handywork:

for those creatures known to live under bridges, a new home for you! ,-)

:::::::heaves and pushes lovely shiny new whetstone into the corner::::::::

OK, for those who like their debating with an edge, a whetstone is now provided where you may sharpen your tongue to your likening, and engaged in spirited debate with an edge.
The whetstone and the debating arena ( and I) await you. ,-)

How.....curious! There are posters in other threads claiming to want to engage in debate...and yet....nothing here. It does lead to the impression that debate is NOT what those posters want...methinks they do protest too much...

Point taken that there are rude and nasty people out there in the world. There is sexism, racism, bigotry of all kinds....does that mean we should allow those rampant and unchecked on this forum just because they exist?

If this forum is to be seen as some kind of training ground for the "real world" in the way that people interact, far better I would say that people use it to learn how to behave professionally.

Some people seem to think that academia is a watchword for making it OK to be rude and worse...whilst that sort of behaviour might exist in academia it does so to the detriment of professionalism. Nor does that sort of behaviour speak well of the academic prowess of the person behaving that way. The most humble, empathetic, gracious and helpful people I have met were those at the top of their field. I never saw the slightest questionable behaviour...people lower down in academic ranks, those struggling to get a foot on the rung as it were--that is where I have seen professionalism thrown away in favour of very inappropriate behaviour.

There might be links--and it just might be that those at the top got there in part because of knowing how to behave in the work place. Academia is very political, make no mistake, and someone who is able to be gracious and get along well with others in a variety of situations is going to advance far more easily than someone who behaves unprofessionally. And politics do play a role in advancement, in research collaboration, etc.

Put another way, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

A "best practices" strategy for this forum might be for people to learn and use professionalism....a worst use is a descent into playground name calling.

Want to debate? Have an opinion on a current issue? Want to enjoy a brisk exchange of opinions and views? Then, let's have a pleasant debating thread here! Please no trolling, flaming and bait!

And yet again, there is all the difference in the world between debate and trolling.
I can ( and do) disagree with friends, family and colleagues from time to time. The disagreement is never stated in personal insult language. A disagreement can be had without invalidating the other person's point of view, let alone any sort of attack upon the person.

Something along the lines of "I can see where you are coming from, but I disagree. My point of view is that--" allows a respectful debate to ensue. Debate, is, after all, an exchange of opinions, and has to allow room for both sides to express what their opinion is in order for there to BE a debate.

Simply trying to shut one side down is not a debate. Any one who thinks that is not well informed about what a debate is, and perhaps is lacking in the linguistic acuity to engage in debate. As well, debating takes confidence--where one is not threatened by the existence of some information or opinion that does not tally with one's own.

Some forums are about debate--or try to be. Try any of the news forums, political forums, etc, that abound on the web. Then again, if you find any true debate, as opposed to flame and bait, lottsa luck!

People on here seem to confuse flame and bait with debate....


As for offering "detached emotional analysis"--one, was it called for or requested by the OP? If not, its out of line. Secondly, do you have professional or other qualifications that permit you to give such analysis? If so, why are you doing it here, instead of in your profession or other work??

If people want to demonstrate their "debating" skills ( or at least try to sort them out from personal insults, flame and bait) why not set up a thread for debating? Topic of your choice. I will be glad to meet you there. :D And please do not be too surprised if I win--it is after all my bread and butter to win arguments. So all of you eager for debate--set up your thread, send me a PM and let's go. Keep debate where it belongs, and keep it separate from flame and bait.

KB I am sorry to see you go, and I do hope the mods sort this before what has been a wonderfully informative and supportive forum collapses from trolls and trolling.

======= Date Modified 18 Feb 2011 16:28:36 =======
======= Date Modified 18 Feb 2011 16:26:31 =======
There is all the difference in the world between criticism and trolling.
And frankly, anyone who thinks that they can offer constructive criticism in a thread that does not ask for it is a bit off the mark...unsolicited "advice" -well, I am sure we all know the saying about that. If someone does not like a thread or the replies within it, then move on. There are lots of other threads. Or even the option to create their own thread vibrant to their own liking!
A well worn aphorism, but true, nonetheless, "If you don't have something nice to say, do not say it."
There is even a skill to delivering "criticism"--if it is meant to be constructive and productive.

And if comments are offered for any reason besides that, I would really question whether they belong on this forum at all, and the motives for them being posted.

PS--sorry for confusion--BB is an abbreviation for Bulletin Board---the style of internet posting that we have here in this forum for instance!

PPS--recalls the not so long ago days of the trout recipes. Have we gone back to that? Hmmm...
*starts dusting off some old favs"

:p

There should be a zero tolerance of bullying on this ( or any) internet site....Bullying is invidious and nasty--this forum has been refreshingly free of it compared to most BB websites....hate to see it get taken down that path. Its a wonderful resource for people doing post grad work and post post grad work! I do hope the mods pay close attention to some of the developing ( and surely unwelcomed!) dynamics on here...

Its understandable you feel under so much pressure---the run up to the viva after submission is scary. But do not pre-judge the outcome---you truly have no idea. Your sups in fact might be wrong, and you will get minor corrections! If your examiners sit on the fence about minor/major, your own presentations and defence in the viva may convince them to minor!

In a sense your fears become a self-fulfilling prophesy...you get upset, you get in that awful spiral, and you do not perform so well as a result... worrying and being upset serve no productive purpose--find a way ( lots of good suggestions here) to break that awful spiral and literally get back to a positive feeling.

Supervisors...well...at some point they might quit being objective...as they too have something riding on the outcome, and its very possible what is being said is in part self-defensive on their part so they feel shielded from blame if it does not go well. You haven't said why your sups think the best you will do is major corrections...from everything you list as a positive about the thesis, its hard to see why they think you would "only" do that well!!! It might be hard but take what they say with a pinch of salt. Do not let it turn into a forecast of the day...they might be wrong!!!

After my own viva, waiting for the examiners to make their decision, my sup was wiping his brow, dripping with sweat, saying, "Oh, God, I hope you did not fail." What? I looked at him with utter surprise. I was feeling chuffed and pleased with how the viva went--you can get a feel for the way its going, I think...and his idea did not match mine. "Well, it did not feel like a fail," I told him, somewhat annoyed. The examiners in fact said it was one of the best oral defences they had ever seen ( if I might say so...:$) and yet here was my sup thinking I had failed??!!! So take what they say with a pinch of salt. I tuned my sup out during the wait after that, thinking, oh for heavens sake...

When you list the strengths of the thesis, you are doing the right thing. Keep thinking that way--anyway you can find to do that. (up)

sorry for double post

EUREKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.ffwg.org.uk/

Funds for Women Graduates

And yes they do have emergency funding schemes, with a deadline coming up in March. Maybe its not in time to help you?? but thought this information might help out.

Be blunt with your department. Tell them you are in danger of not completing if you do not get financial help. They need you to complete even more than you need money! There are always funds floating around in universities and they can manage to find money.



http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/current/Researchstudentfunding.htm

Link to a page that has info on postgrad funding, you might find something here.

There is also an organisation that has funds for women PhD students....am frantically trying to think of the name. I will search through some old files on my computer and see if I can come up with it. They might also have some emergency funds available. Given that the amount you want is "only" £500 ( a lot of money yes, but not to organisations!!!) surely there is some group with an emergency fund that can help out!

Absolutely writing is something you learn!! And can learn!! And its not even that hard. I know how discouraging it is to be told your writing is not up to standard. But you can turn that around in an afternoon...seriously! Preferred writing styles go through fashions, if you will. Just like clothes. So what was suitable five years ago might now seem no longer OK in academic writing.
I strongly recommmend the Bryan Garner, Legal Writing in Plain English book. Even if or especially if you do not do legal writing, this is still a helpful book. It tells you how to write clearly, what to do with quotes, how to edit, etc. And it does it all in a way that is clear, straightforward and EASY!!! It gives you a process and with the book at your elbow, off you go.

And you can get used copies on Amazon usually around £5 or less.


There are many many how to write books out there...but in my experience nothing works better than the Garner book. ( and no I do not get any payment or kick back from recommending his book...!) I have suggested it to lots of people and every one has come back and said it worked for them.

I know a few other people on here have tried it, maybe they can give some feedback.

You can turn your writing around, in no time. You just need to be given some structure and framework in which to do it.

Good luck!

You could send an email saying you have this particular question, and ask whether she would prefer to sort it in email or handle it face to face when you have your next meeting! Then, if she does want the face to face option, she is aware in advance of the meeting that you have this question and she might be more prepared to deal with it.

I don't think you should be afraid of sending emails to supervisors. Maybe if you were sending one a hour, every day....but sounds to me like your email would be very reasonable and very appropriate to send. As well, your supervisory relationship is a two way street--its not only what the supervisor might prefer, its what you need and want as a student!

I agree with Dan--just send it and then don't worry. I know it can seem like a big deal to have to send the email, and getting the tone and wording just right---but just confidently send a professional and friendly email and then don't worry! The worst case might be the supervisor is dreadful at reading emails and doesn't even see it before your next meeting!