Im 10 months into my FT PhD---Here goes...

Wake up at 6 (sometimes earlier)
6.30-7.30 Check e mails, quick skim over what I was reading day before
8.30-10.30 gym
11-6 work (making coffee acts as break)
Watch crap TV, fall asleep at 10...then do it all over again:-(

I hear you cornflower. I'm approaching the end of my 1st year, and can only echo what's been said- Endnote is a must, and makes life so much easier, a must I'd say!

3 years is a long time- especially in you're in you mid 20's 30's when everyone else seems to be going with the flow of life (kids, marriage, 9-5 job etc). However, think of it like this: your under grad was 3-4 years (went by in a flash? mine did), a PhD is less! Also, when you look at any 'big' task in life it always look HUGE, I mean Scary HUGE!!! If you look at it like that, you'll think no way- never, impossible. But if you don't freak out, take a breath and chip small digestible chunks off you'll get there- you have to. I have moments like yours too, all the time, as long as you're determined, confident that you're trying your hardest, and enthusiastic (though this will waver from time to time), and a sprinkle of intelligence, all will be fine...

Besides, mountains are there to be climbed  8-)

Thanks Bakuvia,

knew about the reports but not the screen shots- what a great idea thanks!:-)

Hello all,

I'm approaching the end of my 1st year, and will begin to collect data at the start of my 2nd year. I have conducted a few 'pilot' interviews, and had a bash analysing them using NVIVO, which was great, really liked it.

This was my 'task' during the summer months while my sups take their annual leave. I am meeting them in a couple of weeks and wanted to show them my interview transcripts (reflection on style etc) codes (free and tree nodes), memos and my general dilly dabbing in the NVIVO programme. Thing is, unless I download and install an additional NVIVO programme to my laptop and take it to the meeting, it's tricky to show all the links, memo links etc...?

How do you guys give updates/forward your analysis to your sups, when using NVIVO?

Great to hear how people overcome this

(up)

Dee

Hi Anna,

I am 9 months into a FT PhD, I am a 'health professional' and have also submitted my lit review, as a commentary to the main professional journal. The online journal tracking thing says 'under review', so it wasn't thrown straight back, and can only assume they see as publishable!

I thinks its a great idea- start as you mean to go on!

Anyway-I struggled to skim down a monster lit review into a 3000 work article. The main feedback from my sups were to make in 'snappy', and whet readers appetite for the bulk of work I intend on producing. I think you need to be informative (layout the literature which already exists in your field), then scrutinize it- then finally drop the corker by saying how in desperate need area X needs to be investigated!

I had to be careful not to antagonise my readers and members of the profession, but I also wanted to gently ruffle a few feathers, get people to sit up, take notice and think- 'he's got a point- we haven't thought about X like that before'....

I'd look at a few relevant journals, see what their 'theme' is (qualitative, quantitative  or both), see what the editor(s) are 'into' and direct it at them (without compromising the message/content). Also check out similar papers which have previously been published in the journal (for structure, gaps, style etc)...

Not sure if I've helped much, but good luck and go for it!8-)

Have you got auto format on? During Cite as you write- preferences- check on.

(sprout)

Hi Jj,

Im a full-timer PhD and I work around 12 hours a week (1.5 week days). I'm in my first year, and have found this to work well so far. If you can find a job which is flexible. i.e work a bit more/less depending on PhD work load/stage of project then that's helpful.

Id say 3 days a week might be pushing it. However, if you did a total of 4 days PhD, 3 days paid work- I reckon you'd be fine, but wouldn't leave much time for much else, which is key to a healthy mind!

Phdee

Wow, thanks all for such enocouraging comments!

I'm aware of 'burn out' so have/will ease the foot off a little bit, and try and enjoy whats still left of the glorious british summer time (snowman)...

======= Date Modified 10 46 2010 16:46:18 =======
Hi all,

I started my full-time (scheduled for a 3 year finish) PhD in January 2010, and while my sups seem perfectly happy with my progress so far, I'm still not sure. Without any peers or colleagues doing a PhD it's hard to know myself how I'm actually  doing. My PhD is qualitative (grounded theory) using interviews and some observation. So far I have:

- Written 25-30k lit review, and large chunks of methodology 7k words (though realise may change).
-Obtained ethical approval (got that last week)
- Submitted my lit review as a commentary to a journal (submitted last week, it still say' s 'with editor' under the Elsevier tracking thingy)
-Downloaded trial version of NVIVO 8 to play around with.
-Conducted 2 'pilot' interviews and transcribed them, and done some coding, memoing etc
- Reflected on interview style
- Reading loads on GT, Quali, interviewing and my subject matter (was completely new to qualitative research, can now say epistemology without splattering people in the face with spit :-)

I expect to begin 'real' collecting data in october/november. Does it seem I'm on track? I really have no idea what others on similar projects get through towards the end of their first year.

Would be great to hear other 1st year-er's and the 3rd and 4th year war hardened veterans who laugh in the face of panicky first years like me ;-)

======= Date Modified 04 Aug 2010 07:00:47 =======
Endnote..all the way. It loves me and I love it:-x

99% at home- I have an office at work (3 others in there). Yet like Sneaks I end up chatting, going for extended coffee breaks...More than happy working at home, chip chip chipping away at this ice-block-of-a-PhD....

There are distractions, but use them to act like breaks. I've become a bit of a house husband during, so make sure washing is done, flat spick and spam, before my poor partner gets home after a full day of 'real' work 8-)

Best of luck, scary but so exciting!!!:p

Anyone else battling the lure of the world cup? Im an England supporter, and there's a monster game tomorrow v Germany....(as well as 28 degrees and beautiful sun :-()...

Im stuck inside, pastey white- writing my methodology chapter....


COME ON ENGLAND ,-)

Hi all,
I'm a health professional, 5 months into a FT PhD. I'm writing my lit review, and wondered if anyone has considered or actually published theirs in any journals? My PhD subject is very much under researched in my profession, so wondered if I could try and get it published as a qualitative (i.e not systematic) review /discussion?

Perhaps its too early in my PhD, but it would involve trimming it right down, making it concise and 'punchy'. If it did get published, wouldnt it be 'one in the bag' so to speak??

BTW my profession is quite small (4500), not a great deal of research is done, plus the main professional journal isn't an especially high standard...yet

Cheers (22 degrees in London today8-) ),-)

Hi,

Im in almost the exact same situation. My work (uni A) is not able to fully support me academically, so are paying my fees for me to complete a FT Phd with Uni B. I just received my contract, they want me to commit to staying with them post PhD for 3 years or pay back the fees that they are paying for me. To be honest, I hate the fact that 'they own' me, and they just have to cough up a reasonably small amount of cash and Im the one that got to do all the hard work :-s

I may decide to fully fund myself, less hassle, and don't feel tied into any contract which will make things awkward if I decide to leave after I finsh my PhD. Like you, my uni will benefit from my pubs, and the 'credit' for supporting a PhD student.

Id try and negotioate some more if possible, or just go it alone if possible