Nice one! Thats one hurdle down.(up)

I agree with what teachingpurposes and larrydavid say.

I would also add that the process of writing as you go along is as important as what you actually write. I found it easy to get off track in data analysis and go into interesting aspects of the data which were not 100% relevant to my research. So I found the process of writing what I was doing kept my mind focused on the goal. The goal being ...get the thesis finished and then get on with your life.

1 Goal today for me: proof read the thesis.

Hi Lost final year,

I see why its difficult to trust your supervisor. Taking a break for a bit would be a good idea. It might help to clear your head. Just an idea for you to ponder is whether or not showing null findings is enough for your PhD. For example, you may have found that your methodology does not answer your research question. Is that a 'contribution to knowledge' in itself?

My supervisors told me that when I was doing my PhD, a null result was still enough for me to complete my PhD. Their reasoning was that I had collected enough data so I could show that a relationship did not exist. Your PhD might change from answering your research question, to showing that a methodology is not appropriate for certain types of research questions. This is of great interest if there is other research which has been published using this methodology.

Anyway, take a break and then chat with your supervisor in a few days time.

Dan

======= Date Modified 06 Jan 2012 13:22:23 =======
Just a couple of questions: What area is your PhD in? e.g Hard Sciences, Psychology etc.

Why dont you have hope that your supervisor will help you?

You didnt seem to get any replies to this. I dont quite fit the person you are looking for but I have worked doing online tuition part time on top of a PhD. The two are compatable, especially because the face to face teaching element is small (18 hours over 6 months). However, I didnt try and do a full time job at the same time. My thoughts would be that it is not possible to combine a full time job, a part time job and a PhD.

Also, with the online teaching, my work load was a lot for the first presentation of the course. However, the second, third -- seventh presentations were a lot easier. The hard work comes when you need to learn the material and mark assignments. Otherwise, its easy-ish. PM me if you want to ask any more questions.

Dan

I wouldn't quit but I think you need some sound advice on your methodology.  Remember, its your PhD so if you want to finish it, do what you need to do to finish it. This might involve making your supervisor talk to you.  Say you need some straight answers and push them in a very polite way until you get them.

If you cant get answers from your supervisors or others in your lab, then you might try emailing an expert (easy to find from your literature review) or using a mailing list (run by an academy). There are probably other people out there who use the same method and will know its limitations or can point you in the right direction. 

Also, you are not the first person, and wont be the last person to go done the wrong path with their PhD.  The difference between those that finish and those who dont is perseverance :-)

You could probably get a good job at an investment bank. I think they are always looking for people with PhDs in Physics and often use Monte Carlo methods to estimate future asset prices. Wouldnt be a post doc though...

======= Date Modified 29 Dec 2011 14:30:49 =======
Bump, Anyone working over new years? I am back at it again today and I am working from home. I hope you are going to meet your 5th of Jan deadline Hailey!

Dan

I am just reading your post for the first time, so I thought I would add a different perspective for you to think about. Dont take this as an attack on your phd or anything like that. Its just an attempt to look at your problem from a different angle.

Your supervisors could be thinking that at the 3rd year stage of your PhD you should pretty much know what your research question, results and contributions should be. All you need to do is write it up, and therefore, you dont need a lot of supervison. So by ticking the box which says I dont have enough supervision, you supervisors could have interpreted this as you saying: 'Help, I dont understand what I am doing'. Therefore, they decided to put you on probabtion until you have your PhD back on track.

Another point is that supervisors need students to complete within a certain time frame for the Research Excellent Framework (REF). If your put on probabtion, this may delay this time frame and allow you to complete within the required time.

Just a couple of ideas. I wouldnt give up your PhD over this though. :-)

I'm trying to work tonight but it seems I can only see bad things about my writing rather than good.  Got a feeling I will do more harm than good.:-(

Sounds like you should just keep on working! I think that I need a certain amount of stress to do work. If I am just cruising along then thats when I tend to get off track. Then I create deadlines to put a bit of pressure on myself. Dont get me wrong, too much stress is terrible, but just a little bit keeps me working.

If you are in the lucky position of not needing stress and not having any stress, then go for it. Just do what you are doing!(up)

I never heard of a 100 day Viva, but did have a mini-viva in June which was 9 months after starting my PhD. Sounds like you are off to a good start and have a good literature review already. If you are ahead of the curb in your PhD then stay that way! Its so easy to get behind.

Happy holidays.