Hi Timea,

do you know any people in France? Usually it helps a lot if you have an "insider" who knows the system. I do not know about your French, yet similarly a native speaker my help you regarding the "fine finesse", often it is these issues that make the difference.

Good luck

Sorry to hear that you are unwell.

Have you, emotionally, recovered somewhat from the shock related to your thesis?

Hi missgeorg,

can you combine? : Stay in the department with your supportive supervisor (supervisor is important, and good supportive ones seem to be rare) but contact this other department anyway, see what they do, get to know them and interact with them. You do not have to work there to have good relations with them. What do you think?

Hi Chris,

keep cool. Obviously this is upsetting and disappointing but you have proven before that you are a very capable person. Remember that time that you had to write, I do not know how many words, in a few days time, you thought it was impossible but you did it! Now you can manage this issue as well!

Have you got your structure ready? Leave the fine detail for now. How can you use "that book" to put in your structure ? Add to each part of your structure a bit from the book to strengthen your argument? Or maybe look for similarities and differences, and regarding differences why is there a difference. Can you keep your old structure or do you have to change it round completely?

I think once you have figured out the structure you can fine-tune how to fill in the details.

Does this help?

Remember you are not going for a Nobel prize, you want to finish your research.

Hi LostinOz,

your remark to concentrate on the NOW seems to me a very good insight, first to try and work on your PhD. Not much use to look at what may happen in the future (nor looking back at the past).

Well done hairui,

this must provide you with a lot of satisfaction, good that you did something about the situation and did not give up!

Thank you for your replies.

Doc2008 I have done 2 focus groups so far, one with and one without a co-moderator. With the co-moderator it is easier as you can concentrate completely on the group, while the other can keep notes, monitor the time etc.

Good point regarding avoiding group interviews as opposed to focus group interviews. So far this has not been too problematic. I think the trick is not to interfere unless someone is really very dominant or the reverse not partipating at all.

Good points regarding the parking, had not thought about that.

Hi LostinOz,

sorry to read you feel low as a result of the job prospects and that you now also doubt the value of doing a PhD.

Perhaps it would be good to look at "for whom" you are doing the PhD. Is that for yourself? Or is there another reason?

If you are doing it for yourself there is no real reason to look at things differently and it probably would be best to continue. Just one step at the time and with the aim to finish. Not to look now at what may come after that.

Obviously if you do the PhD for another reason, like getting a good job etc. then you may want to think again whether that is really worth the effort.

Have you got people around you with whom you can talk about these issues?

Hi Chris,

maybe you could use your own research and state that a lot of your views are similar to that of an independent other ressource (this book) and this confirms the strength of your argument.

Hi doc2008

yeah, the CME really helps. Also knowing the participants (esp "key people") is useful.

Have not thought about overbooking, yet may be a good idea. Could however also upset them ("Came all the way for nothing?")

How are your groups going?

Kind regards

Rick

Been to the 80 th birthday party of my neighbour, his friends had made a summary of this life. Conclusion:
1. a PhD is not hard
2. It is nice to be young and have plenty of opportunities

On the other side there is also a ( I think Dutch) quote:

"For a modell a pickle is like a vulcano!"

Olivia, good point.
I think small things like biscuits etc are perfectly OK (in fact coffee and biscuits are a requirement!) You are right if one would offer massive gifts / money obviously the would be ethical problems.
I was more thinking of "incentives" like good reasons for participants to attend. For example "points" for their continuing medical education (I am in the medical field), "attendance certificates" / opportunity to meet colleagues etc.

Any thoughts?

Hi,
I use focus groups in my research, unfortunately several potential participants cancel at the last minute. I was thinking of using some soft of incentive to garantee that they do attend. Any ideas regarding how attendance could be improved?

I think it really helps to be familiar with the journal in which you want to publish. Usually they have a house style. Perhaps look for articles that journal that you feel have a clear structure and see whether you can write your paper along the same line.

Hi xpm,

welcome to this forum.
How are you?