Well I did my plan AND I've got all my RA work out of the way, so I now have 3 days to complete my lit review re-work.

Goal for today: Re-work 1st section (whichis about 2000 words, I need to re-scope it really).

ah, its best to get moving with it though Ady! You'll be pleased when its all done :-)

My news is that my hubby has passed his viva! (and his sup NEVER read his thesis!) actually come to think of it, this is largely the reason MY PhD has been put on the backburner haha!

I don't think you should worry too much. I've just finished transcribing some interviews for a huge research project (I didn't conduct them) and they are SO leading e.g.

Researcher: "I've done some research which says that dairy milk is better than galaxy, because it is so creamy, would you agree with that?"

Participant: "yes"

Researcher: "why?"

Participant: "because its creamy...?"

:p Just make sure your interview plan is clear - with why/what/where/how/who questions and most importantly, you leave pauses - let them think,before jumping in with a prompt - its scary, a bit like when people on tv have to learn to barter with shop assistants- there needs to be a pause, and its awkward, for them to start talking, but they will start talking, so you have to sit it out, rather than jumping in and leading them to the topic of choice.

nice to see everyone! how are you all progressing?

I'm going full into work tomorrow - mytomatoes and everything!

hello :$

I've been AWOL from my PhD recently. I've been SO busy doing other stuff, RA work, family issues, I also had my annual review - which is stupid, because preparing for it distracted me from actually getting on with my PhD! I think I've had at least 2, maybe 3 months out.

So I'm back. I really am in the last months now and need to get on with it. My thesis so far..

- chapter 1 Intro- drafted
- chapter 2 Lit review - drafted, but all in the wrong order with no argument
- chapter 3 Method - complete
- chapter 4 Study 1 - drafted for publicaition - need to re-wrte and expand in length
- chapter 5 Study 2- same as chapter 4
- chapter 6 Study 3 - done the stats, know the argument, just need to write the intro and discussion.
- chapter 7 Discussion - not doing until sup has read the rest

My goal today: To re-plan lit review so I have the argument sorted so I can then re-write for the rest of this week, therefore meaning I will have completed 3 out of 6 chapters :-)

Has anyone managed to start their thesis WITHOUT a quote? every one I pick up has a quote to begin with, but I can only find one thats relevant and I feel a bit precocious or something, adding it in.

thanks Melsie, I might steal that explanation haha. Andy field has started to do a bit on bootstrapping, because the newer versions of SPSS have a button alongside most of their tests saying 'bootstrap' - there's a podcast on his website about it which is really easy to follow for anyone who wants to know more.

One reviewer comment is that they've said "I understand the principle of bootstrapping, but don't know why you've applied it here" - I've actually explained that I've applied it because it adds robustness etc. I don't really understand why if you were a reviewer you'd raise the issue if you clearly don't understand its use (??)

thanks - see its really not difficult stuff, I think its party old professors not wanting to learn anything new :p

I've decided to stick to my guns, go and find some MORE papers using all the methods etc. and then be ready to defend it in the viva!

could it be that they have more than one studentship available?

:-)

I actually am thinking about using it, but my reserach is more UK based, so I had it whittled down to 'it is a truth, widely acknowledged' haha and then thought, is it a truth? and then had 'it has been widely reported that...' - not quite as catchy.

I've spent the last 2 hours trying to think of a good first line for the whole thesis i.e. the first line of chapter one. I can't think of anything! apart from 'it is a truth universally acknowledged..." but don't think I'll get away with that!

yeah I have done, I've gone pretty much all out saying "other people have done this too in our field, its fine, and its far better than using the old method - see these people say it is too and they have been published in really good journals so naaaaaah" but I fear it still isn't enough

It was a rejection, but not for the stats, actually my sup thinks they sent it to the wrong reviewers and is replying to the editor saying it should be an R&R. So we'll see I suppose.

At the mo I'm more concerned with whether my thesis examiners will take issue with the stats. I've yet to speak to my sup, she's just sent me an email saying she doesn't understand the latest results, so will speak to her 1st - a lot of it is that I sent her the results only and she can't think beyond that i.e. she says "you haven't included anything about your sample" - yes that's going in the method, which I haven't sent yet :-s

I've done F all today. gah! I've planned out my intro chapter, which was pretty much planned out already and got a few things straight (almost) in my head but can't settle into work and I know by the time I do it will be time to go to dinner (having meal out for hubs' pass celebrations)