Cakeman, well put. However, I feel I need to take you to task on the issue of only the academic elite going to university, like the 1960s. I think if we returned to such a system, people from lower socioeconomic classes would be discriminated against because they generally go to poorer schools and don't have access to the learning resources that people from higher social classes do, such as extra paid tuition. When you're privileged, Daddy can buy you anything - even top grades to go to the best universities.
I'm a good example. Did absolutely crap at school (not even 5 GCSE's A-C!), took the vocational route at college. I never thought that I had any academic ability at all, and I realise now that this was because of my working class background and the crap teaching I had been exposed to. Under the 1960's elite system, I'd probably have just gone straight into the world of work - the end. I remember talking to my father at the time about trying to learn a trade, as a plumber or electrician. At the time, however, Labour was beginning to increase access to higher education and I was encouraged to give university a shot. So I did. Two first class degrees later, with a wealth of prizes for academic achievement, I'm two thirds of the way through my PhD (well, in terms of the time scale!). So, what I'm trying to say is that if we start to make university more what we perceive to be elite, we'll damn an awful lot of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who have the potential but have never had the right environment, to lives where they can never realise their potential in the ways that they may want. I do think that trying to get 50% of students into university is a bit ridiculous though.

Hmm, what a waste of a language - the characters can't be displayed. This forum discriminates against the Yiddish. Tut tut.

??? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???????! I can speak Yiddish, don't you know?

Grrr

Peep Show

In one dodgy sentence, I'll sum up what I think of the PhD and the pro's related to it:

I do enjoy my PhD (at times); it's a slog - but then anything worthwhile is - but in the end it's more than worth it, as it's mine forever, the ultimate benchmark for personal academic achievement and a big reason to look forward to my future.

Hi Pamw, have you checked your recycle bin? Word doesn't usually delete any files that it loses. Otherwise, if you have auto recovery turned on (which you clearly have), you can search for the backup file. If Word finds the AutoRecover file, the Document Recovery task pane opens on the left side of the screen, and the missing document is listed as document name [Original] or as document name [Recovered]. There may also be multiple copies backed up at different times.

- Double-click the file in the Document Recovery pane so it opens up in the main document window
-Click Save As and give it a name
- Save the document as a .doc file.


Hope this helps.

Hiya Monkey, yeah this is normal. A PhD is not necessarily about amazing findings (mine won't be). It's about training to be a researcher, which is what you've done. You've done your research, located itss place within its field (relative to other's work) and made proposals for future work. On top of that, it'll no doubt be an original contribution to knowledge in it's own way, so I'm sure it'll be okay.

I think my brain is broken - it's refusing to focus on anything for more than 3 seconds at a time. It's more interested in the moth helplessly bouncing off my window trying to get to the light in my room. I'm beginning to think it's a really appropriate analogy for my work right now: no matter how hard I try, and continue to try, I just can't get to where I really want with it. I'm basically stuck. Anyway, I'm on the Midnight Train tonight. Haven't got much of the currency for PhD work (tenacity) on me though, so I can only afford to travel a few stops. But hopefully I can get a bit of work done. Anyone else joining me tonight.

Hi Megara_9191. I find, as with you, that the worst aspects of my PhD are the experiences of loneliness and uncertainty that comes from a lack of feedback I get with my work. Unlike you though, I never had the feelings you have now until the end of my second year (I'm about to go into my third). I'm a registered AHP, so I could go into a secure and relatively well paid job if I wanted - with excellent career prospects. But I consider myself to far into my PhD now - I have data and all my research sites set up, so it would, I feel, be a real shame if I packed it in, something I feel I would regret forever. I'm going to put up, shut up and just get the damn thing now.
I could be wrong, because I'm not quite as knowledgeable as some of the other members of this forum on such matters, but you're in the best position now to quit if you want to. You're not too far into the process and so, though I don't know what you're personality is like, it would be less of a burden for you in the future. Plus, you can always go back to doing another PhD in the future. There are some posters on this forum that have done just that (for a variety of reasons) - Bilbobaggins being one. So it won't be the end of the world and, as I once read on this forum: 'Worse things happen at sea!'. So you could see what the world of employment is like, as opposed to the interminable torture of a PhD, and then come back to it if it's not for you.
However, you're also in a typical position of a lot of PhD students; you don't feel like you've made much progress, you have little to show, and you don't feel like you have all the skills you need. I'm not sure what your field is but I was in exactly the same position at the end of my first year (I still am now in terms of the skills - shhh!). I actually spoke to my supervisor (now my ex-supervisor) about the areas of concern you have at the start of my second year, and he said that doing a PhD is about training to be a researcher, embarking on a journey and learning on the job. It might be that at the end of my PhD I don't have a lot to show, but I'll have a bloody good discussion chapter and be able to demonstrate an awful lot of learning and effort in becoming a qualified researcher. Perhaps like you if you choose to continue your PhD. Plus, your uni should be provide training sessions on the skills you need, and if not you can always network and find support from other researchers from your field. I've been doing this.
I've probably just recited the internal argument you've already had with yourself. The bottom line is if you do decide to end your PhD, you can see if the grass really is greener and then always come back to doing a PhD at a later point. Life happens. If RJB (I think that's the poster's name) is about, he may be able to give you some further insight, as I recall he's not had a totally dissimilar experience.
With regards to getting a reference off your supervisor, if you've had a good working relationship her, and she understands the thought that has gone into your decision, she should be willing to give you a reference. I would imagine she would want you to succeed in whatever you decide to do.

Hi Magictime. I needed an operation on my eyes a long time ago. I was like you: scalpels and eye balls - surely not. But I was under general anaesthesia so was none the wiser during the procedure. The surgeons were really nice too. Got me counting to 10 and I recall only getting to about 7. The I woke up and everything was fine. I'm sure it'll be the same for you. They do procedures like yours everyday. :-)

Right, I've been scaring myself silly listening to radio programmes and reading the news papers regarding the impact the recession is going to have on public services over the coming years. I also understand that there is going to be a cut in funding to universities, and have read on this forum that lecturing jobs are becoming increasingly difficult to come by. Really, I'm quite worried about how this may impact on a future career in academia. This may sound an obvious question, but does anyone think they'll be much less money around for doing research - fewer grants, etc? And how long will this last? Will things eventually go 'back to normal'? The doomsday scenario for me is getting my PhD and then having to get a job, longterm, that never uses the skills I have develop. Selfish or childish as it may sound, it's not why I've worked my arse off and made so many sacrifices for so long. Would be interesting to hear what other forumites have to say about this. :-)

Bug, bit of a personal question for you...how come you have 4 stars? I only have 3, so can I have one of yours please?

allo Chrisrolinski, good to see you Beitrag auf dem Forum wieder. Ich frage mich, wie es Ihnen geht über in Deutschland! Was ist es? Ein bisschen ein Kulturschock? Hope everyone is nice and friendly, wo Sie sind. Wie üblich, werde ich arbeiten zu spät! So viel zu tun, so wenig Zeit ...