And stay away from reading about viva experiences on the internet! There's all kinds of horror stories - even more depressing than an episode of Eastender's. The reality is that the great majority of PhD candidates pass their viva's. So good luck. :-)

The metaphysical chair right there!;-)

Sorry to disturb you Squiggles, but do you mind?! You're sleeping on my chair.

Oh dear, I've done no work this weekend...I think I'll start by...winning this thread!;-)

Congratulations once again Bug, and thanks for the cyber hug. It's the first one I've had in, erm, ages. Now stand behind me and assume second place on this thread while I bask in the glory. (up)

Joyce, Sneaks and Rick, thanks for you insights. It's definitely too long at 100 pages, and I think I'm going to divide it up. My work is dastardly mixed methods that integrates a lot of different techniques and that is reflected in the literature review. As Joyce says, I'm going to divide it up into separate chapters - it makes the most sense - and just make sure it flows and reads okay. Somebody below (sorry I've forgotten the poster, but thank you) said that the average chapter length should be 10, 000 words according Dunleavy - but there's no way I can see this happening, because my research just isn't working out like that. Ah well, onwards and upwards... :-)

Sorry to hear you've been whacked today (well yesterday now) Bilbo. Hope you feel better tomorrow. I don't know about you, but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Problem is, it's some bugger holding a torch with more work. :-(

Hmm, if I post now, I should experience what it is like to be the winner of this thread for at least 8 hours...yay!

Dear kind friends,

I am seeking to win this thread and would most appreciate if you would kindly assist me in winning the prize. Kindly awaiting your non-response.

I thank you

Well done Phdbug. Sounds like things are going very well indeed for you. You certainly deserve it with all your hard work though.

Yup, always on the graveyard shift at the mo. Finishing off some data analysis that I have to summarise and then send off for tomorrow. Happy working.

Vrroooommmmm!

Thanks for putting me at ease. I've submitted some of the chapters to my supervisors and they haven't said too much about the lengths of what I have written - just the occasional mumble about how some of it could be two chapters and so forth. At least I'm writing now I suppose, so it'll be there when I actually come to putting my thesis together proper. The thing is, I have so much more 'crap' to write about yet, so there's going to be some SERIOUS editing a little later down the line, there'll have to be. God (not to take the good man's name in vain), I have such a mountain to climb this coming year...

BTW, Sneaks - I'm sure your supervisor won't say anything like that. When I get 'constructive' criticism from mine over my writing, they always say: 'Nothing you write is ever wasted!' Hmm, whatever they mean by that, it doesn't feel like it to me!

I'm currently writing chapters for my thesis, as I analyse data. The thing is, my lit review chapter is a hundred pages long and a theoretical framework chapter only 7 pages long. So, I'd just like to ask, for anyone who's writing chapters at the moment, how many words or pages they are tending to be. It might be a silly question really - it's more for reassurance. Thank you.

Awww, they've take it off! It was probably was a bit gruesome and black-humoured for a cerebral forum such as this. Sorry if you found it a bit disconcerting Sneaks - my work has warped my sense of humour :$