I effectively had a mock viva yesterday, called the interim evaluation. I passed it and have been given the 'all clear' to arrange the viva when I eventually finish writing up, but the panel raised certain issues and I didn't take them very well. I'm ashamed to say I was a bit of a cocky gobshxte. I've essentially just made a questionnaire. I developed my own way of doing things to achieve this. They think it's sound and enough to get a PhD. Anyhoo, they think that I don't emphasise my questionnaire and it's benefits enough. They think that I kind of mix it up with my methodological design, making things unclear.
I tried to explain that all the inferences that I can draw about my questionnaire are dependent upon my methodological design, meaning that I can't divorce the two. So I can't talk about my questionnaire without talking about my methodological design. It's catch-22. They were very nice, but they felt otherwise. I need to be very clear about what my messages are - even though I have lots of them. I'm in a quandary because at my eventual viva, I've got an external whose a methodologist (a social scientist - the worst, most evil kind of scientists) and one who makes questionnaires like mine. I've got to make them bother happy. It's when I used to run a cafe. One likes tea, one likes coffee - I've got to serve both beverages.
So, yeah, bit down about it all to be honest. I did lose my temper (I'm a renaissance man, so not aggressively) because I was trying to reason and get these messages across. I just thought I'd share my experience with everyone. I'm not really looking for suggestions and answers because I don't think there are any. :-(

Hi Mamara, I agree with the others. It's a bit late in the day for a fundamental shift in your methodological design. Collecting questionnaire-based data is fine for PhD research. It's a very common tool for data collection. What was your research very, very broadly about (so as to maintain anonymity)? Is it a quantitative study? If so (in my view), it wouldn't be a very good idea to start collecting qualitative data with focus groups. Or did you questionnaire collect both quantitative and qualitative data? It would definitely be worth seeking the advice of a statistician to see if there is any further inferential statistics that you can carry out. But, because it's so late in the day for your research and the design has already been implemented in a particular way, there might not be much that can be done in the way of 'powerful' stats.
Try not to worry about things until you have discussed the matter with the statistician and your supervisor further.

Matt, I'm nearly 30 and I don't think of myself as old. Still get asked for I.D. when buying beer (though I've heard that's just company policy now - pffffff). I can tell you what I own: 25 books, 1 laptop, a bedroom heater, some clothes, 1 ancient Nokia N95 (doesn't work properly), an Asda Price suit, 1 PS3 (though a mate still has it) and 3 bottles of Listerine and a tooth brush (they were on special offer at Boots). I'm expecting a new delivery in the new year - a PhD.
The way I see it, I've got nothing tying me down. When I've done my PhD, I can go anywhere (all of my possessions can fit into the boot of a car) and try anything. If things do take a turn for the worst and I become homeless, I can easily stick everything in a stolen ASDA trolley and shuffle around. To be just at or in your 30s is certainly not too old to be starting a new career. Trust me on that one. I'm banking on it.

I've read about 8 different theses and most have them have been brilliant. Real scholarly achievements. There was one with a self-reflexive piece in that really put the Ph in the D. Do I think standards are slipping? No. I think that it just depends on who your external and internal examiner are. For instance, if it's Prof McFlarty from the University of Gold Standards, they're going to pick up on typos and missing refs, then slaughter you. If it's Ian from the New University of the Surrounding Counties, you'll get away with a lot more and people will say standards have slipped. Besides, there's no standardisation of the PhD examination process.

Seems like a lot of us are scientists then. But, what is science...? http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/science/

My supervisor wants a paper writing. So, I have to stop working on the discussion and now get on with writing a paper. Wish I wasn't such a lilly-livered wimp who can't say no to people. I'd rather do it after I've finished my PhD, when maybe I'm getting paid.

You could buy a daylight bulb. They're about a tenner, but they give out the full light spectrum of daylight and last for about 7 years.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to this journal and wonder if anyone can try and get this for me if they have a few spare moments?

O'Cathain, A. Murphy, E. and J. Nicoll. (2008). The Quality of Mixed Methods Studies in Health Services Research Journal of Health Services Research Policy 13 (2) pp. 92-98.

Thank you

Hi LBaines, congratulations on deciding to do a PhD. I can't really comment or give advice on doing a PhD part-time. However, there have been quite a few posts over the past few months about this and I'm aware that some people who use this forum are doing a part-time PhD. It might be worth doing a search of the past forum threads to see what you can find out. Good luck.

According to my uni, I only have access from 1812 to 1826! Hmm, shurrrely shome mistake...

I think it something to do with your blood levels of creatinine and kidney function (it gives an indication of glomerular filtration rate).

I can't really speak with any authority, but that's what I'm trying to do. I had commentaries after each of my results chapters discussing the results but I've found that's left me very little to write about in the actual discussion chapter - because I'd already done most of what I was supposed to discuss. So, after discussion with my supervisor, I've decided to do exactly what you've described above.

Sneaks, am I right in thinking that you thesis is comprised of 3 separate studies? If, that's the case, I'd plonk it in the methods section. However, if I'm wrong you're describing the whole of you thesis, I'd have it as a separate chapter that fits between your lit review and methods section. I've managed to get my theoretical framework written (2,000 words). I can send you a copy if you want to look at an example?

Sneaks, am I right in thinking that you thesis is comprised of 3 separate studies? If, that's the case, I'd plonk it in the methods section. However, if I'm wrong you're describing the whole of you thesis, I'd have it as a separate chapter that fits between your lit review and methods section. I've managed to get my theoretical framework written (2,000 words). I can send you a copy if you want to look at an example?