I didn't get a third but did do counselling as a masters after degree in psychology. They way I was told to help my self get on the course was to look at the short courses in counselling run by the 'open college network', they are only 10 weeks and start to give you skills. I did two of them to show this was really what I wanted, and they actually were a really good intro before the course. May be worth looking into to help show your keen and to try and give you an extra bit in the application process?

Good luck
(up)

For content analysis one you have coded it the way I did it was to create an SPSS coding sheet from that and then input it into excel 1st of stright into SPSS. it depends how you are using content analysis really and how written your coding protocol sheets and operational coding sheets. For the anlaysis depending what you are doing excell can now do basic ANOVAs and t-test as well,

I have used Nvivo as well but would not use it for content analysis, maybe having a quick look at word frequency but use that for more thematic analysis after. I would say with Nvivo it deff looks like other said more useful that it sometimes can be.

Good luck

I agree with Pam W having used CA in my masters and now in my PhD. if you can get hold of would recommend the book -  Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology by Dr. Klaus H. Krippendorff. Think on the second edition now it is a really good book in terms how to use and the methodology. It may help you decide which method is best. They key is making sure you are really precise to start and then do inta rater reliability after the first how every many in my case was 50 to check the coding sheet and protocol you have developed. I would say depending on you data with CA for me I use it as have a large quaintly to get an overview but as I was told by my old supervisor it gives me a skeleton but need something else to make the body.

It is a fairly easy method to teach your self if you are systematic

good luck
(up)

I agree I would express what your intentions are, if you are wanting to gage what it out their a good new app seems to have appeared "uni career" so you can see what is out there if not enjoying your PhD, also good gage current salaries when/if do start talk to them. I think supervisors are all aware the what to do next thing is a big fear for students, I get the feeling although we have had discussions about follow up with them and my sponsors they also want to check how I do in the final year. We did get told this week the life of a post doc is not great so to really think about things and discussions have about next steps. I work as part a team that has many projects on going and things have been implied but I guess cant take things for granted till sit down with them. Just be clear with them the person who took there name out hat for jobs is now trying change this but the reception is less positive.

Mine varies but do ask what planning on doing - although suggested we try save the libraries which was a bit random, cos of our skill sets. They just seem concerned we have not thought as is only 18 months till hopefully finish. We try and have discussions with them to gage job prospects and these vary with how well they go or not. It seems to depend if they in supervisor mode or pastoral care mode as well, can be disconcerting I just say I'm going run a pub.

It does seem a shame yours have not shown an interest as they can be useful sources information for carriers etc, have you tried approaching the subject?

Sorry to hear about your situation. I would say have a look at your university academic guidance for post grades - there should be a section in there about there procedures for appeals etc. And like pink_numbers says what does your supervisor say about this? Is there a head of post grad studies you could contact with supervisor permission maybe to see what they would suggest. I would say you need talk supervisor - find out there opinion. I would think proving bias, prejudice etc be a very difficult route.

Hope you get some answers and support soon

Hi,

I have been using: Cresqell, J. & Clark, Designing and conducting mixed methods Research (2nd edition) Sage Publications £27.99

It pretty good and quite easy, cant remember what your area is but another good one I have been using is Research methods in education - cohen, manion, morrison that looks at triangulating the results. Have you also considered the MRC framework if the write area as give a pathway research should take and reason why you need to use mixed methods.

Good luck, I got write this chapter in a bit
:-(

======= Date Modified 27 Jan 2011 17:35:03 =======
:-( so sad, need some help calculating age in months in an access 2007 database, if poss id like to have the age field in the table, showing age in months/years (This is a table containing children's data so will be from age 10 months to 3 years).
Ive tried several formulas such as datediff and /365.25 etc but none of them work when I put them into my database. Im away from my desk so can't put the full code in here but have trawled several online forums and nothing works!
Ive tried doing it as a query also and that hasn't worked either. Any ideas Help :p? :-)

hey,

one thing I got told i had to look for was the direction of the microphone and how it cancels out any other noises. I went with as also did focus groups a panasonic one. it was more expensive but had attachable microphone as added extra for recording groups (also been used record uni meetings for some staff and has been very good quality) it also has a remote so can activate with out leaning to, found with some people this was a bonus as they where less aware of it. For groups an omni directional microphone is best to ensure sound is clear from all. I talked to the techy in my dept and he was really useful about it and ways could apply to get help purchasing so may be worth seeing if someone who deals with equipment in you dept can help.

i also have used express scribe and found it ok, I found once I had customised all the keys and the speeds etc that it worked a lot better than when initially download it. but yeah i got behind due to the timing of the work that i was doing and yeah it is now very daunting to try and catch up.

good luck with choices

I went to uni in Bangor and have a lot of friends there still. I moved away for my PhD as one thing I came across with some aspects is I don't speak welsh. This may not be a problem in your area but for me it would have been very restrictive and hindered my progress due to being able work in the community, although most speak English if their first language is welsh this is how the language work needs to be conducted in. It may be something to consider and try to find out how important it is in your area if you don't speak welsh, the uni is expanding greatly so for what I know those who stayed there is opportunity.

I brought my self an Ipod touch when i started and it has deffinatly been worth it. can sink it with work calender and when i want emails. i use mendelay as i find it a lot more usefriendly and less buggy than endnote so can download the app for that which can be really useful when you go other libaries or in meetings and need a reference. it also has a digial drop box app so on this i have some powerpoint slides summerising things if ever in place need it and also a cv to hand. it also as some the other said helps with the music (and tv) so not always in silence. it not as big as a laptop/netbook but can be great for when out and about or at conferences etc. there lots others apps got specific to PhD.

I agree with the chair I have an ok one at home but can really tell not my one in office. I have just brought a posh desktop as on 3rd year found laptop screen not big enough comparing multiple pages having lots windows open, so have think what suits you.

Good luck as well with starting

I have 2 sups with very diff views on this. One is very critical of anything but a few journals in her subject but the other is more open and understand that as students sometimes starting below the top ones is a better move than lots of rejection from the big ones to dent confidence.

I think it comes down to if they are part of the old guard or a bit more new and adaptive to how academic is changing and students needs.

Well done! (up):-)

with the increasing amount of software being employed by universities to detect plagiarism you would have thought the message would be getting through that it is risky and with the different kinds of support. I think with plagiarism it can be hard as well why did they do it etc but if blatant like this seems to be they must know going to risk there future after 2 years work. I guess at least they plagiarized the references as well sure not all would thought ensure had done that.

Hi,

Just wondered how do you attach it to a folder that it will scan and add new one? that would be great to be able to do. I deff wish had it from the start instead struggling with endnote