Just a quick question I thought I would ask. I'm working on my methodology chapter and I'm using a sequential exploratory mixed methods approach. Anyway, all the books usually describe this methodology as consisting of 2 phases, but mine has 3 phases. I can't find any books or papers that describe 3 phase studies and so decided to ask some experts if it was okay by e-mail. They got back to me and said fine, critiqued the current books as being a bit to prescriptive and said I should go ahead. SO my question is, can I reference these as personal communications in my thesis?

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I say yes you can, I've seen instructions for referencing personal communications in my travels around academia somewhwere, although, I can't remember where now. Sounds like you're making a good development.

I'll put some of my marking in the post for you: I'm sure that's one dream that will almost certainly come true one day, any way.

Haha, thanks Eska. I can't say I know much about film and film culture I'm afraid, so unless you set them questions such as:

Rocky 2 was better than Rocky. Discuss.

or,

Compare and contrast Tropic Thunder with There's Something About Mary.

I really won't be much help. I'll take a look for guidelines on how to reference personal communications online now you've suggested it.

I didn't set those questions, but for some reason most of my studes seem to think I did... first years, first essays: clueless! Ahhhh time to teach the little blighters, so many thirds, so little time... mwwwwaaahhhhhhaahaha!

In my thesis (humanities) I have something like the following in a footnote:

In private correspondence *** expert *** *** observed that ‘QUOTE FROM THE PERSON SENT IN AN EMAIL'.

Hi Walminski,

agree with the above.

I would write something like: ......Based on discusssion with ....../ key author / expert etc. we decided to use to use a three phase study.

Yes you can reference this, if you are using Harvard, in the ref you just put the usual stuff, name, date etc. then personal communication- and make sure you keep a copy of the e-mail. However I would just check that whoever sent you this is OK with you quoting it before you do so, only polite really, and the ethical thing to do too.