Hi all,

I posted a lot on here during my MA, and during the first couple of years of my PhD, but that's waned a little as my fellow 'one goalers' left the forum.

But I'm here today to say that I have just passed my viva!

I know it has been said time and time again, but I have to say I ENJOYED IT!

My examiners were both more than lovely, they told me at the start that I had passed, that they thoroughly enjoyed reading my thesis and that they just wanted to have a chat about where I could go next with it. I had a couple of tricky questions from my internal about the theory I used, but I was prepared for that as my internal is very big on this particular theory. They also questioned my chosen methodological approach, but again I had answers for that and they agreed.

After 45 minutes (yes, that was how short it was!) they told me that I had passed with minor corrections (equalling 4 typos and sorting an abbreviation)!

So a big thank you to all of the support I received on here, but especially to Sneaks, Batfink and Lindalou who I don't think are around anymore!

I can't quite believe it's over.

I used to post a lot here, but haven't for a while for various reasons.

Anyway, I have recently submitted my thesis (qualitative) and here are a few tips:

-I bought and learnt how to use Endnote before I started. I inputted all the articles/important books/policies etc that I had used during my MA and BA. I never actually used Endnote in the official way whilst writing, but it was invaluable for keeping accurate records. In the early stages whilst reading I would copy all notes into the 'notes' section for each reference; I still refer to these notes now.

-I have a printer (I'm actually on my third!) and couldn't manage without it. I did 40 interviews and printed each transcript as I couldn't analyse them directly on my computer; I took some to a coffee shop to analyse, others I analysed in the sofa/in bed/in the garden etc! So my printer was essential. Not to mention multiple drafts I printed for editing...oh and I actually printed my thesis for submission with my own printer! This is very helpful if you plan to work from home; I never worked at uni.

- I have a PC; I started off with a laptop but found that it was very slow after having Endnote/multiple drafts/internet etc running all at the same time. So I treated myself to one. I also have an Ipad but very rarely use it for any work, that's all done on my PC.

-I never used quantitative methods throughout my PhD; I avoided them actually! So it may be a good idea to read a general qualitative book. But to be honest, there will be plenty of time for reading etc once you've started.

Good luck!

Hi, I have done nearly 40 interviews in total (social sciences), with participants being divided into several sub-groups. Although this is a few more than you intend to do, I have a few publications based on specific aspects of my thesis, and therefore only one or two sub-groups were referred to (as the other participants were not relevant to the article, if that makes sense). So, as an example, one of my publications is based on interviews with 9 participants, and this was fine for publication :)

So basically, yes I think 20 will be fine as long as they are in-depth interviews, and you justify the reasons for (what may be deemed as) your 'small' sample size. I think 20 participants is a rather large sample though if it is a qualitative study you're doing. I can't imagine that it would be a problem for publication.

Hi all,

Let me make this clear from the outset; I don't intend to present at/go to both conferences!

I recently submitted an abstract for a prestigious, international conference which will take place in America next year. It's unlikely that I will be accepted for it. Based on this, I have recently seen a call for papers regarding a much less prestigious conference, which I presented at last year, and would like to present at again if I'm not accepted for the international conference.

As I only have enough funding for one of these conferences, and therefore will only be going to one of these conferences, is it acceptable to submit the same abstract to both conferences?

Thanks!

The usual protocol is that you write an abstract for a conference. If it gets accepted, it basically means you will present a paper at the conference based on your abstract. So your paper is already accepted so to speak. Yes you do need to submit an abstract- it is usually the only way you are accepted to present. And no, you can't submit other work to the conference, at least not in my field. I've never known conferences to do it any other way than ask for an abstract first, to judge the worth of your paper on that topic.

Hi all!

Batfink congrats on the job- that's great news!

I've been busy on non-related PhD stuff again, mainly teaching and marking. That's finally done, but I now need to tackle the revisions for a journal article I've just received feedback on. It looks like it will be a long process, eugh, but I really want to get it done to the best that I can. Which means delaying working on my thesis, but hey ho, that can wait!

Hi all,

Just dropping in today. I need to go over my lecture notes ready for teaching tomorrow, and then I'm hoping to go and do some Christmas shopping for myself (gift)(gift)(gift)

Have a good day!

Hi all,

I submitted an article to a journal in July. I was told I would receive feedback in September (it's for a special issue of a journal so they had set deadlines supposedly). I sent a polite email mid October and the editor replied saying that they had received feedback from one peer reviewer but were waiting for the other as the peer reviewer had been away.

How long would you leave it before chasing up again?

Hi everyone! I haven't been around for what seems like ages! I've been poorly, but feel fine now and so I've been working on editing my thesis. Since I last posted I've also been offered 3 part-time jobs, 2 of which are teaching. This now means that i have 4 very part-time jobs but the initial interview stages and induction etc have eaten up my time!

Anyway, that's all sorted now, time to get on with my thesis. Sup was happy with my first full draft which is great. At the moment I'm going through the whole thesis and making the minor changes required; chapters 1-5 are edited, which leaves chapters 6-8 and my conclusion. I then need to make a couple of major-ish changes, but they shouldn't take too long.

Hope you are all getting on okay!

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! I did attempt to sit at my desk before and promptly realised that sitting vertically just wasn't possible!

Hope to be back next week! (up)

Hi everyone!

Just checking in; I'm rather poorly at the moment and am currently sofa-bound, so work is completely off the agenda! I think I'll have to take the rest of the week off, before meeting sup on Monday if I'm well enough.

Sounds like you're all doing great though, we'll done!

Hi everyone!

I randomly took the day off yesterday as I dind't fancy jumping from writing one journal article straight into the next. But I'm back on it today!

Goal 1- write findings section of article
Goal 2- write discussion/conclusion
Goal 3- write methodology

That should keep me busy, good luck today all!

Morning all!

Well I managed to get my journal article finished yesterday; not overly pleased with it though as it was a very difficult one to write. But I'll just have a read through of it this morning and then give it to sup for comments once I see her.

Goal 1- read through article and print
Goal 2- read through article written last week and print
Goal 3- plan next article

Good luck today everyone!

Good luck working on the chapter today Linda!

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job Batfink, but the feedback you received sounds very promising.

I'm peed off; I've spent most of the morning working on the meth section of my article, only to have just realised that half of it isn't actually needed grr! So I've been spending ages re-wording it and making it sound better, only to have pressed delete 5 minutes ago!

But hey ho, it's done now! I've managed to do both of my goals set which is great, which means I've 'just' got the abstract and background section to write. I'm having one of those 'my article is crap' moments though, but if I can I'd like to get a complete rough draft done by the end of the day, then I can see how bad it actually is tomorrow!

Hi all,

I was away last week housesitting for my parents; their computer is very slow and I spent half my time fixing it, so I didn't really get much work done! I've also had some nice news this week which has meant I've been a bit distracted! So I really need to get cracking.

My aim for the next 2 weeks is to finish the journal article I'm writing, and to write an extra 2 journal articles before I meet my sup to discuss my thesis. I should get the journal article I'm working on finished by tomorrow, giving me just under two weeks to write the other two. Hmm, maybe I'm being a bit ambitious!

Goal 1- write meth section for article
Goal 2- fill in the gaps in findings and discussion sections

Good luck today everyone!