sorry everyone - just realised how terribly negative I sound. I have to say, on a positive note, that I really love the practical side of the research. Hopefully when I'm a bit further down the PhD road and I get to do a bit more of this then things won't seem so bad

yes, I'm doing a pilot, but with only a very vague idea of the literature on the topic I'm not sure that it will serve any purpose other than to give me a go at using this methodology! I'm exactly like you in meetings, completely unsure of everything I say. Have you also got the blag ready for when anyone asks you what you're researching? I just rattle off a vague description of what I think it is I might be looking at and hope that no-one probes any deeper!!!

No - I've still written nothing. I'm using Q methodology, which I'd never heard of prior to now,so I've spent a lot of time trying to get my head around it and getting a pilot study together. I kind of feel as if I'm putting the cart before the horse sometimes though, as I don't feel confident about what it is I'm trying to find out and yet I'm gathering data about it! I also get the impression that my supervisor thinks I know an awful lot more than I do. At what stage do I confess that my knowledge is not nearly as great as he believes - or do I just wait until I submit something in writing and he can see for himself????

Hi Mokey, I sometimes wonder if you are me writing under a different name!! Six months in, social science PhD, negative feelings about my ability to take anything in and wondering if I should just quit now! I keep telling myself to complete a year and see how I feel then, but does anyone know if there is a 'critical period' for PhD dropout after which time you're more likely to go on and complete?

Congrats Mokey on submitting some written work! I still haven't managed to accomplish writing anything yet - I keep putting it off by carrying out practical work like piloting my data collection instrument. I kid myself that it's ok 'cos I don't really know what should go in my lit review until I see what issues are raised by my research. I hope your feedback is positive - I'm sure it will be. Here's to a good day for us all tomorrow!

Thought I'd just let you all know that I had a good day today - but only 'cos I spent it collecting data! Perhaps I could just do the data collection and analysis and then employ a ghost writer to do the thesis!!

Thanks for the link Olivia. Still fear I'm a fraud, but at least I know I'm not alone!!!

Hi Eddi, I really sympathise with you. I'm 5 months in and really concerned that I'm just not cut out to do a PhD. I'm enjoying the practical side of the research, but I'm really worried that my critical thinking and writing aren't up to scratch. Even more worrying, my supervisors seem to have this incredible belief in me and I really feel like a fraud. I feel physically ill every time my supervisor asks me about what I've read or suggests that I write something 'cos although I've read loads, I seem to have just 'surface learnt' it and it hasn't really gone in. I feel like I'm just waiting to be found out. Sorry for the long post, but I really needed to get this off my chest. I just can't see my way through this one.

Hi Mokey, I've got a feeling you started around the same time as me in September? If so, I'm impressed that you're anywhere near writing something up! I keep asking if I should have written something by now, but no-one seems in any particular rush to see anything. Consequently all I've got are a few jottings written as I read through papers. I know from experience it can take me a week to write 1000 words, so when should I start writing a lit review?

I'm certainly worried about missing the important stuff, but also concerned that the stuff I'm reading is maybe not all that relevant to my research! I seem to keep getting lead off at a tangent and I'm not at all sure that the issue I'm researching now is the same issue that's detailed on my proposal! Do we get the opportunity at the end of the first year to change the focus of the project?

You seem to have done loads Buzby! How far in are you?

Hi all, I'm now 4 months into a PhD in social science and I find it so reassuring to read all your posts! I feel like I'm working non-stop but not achieving a great deal, then my supervisor sits me down and points out all the things I know now that I was completely oblivious to 4 months ago and I start to feel that maybe I am making some progress after all. I've spent the majority of my time so far reading though and so I'd be interested to know at what point others amongst you started writing, presenting at seminars, conferences etc.

I'm in social sciences, looking at identity. I started to do some background reading, but supervisor has suggested I sort out my methodology first. I'm busy trying to learn methods I've never heard of before and I feel like I'm taking one step forward and two back when it comes to understanding anything I'm reading! I'm trying to keep positive by telling myself its early days and thinking back to the way I felt when I began my undergraduate degree. I guess its a case of stick with it and time will tell! I'm finding it a great help to read the postings on this forum though - it helps to know I'm not alone

Hi Mokey. Boy - have you made me feel better! My head has ached every night for the past three weeks trying to get back into understanding the theoretical side of things again. I'm finding the independent side of things quite difficult to get used to as well as I really want some sort of benchmark to measure myself against. As for the reading! I've found that if I can manage 2-3 journal articles in a day I'm doing well, but I'm really concerned that I should be able to manage more. Would welcome advice from those who've been there

Hi, glad to know there are others feeling the same - I thought it was just me!! I'm thought I'd start by getting some background reading done but supervisor is asking me about methodology, so I feel that perhaps I'm not going about things the right way. I'm also concerned as to how many hours a day I should be doing as a full-time student. Is there a set number or is it just a case of putting in as many as you need to get the job done?