the research plan I have been developing was done 12 years ago, in the same location, similar method and using exactly the same type of sample population (nurses). However what is worse is that it was done as an undergrad thesis.
I'm coming to end of first year and have a faculty defence in one month.
Should i just quit now?

Hi Bug

Sounds like bit of a 'rug-pulling' moment but don't panic, every PhD student has at least one of these. Have you spoken to your supervisors since making this discovery?

my sups are really not interested. One of them thinks everything I come up with is rubbish while the other is more supportive but really doesn't care whether I get asked to do a MPhil or PhD. I really don't know how I can draw on this previous research to develop it further at PhD level. but it's my only idea right now. I had a completely different plan previously but first sup told me that she really didn't want me to do it. Totally stuck!

Does your work build on the work done previously in anyway i.e. larger sample size? You say the methodology is similar - how does your methodolody differ, can you build a case based on your more robust approach perhaps?

I think if I were you I would try to meet with your supervisors and explain that you have to make this project worthy of a PhD and ask them for advice on how you can develop it further. They have a duty to support you and help you achieve your goals. If you feel you are not getting the support you need, you should perhaps consider talking to someone higher up (chair of research degrees committee, head of graduate school?).

Thanks Ann. I have a constant battle to get my sups interested in my research but I think I will set a meeting up ASAP with the less hostile one. I'm just worried about the time issue now as my transfer viva is in a month. And a report due in 3 weeks.
My idea uses more in depth methodology and my sample size would be bigger but as the underlying theory is so similar I am worried that the faculty members will say that there is not enough new thinking, esp at PhD level. It doesn't help that the person who did the undergrad thesis is now a lecturer at my uni. So I can't even try to cover it up/ avoid the issue.

Could this not be a blessing in disguise? Could you perhaps (having discussed it with your current supervisors) try to enlist the lecturer as a third supervisor? It sounds like you could do with a bit more enthusiastic input and I bet that lecturer would be full of ideas about how the work could be developed.

Have you/can you get a copy of the undergrad thesis? I bet that when you read it, you'll see lots of areas that have been only superficially addressed, after all this is an undergrad dissertation and even if it is excellent, the student will not have had the time (or the maturity or research skills) to address the topic in the way that a postgrad student can. I absolutely cringe when I look at my undergrad dissertation, even though I got a very respectable grade for it at the time!

ooohhh.... hadn't really thought about that in all my panicking. At least he might be more likely to be interested in the work. I definately don't have anything to lose by emailing him anyway. I
can't find a copy of the thesis but I know he got the work published in a journal (which is how I came across it). I can't get access to see the article tho. I wonder would it be a bit 'out of order' to ask him if he could send me a copy?
Thanks so much for that by the way. I'm starting to feel a little better now! :)

I expect he'd be delighted that you were interested in his work, especially if he ends up joining your supervisory team. I'd recommend chatting to your current supervisors about perhaps asking this lecturer to join your supervisory team before you e-mail to ask him, I think it would be the polite thing to do, you don't want to annoy your current supervisors! No harm in asking him whether you can borrown a copy of his dissertation straight away though (IMO).

Glad you are feeling a bit better - these sudden PhD moments of horror can real unsettle a person but most things can be overcome and may even turn out to your advantage in the end.