Sometimes there's more to say if something hasnt worked, particularly if there was good reason to expect it to work! I've got a couple of studies where there were hardly any significant results and its given me scope to explore differences between my studies and previous research etc. Try to think of it like that and I'm sure you'll be fine, nobody's studies all go smoothly!

Just realised when you were talking about emailing you were referring to the journal, have you tried emailing the author? Sometimes they will happily send you a copy of their article. (Sometimes, of course, they completely ignore you, but I'm not bitter!!)

Sorry MTB_girl, no luck for me either. Hope the author can help!

yay! loving it...

yuk nice thought H... do enough of that with my puppy! but now I'm the winner! woo hoo!
p.s. where do i get fun emoticons like chicken from??

evening classes are a great idea! this year I took up Italian which is a good way to meet new people and do something to take my mind off my phd for 2 hours a week! i was always quite useless at languages at school but have found that not being forced into it by teachers and having exams looming at the end of it makes it so much more enjoyable and easier!

Hi Goods, my supervisor keeps drumming in that the conclusion chapter is "what you know from your thesis, what you might know (results that are less clear), and what you still need to find out" - maybe it helps to structure it around that in some way? I'm still one chapter away from the big C so dont know how helpful this way of looking at it will be yet!!

Would it make any sense to combine it with another chapter / other studies? I had a really short study, was just a check of something related to some other studies really, and my supervisor said to combine them all in one chapter so it doesnt stand out as being so short...

I'm an ex-Cardiff gal if that counts! Did my undergrad there and loved it, now elsewhere for the PhD. Definitely miss Cardiff sometimes, and all our old haunts - hope you enjoy it mrchipz!

ah well dont worry, Australia is a loooong way away and you'll probably get no response anyway! as long as they're not your external examiner it doesnt matter!

Hi Otto,
I think there's definitely a range of people re. how they will react, and it might depend how defensive the person is. There are a few people who I, if not criticise, then suggest alternatives to their perspectives in my work. I dont aim to outright criticise them and their work. One of these people has taken it all very well and said my work is very interesting, the other went on the major defensive and tore my work apart (mostly with completely wrong and unjustified criticisms). Think the problem with the latter was that my supervisor said I should go and present my work at the institute she runs, so she may have felt extra defensive there. I would recommend not doing it face to face, and making it out that you are interested in their comments rather than you want to blatantly criticise them!! Australia seems like a nice long way away...

Hi, are you a homeowner? Would have thought if so you could get a secured loan regardless of being a student? Have a look here, seem to be student friendly places!
http://www.interstudent.co.uk/top5_loans.php?gclid=CPH_-bzNjYwCFQNfgQodWCDT4Q

I'd be interested to hear what that msn group is like darius, let us know when you've been accepted!

He might not be a labrador but he's definitely dappy, he's a bearded collie and wont let me walk at a leisurely pace cos he's got so much energy he wants to go a million miles an hour! also get to work my upper body when he's feeling naughty and wont get into the car