So I am expecting my first baby early July and likely starting a PhD somewhere in October. From what I've understood, got advice and everything....everyone is different. Its depends on your baby and you and the support you have. There is never a right time and getting pregnant is not a planned thing. It can takes years or bang right away. The key I have picked up so far is be incredibly organised, diciplined and do what you know works for you. Are you a night owl, read and make notes of articles, ebooks on your iPad whilst baby is sleeping there next to you in the moses basket. Have a journal/diary where you write down your progress every few days/weeks!


Good luck and if you want to have a baby whilst doing the PhD GO for IT!!! Good luck xxx

Good advice thank you however many institutions ask that the referee send their reference directly usually via some online thing. and when it comes to studentships a standard reference isn't enough to win the award. Its so frustrating! :-(

Hi all,

I am just finishing as a part time and distance learning student. I want to apply for PhD's and also studentships but how do people gather these people to do what could be realistically 5+ references for difference institutions? Its difficult to ask for references with my study pace because there is no one that knows you as such and with so many lecturers too. Also where there is a change of staff. I don't know what to do! Part of me thinks okay I've got the MSc but is it worth finding away to do a course campus based to get a couple lectures prepared to do these references.

Any help i'd be really grateful.

Thank you K.

Making some enquiries at the worst time - easter holidays! So I wonder if the community can help me.

I have a place on a part time PhD in Sep. Does anyone know if I can defer this to begin the following year?

Thank you very much

Need advice.. do all of you use SPSS?

Is is essential as a method of your own areas of research/teaching/career progression (or even starting!). If your drawn to qualitative side and or it produces good quality findings, is that okay? I ask because it is no longer my friend and I don't think it is doing my study any justice or the direction I wish to study further in my subject area.

I have also struggled to learn it and enjoy it.

Can you be a social research assistant/lecturer/research associate etc without knowing SPSS/Using it?

thank you so much if you can help
K

Hi everyone, thank you all so much for your responses.

It is really useful and has put me at ease that I will be able to work around what suits me. I have looked at the railcard but it still is very very expensive! So i''m thinking to look at accommodation or something else even.

I really am committed to this goal so something will work out, in the meantime all the freebies I can get now to save on cost later on! lol

Thank you all again

Hi all, could anyone share their experiences or advice on full time PhD?

I know you take modules from MSc programmes during the PhD and take research training session/days etc, but are you required to attend every day? Is it different if your first year or last year? Can you attend say midday til 8pm if that works for you both with homelife and finances (eg. travel off peak cheaper!).

And what are you actually expected to do each day?

I ask because the campus I am looking and likely to attend is really expensive to go in every day, it would cost over 350 pounds a month in train/bus travel. (2 separate counties to travel through).

I'd be very grateful for any shared experiences of expectations. Thank you K.

Hi all,
Hope your all enjoying the break towards the summer months here in UK.

Has anyone any tips for going for DTC next year? Social sciences. What is it that makes a candidate get to win a place? The topic, their background, their statement? What can influence the panel to give you an award?

Does it matter whether you go for full or part time? Are you more likely to get a studentship if you apply for full time?

Thanks everyone Kitten

Hi all

I have an interview for a sociology/criminology lecturer next week and I'm asking if anyone would have any supporting advice?

What kinds of questions are they likely to ask for such a post? I have to deliver a presentation as part of the interview also.

Has anyone had the experience of starting their PhD with a newborn or getting pregnant just starting? How did you work it? What factors did you take and did you manage to attend classes, do your reading and everything else?

How did it work with being funded for your PhD?

Any tips on motherhood and doing your PhD?

I have just begun Real World Research by Colin Robson.

Its definition in the glossary of Purposive Sampling is 'choice of sample of participants based on the requirements of the research questions or theoretical considerations. generalisation of findings must be based on non-statistical bases'.

From my reading its all depends on the research questions what type of sample you use. If the particular data collection method is a survey for which you will be having quantitative responses I don't think purposive sampling is correct. It is used where there is qualitative data collected. i.e. those in word form, observation, interviews rather than survey. unless the responses in your survey will be of qualitative form which then would suggest purposive sampling is a correct term to describe your data collection sample.

Hope this helps.

Kitten

Thanks for the tips here. Really good info! In my last year of MSc and taking your advice to do a little everyday!

Can anyone help with my query?

I want to apply for a studentship for a PhD Social Sciences. Are you allowed to apply to more than one institution to get a chance of getting funding? Eg. apply for one DTC South East and another in South West. Or to two institutions in a DTC. Or even to 4 or 5 institutions and see if you get offered funding from any of them, if you had more than one offer could choose where to go?

Is it advisable to be contacting and preparing with different supervisors and so?

Any advice on this would be fab, I'm hoping to get full funding somewhere for 2015 entry.

Kitten

Hi all

What are your experiences of using an Ipad Mini or Ipad to use Endnote referencing software?

Is it worth it?

Has anyone been to Portsmouth and studying MSc Criminology by distance learning? Im looking into this as a better option for the 3 year distance learning.

Does it lead to a place on a Phd, i mean does it have enough research methods training to allow this?

Anyone with any experience of their programmes I would be grateful

Kitten