Hi all
I wanted to thank you all for your support over the last few weeks. I had my viva and passed with minor amendments. It was a real surprise for me, as I had expected major corrections as I was not too happy with my thesis. I guess I had in mind the 'perfect' thesis which mine had not lived up to, but that did not mean it was not 'good enough'.
Anyway, the viva itself was quite challenging - i was asked questions on my analysis and results, implications, future research. I found that there were a few questions I didn't have the answer to, but I was able to 'talk around' it and offer at least some thoughts, and this seemed to be okay. My advice is really to know your thesis, and practice talking about it.
Good luck everyone and thank you again x

Highlight...Emphasise...Accentuate...draw attention to......

Hi

I have definitely put weight on over the last four years!! I managed to lose a few pounds prior to my wedding (nerves) but quickly put those back on again...

I'm waiting for the whole process to be over, as i'm sure once it is, i will be far more mobile, as opposed to sitting at the computer all day every day!!

Good luck!! x

Hi Shaun

I didn't do it, but I can definitely see the pros and the cons, based on the experience I had.

On the one hand, I have found over the past few years that I have had so little time to spend with my family, so i'm not sure I would have wanted to live away from them...

But on the other hand, perhaps living away would make you more boundaried with time, and when you did see them, you would spend 'quality' time with them (instead of being in the same house all week but stuck at your computer - like me!).

Not sure that's really helpful, but in anycase, good luck with your decisions

PG

Thank you - that's helpful, i have provided definitions, but i'm going to bring in an additional glossary of terms to the viva.

Just a few days away now and getting very scared :-(

Yes, I agree, should have been picked up by my supervisor. Unfortunately, my supervisor hasn't been the best / most helpful, just continually says "I can't really comment as I'm in the process, I can't be objective" - whatever I ask, this is the response.

Ok. So I will defend my writing style - I will say that this is how other researchers in this particular field write, and that I have provided definitions for all terminology. Do you think that is a good enough defence?

Thanks

Hi peeps

I've got my viva coming up next week and have been preparing for it.

Today, I had a mock viva, which ended up being a fairly informal chat about implications and me getting some feedback about my thesis. One thing that came up (that others before also have said) is that the way I wrote some of it was too complicated.

Writing is usually something that I get very good feedback about, so it has been quite a shock, but I definitely agree that in certain areas, my writing style is not the best. But in others I generally feel it is a case of using complicated terminology/language because its quite philosophical, and I can't see how else I would write it.

Since this is something that most people have fed-back to me about my thesis, i'm pretty sure it will be something the examiners also comment on. My issue is - how do I respond?? Do I agree that it's not the best writing, and therefore I basically agree that i need to re-write large chunks? Do I not agree? Do I try to explain why I used certain language?

Does anyone have any ideas on how I might tackle this criticism / comment?

Thanks!!

Psychgirl

Hi Pineapple

Reading your post is like reading my mind a few weeks ago. I think what you're going through is entirely normal and common. Reading my thesis after I submitted has been one of the most painful things ever, and it is so hard to properly describe how it feels to people that don't know.

But time away from it has definitely helped me to gain some perspective. I have also been told by my supervisor that I am very likely to receive major corrections. This has been horrible to come to terms with because I know absolutely that I could have done a better piece of work. But this is what has helped and what I advise you:
1. Take time away from the thesis; after time away, when you come back to it, although you may still spot mistakes and be unhappy with some sections, you may be able to be a bit more balanced and defend some parts of the work well
2. Realise that actually, nothing is set in stone yet, and you may well surprise yourself. in any case, see the viva as a way to show the examiners how much you know and how passionate you are about the work. Highlight the areas in the thesis that you are not happy with, and practice talking about these parts in a way that you are proud of. If in the worst case you get resubmission, you would have passed the viva
3. You've got through the hardest part - well done!! One day, in the midst of my pain and distress and disappointment in what i submitted / what is still left to come, this dawned on me and it has been a great feeling.

good luck!

Thank you! I was getting so confused :-( Somehow I just needed someone to spell it out for me.
thanksx

Thanks for your replies. My answer for "why this topic" was so long, so have now cut it down.

Just another quick question, I am finding that my answers to questions re: rationale and original contribution are much the same. Is this the case for others, or should I be saying something different? Hope that made sense!

Psychgirl x

Hi all

I have my viva in a couple of weeks and i'm just doing some practice questions/answers e.g. what made you interested in this field? What is the significant/original contribution of your research to your field? etc

This may be a silly question, but how long should I talk for when I'm asked a question?? I feel like i have a lot to say - I guess I am a bit disappointed in my final thesis and so want to use the viva as a way of showing that I am passionate, have things to say etc. But I'm also worried that I will talk too much for each question and the examiners will be bored / frustrated.

What do others think??x

I think you need to do whatever it is that is going to make you feel okay. I think I understand what you are saying - I have a very similar situation with a close friend. If you are going to feel awful for not keeping your promise, then babysit this time, save yourself many hours/days of ruminating on it, and then say no in future. However, if you are going to feel angry and trapped into babysitting, then it is probably best to explain that you no longer can do it and apologise. In all fairness, you made the promise a long time ago, and in any case, everyone is entitled to change their minds and as long as you give some notice and say no in a polite but firm way, then I can't see that you'd be doing anything wrong. Good luck with it. x

Dear Pineapple

I don't have very many words of wisdom / nuggets of advice i'm afraid. But I am pretty much experiencing similar feelings and thoughts as you. I too am not entirely happy with the thesis that I submitted and i am terrified of failing / MPhil.

It took me a very long time to be brave enough to read through my thesis. I am now half-way through reading it, and although i am continuing to find mistakes / areas of weakness etc it is becoming less and less painful. I am feeling more and more 'ready' for the viva.

Think of the viva as an excellent opportunity to add to an (inevitably) incomplete thesis. Remember, no thesis is perfect or complete. I would imagine (and hope) that the examiners are not looking for perfection, but are looking at the 'good enough' thesis and your ability to talk about what you did, why you did it, what you would do differently etc.

I would say get to know your thesis very well; practice some questions/answers; and above all work on your confidence

Good luck x

Thats exactly how I understood it...x

Hi there
I'm fairly new to this forum and haven't posted before but thought i would try to help here. I may have this wrong, but what I understand is:
Perhaps the 'v' is signalling some important differences between these two paradigms. Both constructivist and constructionist paradigms both move away from the positivist idea that the world is objectively knowable, and move towards the idea that there is no one true reality, but that 'reality' may be multiple. The difference lies in the idea that constructivist paradigm views reality as constructed by the individual (thus there is a large emphasis on phenomenology and the individual's cognitive processes, viewpoints etc), whilst the constructionist paradigm views reality as being constructed through interaction, through language. In constructionism, the idea of cognitive processes etc is itself a 'reality' constructed through interaction.
Hope that makes some sort of sense! x