Thank you for that Ady. They are the writers/artists/critics created work for my projects that form the basis of my thesis. Not as co-authors though, only as participants. Also different than the participants/subjects that took part in my user studies who are kept anonymous already. I think I will continue using their first names in that case. I too agree that surnames would be confusing, as they are not being cited as such but they are part of the study instead. Thanks again.

When describing the processes and results that involved participants' comments and actions, do you refer to them with their first name or surname? After using their full name once, I go on using their first name in the rest of the document.. i.e: James Brown created blah blah... James focused on materials that are...

Someone suggested that it would sound better to use surnames just to be consistent with citing references. Do you agree? Should I refer to all of the participants with their surnames instead? I was using first names as I got to know them through the process and surnames sounded a little cold, but then a thesis is an official document, so maybe surnames would be better eh?

I need to do some changes on my Conclusions as well as some other parts of the thesis (post viva corrections) and I find it hard to let go what I already have. Is there a perfect Conclusion chapter you've read in a thesis that you could recommend? And what are the conditions and/or elements that form a good Conclusions chapter in your opinion?

Thank you...

It must be so frustrating. Congratulations in passing your viva though. It is a great result, even though the examiners didn't handle this very well. I don't know if this might help, but I was given major corrections with resubmission in 12 months, but no viva is required. And I was first asked to pay a fee also, but then my supervisor made some calls and found out that unless there is another viva, Uni has no way of justifying a fee as the whole thing counts as complete, apart from the corrections which is part of the process (no longer a write-up student etc).  I remember hearing something about viva being already paid for you once. And if there's no other viva, there's nothing to pay for. So now I don't have to pay it. Maybe you can also find something in the small print something like 1 viva = 1 fee.

Good luck with all (up)

Yes yes, I meant the same thing (I hope :-) )

When placed in the Methodologies chapter, all of the background to my justifications looked a bit apologetic I think. After the examiners comments about sounding too defensive, I agreed to use all of that study in a different section. There already is a discussion section where I reflect on my actions. So after reading your idea, I thought I can re-visit methodologies in Discussion, and keep the Methodologies chapter more firm and clean.

That's a good idea. I can move all that to Discussion chapter and keep Methodologies clean and short. Hmmm... Thanks for that.

Many thanks Beejay for your help also.

Hi all. I'm still doing my thesis corrections after viva. I was asked to re-consider the thesis structure and do a couple of changes so it would flow better and could be understood easily. I find it hard to re-do this. So I thought I'd ask you how your chapters were structured. And also:

- Have you dedicated a separate section anywhere else in the thesis to re-visit the methodologies that you discussed in the Methodologies chapter?

- If mix-methods or unconventional methodology were used, what was your approach to justification? (I had a section backing up every action with references, almost like a mini lit-review on my selected methodology, but this was criticised as being defensive).

trying my luck once more...

Thank you ever so much Ady and JJJ. I was told there was a scanned version, but that must be wrong info in that case. Have a fab weekend guys xx

no?

Sensory and physiological bases of touch. The psychology of touch.
(or any other chapters from the same book)

http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1991-98689-001

Many thanks...

Thank you very much for the article. Plus a star added. x

I would be most grateful:

http://www.atypon-link.com/INT/doi/abs/10.1386/stap.22.2.95

Don't cancel. This is a good opportunity. Dwelling on the negatives wouldn't sound so good, but you can include the problems in your conclusions. Mention the fact that work is still incomplete and ask the audience some constructive feedback and suggestions to take it to the next level. Conference presentations can be great tool to develop your work further, as you will be getting questions and help from experts. Be open, but don't sound negative, and don't be apologetic. It is natural for results to take longer than expected. Good luck

I agree with Delta. Try getting some support first, it's not good to handle this on your own if your mind has its own mind. Try to ignore the comments related to your academic life unless the person really know you in that capacity. Seeking help means taking control, taking charge. So please do that, even if it means just talking things with someone you don't know. Hearing yourself loud should give you some sense of what is really happening, instead of just arguing with yourself and judging the situation in your head. If some academic institution gave you a place on a master's course, or the chance to do a PhD, it means they have seen something in you, which means you are as capable as anyone else who is studying on this level. If you still come to a decision to give up after evaluating everything rationally, then it is still a positive result because it means that you decided to change the flow of things. Doesn't matter what others think. Please don't go into non-constructive thoughts like the past 4-5 years was wasted. You can never know how things would have worked out otherwise, so it is unnecessary to add extra mystery to the pile. I wish you good luck with all.