haha!!! It woke me up!

Hello Naimat,

Welcome to the forum! I hope you find the support you need : )

Tudor

Ta! Will do it later : )

Hi JeraJen
How long will the survey take to complete?

Also, since you've asked what to expect... for me the first few months were extremely challenging in terms of it just being so different to what I'd been used to (MRes psychology) and what I'd expected. I had expected to get into things quickly and soon be working at a really fast pace, multitasking etc, doing my research, writing, everything (the MRes was pretty full on). By contrast, the first year can be a bit of a lull (it has been for me so far). I've had to mentally adapt to the slower pace and the idea of not DOING anything that felt substantial. So watch out for that - it can be a bit demotivating but doesn't last too long!

I heard the write from the start advice too. And so I tried to write a bit each day about what I'd read and my thoughts about where the project could go. I didn't use much of those early writings but it did help A LOT as I felt like I was doing something - whereas simply reading can feel a bit less tangible. Also, I think that what I was reading stuck a bit more, and so I probably did use the things I wrote, I just didn't directly copy and paste them into the literature review.

I agree with TreeofLife. Good luck!!!

I really hope things get better for you soon. I have to say that since reading your response I have changed my mind about my initial advice. If you say that your supervisor will protect you, so as to speak, then what are you actually worried about? Your work will show how good you are, not her comments.

If people already recognize that she is a bit unstable and untrustworthy, I do not think you need to worry about her comments having any impact.

On the other hand, if you raise it as an issue, I think you might end up regretting it - as nothing may actually come of it. Then it would make you feel more upset/frustrated. I think if I were in your shoes I would focus all my energy on ignoring her and what she has said, and getting productive again with my work. If what she says consumes you, then she has actually won!

Hi SocialJen, absolutely - the PhD can simply continue on from the MRes project. For some people it is like having an extra year to do the PhD (although the same work cannot actually be submitted for two separate degrees).

I think I would talk to my supervisor, as you probably have a good reputation for not talking about people/being negative by the sound of it, so he will be aware of that and know that you are only saying something to protect yourself from any future attacks. But then again, it depends entirely on the dynamic of the department/staff-student hierarchy, and how much you think you can trust him and he will believe you.

I had a bad experience once where a lecturer tried to attack my character in a reference that she wrote (because I had chosen to do my PhD with a different lecturer, I think). Thankfully, it did not prevent me from getting my PhD funding (although what she wrote was pretty disgraceful). I think I was spared because it was obvious from my credentials and my other reference that what she had written was not true! Even though I had to continue working in the same department as her until she left a couple of months ago, I never raised the issue with my supervisor or any other lecturer. I was worried that she might try and attack me again, but thankfully (as far as I know) she didn't. If she had, I would have raised it as an issue. Maybe you could take that approach - make a written record of what she has done, and if she does anything else, raise it with your supervisor.

What do others suggest?

The MRes is specifically tuned to prepare you for a PhD (or other research based career). Make sure you study the course spec, as my MRes had A LOT of lectures (well, they were called seminars but were pretty much lectures in smaller groups) alongside carrying out the research project.

Hey! I'm sure, as others will tell you, feeling stupid is natural and OK. My advice is READ. Read and you will know. : ) It might help to keep a record of your reading, or already begin writing your literature review based on the reading you are doing (although of course you will edit it loads later).

This has been a really interesting discussion. I think the conditions of academia (e.g., publish or perish, significant results usually needed TO publish, no real accountability, peer review, peers responsible for who gets promotion) mean that a lot of stuff out there may be codswallop.

The preregistration thing is progress. I know what you mean - I am seeing it a lot in psychology too. At a PhD student's presentation the other day I wanted to ask "so what are your hypotheses?", but two professors were present, one of them the supervisor of the PhD student who was presenting, and neither of them seemed to consider it an issue! I need to get braver. Maybe...

I'm usually an optimist. Just feel a bit disillusioned lately!

Yes, I think that is what I shall be doing too.