I think I that I would think that is important. I wasn't actually aware that some journals didn't include blind reviewers. I am so little known in my field though that it would hardly matter. Another thing is - apparently you can often guess whose work it is anyway - if you're fairly familiar with the topic/area.

Thanks! And oh absolutely! One of my PhD friends always makes me feel a bit bad going on about how great her PhD is, and her supervisors are, and all her future prospects are! I'm not the sort to get jealous, but if I was, then I would be. Very! :-D I guess you can console yourself that you could have worse things to worry about :-D

Take these danger signals seriously! Be polite when you see her but avoid her at all costs! Keeping your head down is probably the best bet in this situation.

If you don't give her any more information, or listen to her information about others, then she won't have much ammunition she can use against you. Others will have given her the cold shoulder before, so it isn't like she won't be used to that. Just be polite but don't engage beyond that.

Chances are, she already has a reputation, and so people would take anything she says with a pinch of salt anyway. In the same way that you realised that she is just a gossip, so will others. In the end, your own behaviour will speak louder than anything she says. But do be careful!

I think the only thing you can do is make the reason for why you did it transparent (e.g., I've selected people who haven't spoken in a while, as this seemed the logical way to do this), and try not to mind about people's attitudes. As long as you know you're not being arrogant or unfair here and you make that clear, then they will just have to get over it. It probably just arises from insecurities as you mention. It is hard to do much at your end to fix others' problems. Hard as it can be, try not to mind : )

Well, chances are he can google it and see what it is about and what the key themes are in it even if he is unable to read the whole book or part of it. Unless he is saying that it says a specific thing and he isn't actually sure whether it does say that, then I don't see what the big deal is really. Yes of course it is good practise and makes sense to read every source you cite. But in some instances, it may not be possible or even necessary. For instance, if you just want to acknowledge that there is a particular alternative view in the field. For example - Chomsky posits that language acquisition is an innate skill (Chomsky, 1965). If you can't get the book but you and everybody in your field knows that this is what this man stands for and that's what that book was about and you're citing it just to show that there is a view out there that is alternative to your own... then what is the big deal?

I don't know your company or area of work but in general I think if £££ is the goal then the best bet is work your way up... team manager, so forth... until your experience and skills afford you a more lucrative role! I don't know how a PhD would equip you better than the MSc you already have, unless you have a specific goal in mind that requires you to have a doctorate. Doing a PhD is a sure way to get stressed and strapped for cash! Do not enter unless you really want or need to have a PhD!

Oh absolutely - if you get hold of it!!

Hi Ciniselli, For now I'd say just get the corrections done. Think about whether you can make a publication or two after it's all out of the way - when your head is clearer and that's your main focus. Well done for getting this far - good luck in the final lap! : )

Good for you! : )

Ps. I get the divorce part! I've heard of student-supervisor relationships likened to marriage a few times. And when you decide to move on being termed as divorce. I certainly felt I'd left an obsessive, oppressive, and depressive partner when I "left" my supervisor!

Don't be frightened of divorce if it's the right thing for you!

You might find this (especially the first part) helpful in making your decision (the part about what you should look for in a supervisor):

I don't think it's specific to that University of that subject.

http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/alex.wood/phdinpsychology.html#11http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/alex.wood/phdinpsychology.html

Is it on Google books? If it is about a particular theory or something that you need to mention as general background (i.e., to make a point that this school of thought is it there - and this is a well known reference to it) then citing it makes sense whether you've read it or not. As long as you know that that's what it's about.

Hey,

I felt a bit like this recently - I really didn't want to do any work - I felt sick of it and had to move all my deadlines further away. I took a bit of time out and then returned to it. Since coming back to it, I haven't really allowed myself to think much about how good it is but rather have just focused on getting it done. A friend once told me to aim for "dumb but done". It really helps!

It could be a bit of perfectionism / fear of it not being as good as you want it to be / something similar that is stalling you. Maybe you think that the amount you have to do isn't actually doable in the time you have? Have you adequately planned - breaking down each section etc and designating time for writing it? Procrastination comes in many shapes and sizes.

Hope this stimulates some useful thought. You'll get there in the end!

Tudor

Don't tempt me!

I'd say this is pretty good advice bar number 9. Any thoughts?

What other useful things can I find to post on this forum while I am supposed to be working?