Have you recruited yet Tudor_Queen? Recruitment was one of the most difficult parts of my PhD. This meant that one group of participants took part in my study (longitudinal) for 5 months longer than another group, as I could only get access to the other group at a specific time of year. My initial plan was to have them all participating the same length of time, but I had to amend this to establish a more diverse sample through negotiation with one of the field work sites. It all was fine in the end doing it this way, but it was not my initial plan so I had to adopt a more flexible time frame quickly.

I also changed my approach shortly after data collection commenced where I moved to a more participatory approach to reassure my (young) participants that they were capable of contributing to the research (some had concerns about saying or writing the 'wrong thing') So, I let them interview me on the same topic.

Hi Hugh,

I intended to take time off but I stumbled across a part time research assistant job that starts the same month my funding ends that I felt compelled to apply to...I spent two full days completing the long winded application process and researching the role in more detail, which is still not finished.

I have spent this morning marking dissertations, but I plan to get back on with my conclusion this afternoon which I am determined to finish by the end of next week as then I am going away.

I am so very tired... how is your work progressing?

Yes, it is very possible! I wrote mine in 4 months working between 25-29 hours per week. I was absolutely exhausted, and drank an unhealthy amount of caffeine, but I did it and got 90% and distinction overall.

Thank you Hugh :) I think we are all progressing well- this thread is so helpful, particularly since writing up is pretty isolating!

My initial deadline to submit my full draft was October which is when my funding ends. Initially it was September but I unfortunately had to take leave of absence for one month towards the end of 2015 as I had to have surgery for a medical issue, so it has been extended one month. However, I am hoping to have it submitted asap. I am trying to maintain this momentum to submit sooner than October as I feel if I tell myself I have until October, it will certainly take that long (I may slack off!) Though I have absolutely no idea how long the editing will take- I gave myself two months, but I think finishing my last chapter asap will give me more time with this.

How about yourself? What is your proposed schedule looking like?

Skyhoo- I have been working on my conclusion chapter mainly. It has been moving along much faster than I anticipated which is very motivating- I am aiming (perhaps too ambitiously) to have a draft of it in two weeks ready for proof reading. I am going to an international conference just after then so I am planning on taking the draft chapter with me and proof reading it in a new environment.

Once that is done its on to the task of editing the thesis. The introduction needs a lot of work and so does the literature review. I also need to apply supervisor comments to a number of chapters, AND chop the word count (I'm about 8k over the limit)- dreading this part!

Hugh- I don't use track changes on my thesis. My supervisor makes comments and slight amendments in track changes which I then work through which is very useful. I do use it on other things like applying corrections to journal paper as it is easy to decipher quickly which parts are 'new'/amended then apply them before returning it to the journal.

I have not finalised my thesis title yet, but in the past I have always used a colon, and I find using quotes very effective (for qualitative work). I am wondering if I can find a quote that captures the essence of my thesis but I am not sure I can without it being a paragraph long!

I give it a couple of reads! I actually have felt quite excited to submit my findings chapters to see what my sup thinks. She has overall been very positive, but this lured me into a false sense of security when I scanned over the feedback of the most recent one where there were a number of questions noted in track changes. However, i'd prefer to hear this from them than an examiner! My sup is particularly picky but this reassures me as she is very experienced in examining PhDs.

I think for me is because with the funding I receive, should I secure permanent employment before the funding period ends, my funding gets stopped. Hence, I feel like I need to submit and 'get on with my life' so I can progress to something else without this threat! What have you been working on this week skyhoo?

Welcome skyhoo,

You sound like me here! I also have the conclusion, most of the introduction and a lot of editing to go. I am trying to maintain momentum, but I too feel similarly in that, I just want to finish and get on with my life!

In which country are you studying Sarah? That sounds harsh! Though, I suppose that at least you are finishing your thesis with publications which is not all that common in my department.

Hugh- If it helps reassure you, I have not found the conclusion too difficult so far. I am capping it at 7k though and I think when I write it in full it will be just the right amount (hopefully!)

It has actually been very rewarding to look through my previous chapters and make notes as it is nice to see it all tied together quite neatly :)

So you're dreading the conclusion and I am dreading editing my lit review haha.

myoldmonkey- I hope that you meet your deadline! Yes the bullet point approach has always worked well for me, as it is then just a case of writing it out in full and deleting any 'weaker' bullet points.

Hi Hugh, things are moving along steadily! This week I am dividing my time up between my conclusion, a conference paper and journal corrections. Though, for the past two days I have focused wholly on my conclusions- yesterday I had lots of small epiphanies as I went about my day so I felt it best to get them down in my conclusion before I forgot!

Just drafting it out in bullet points at present, but i am keen to get it done and crack on with my editing as I know that will be the hardest and most tedious part.

I am glad to hear that you have made good progress on the literature review! I am saving all cutting until the end so I can see what parts may be less relevant/what I can afford to lose.

You are welcome. Just to help you with your search, Putnam (2000) is a book titled 'Bowling alone'. Finding some general articles on social capital will be helpful for you too as there are a few additional definitions that are typically explored and considered together in the research literature.

I am hoping that mine is on the shorter side due to this- my sup has seen each chapter and provided feedback on it as I have written it but they do wish to see the final draft together. I am hoping that the amount of feedback on the full draft is minimal for this reason!

I have about 200 pages of appendix already :/ It will all work out, I am sure. I think once I finish the conclusion and crack on with the amendments, I will be able to see the bigger picture and cut quite a few things out/down :) I am not too worried yet!