Hello Tulip,

I too am half way through my part-time computer science PhD and like you have little data to show for it. To complicate matters, it seems I may have to backtrack and do a whole bunch of other work to move forwards and get any data. It seems my original plan will not work.

Every time i speak with my supervisors, I sense disappointment in their voices. That said, even the rubbish data I do have is data - they are results that later on will support why I had to change course. I do find I am spending an awful lot of my limited time as a part-timer writing code and fixing bugs. I feel I am not doing anything 'academic' because I am focused on trying to fix my problem.

Like you, with little data to speak of, I have published little. However, there are many forms of PhD: some publish loads while other publish little. I try to remember that a PhD is a training and learning exercise and is far from perfect.

Ian

Thanks WanderingSage.

I had come across this approach before, but was encouraged by my supervisors to discount it as it is more about finding a 'consensus' rather than the 'truth'.

Anyone?

Hi all,
I am doing a science based PhD in the area of malware analysis/forensic computing. I am coming up to my Probation/PhD transfer report stage and I have no theoretical basis for my proposed work as there is little established science or formal theory in this field.

I am a bit concerned I have no established body of knowledge upon which to build my ideas.

Anyone else in a similar position or know how to address it?

Cheers

Ian