Huge congrats, it is lovely to read a success story and interesting what you say about no longer feeling guilty when socialising with friends etc, I realise guilt could be a constant companion for the next 3 yrs (I hope only 3!!) as I start my climb on the big PhD mountain - enjoy a guilt free rest
(up)

Hi, just thought I would throw this to everyone. I have a 2nd supervisor who is quite new to the uni, only recently taken bachelors and masters 2000+, doesnt have a PhD, although he has published a few things. I'm sort of sat here wondering how useful he will be, doesnt seem to have anymore academic experience than me particularly, although I havent yet published anything. Dont sup's have to be more qualified than that. From reading other threads, it appears that 1st sup's are the all important beings. Should I be concerned? Thanks :-)

Hi

In a similar discipline, check out my post 'Anyone started a PhD this yr?' I got a few helpful tips from members there.  Everyone is different, but so far I read the abstract of all my saved articles that have some bearing on what I'm researching, and only (at present) read the most relevant in full, I have to read slowly to take in and take notes along the way, check out the bibliographies, and from the bibliographies you can pick out some key resources. From my notes I can look back to see which will be the most useful articles, and also this helps to build a picture of what is a good piece of research and what isnt.  This is helping me at the moment, but as I am also at the trying to write lit review stage, I will be most interested to see what those further ahead than me have to say. :-)

Hi Destiny
I looked at 4 different uni's for my PhD, 3 of them based on having good professor's or great dept's relevant to my research topic and one that was just conveniently close, because I was self-funding they all seemed more than happy to have me - in the end I choose the one the closest.  I have 3 children, taken career breaks, did my masters 14 yrs ago and am probably a geriatric student rather than mature (over 40), none of this appeared to hinder my progress - although if I'd been trying to get into the top uni's perhaps it would of; but I did have relevant work and academic experience. You have a prof that has already shown interest, you are self-funding, you are are progressing from a masters with a merit -so I would say you have a very strong chance of getting a place.  Good luck :-)

Just a thought... is your supervisor being so attentive now because you have a committee meeting coming up and it is suddenly going to be apparent to others that he has not been very supportive to you?  And argh!! average 5 yrs!!X?!! Sorry bringing up the negatives - well done you for your efforts so far (up)

Hi Procrastinator, I'm in a similar discipline to you and also getting forms filled in to go forward for approval and ethics etc, but the more I read the more I keep tweaking my project, but I need to focus and just get the form in because this could go on for a long time.  I have been able to attend quite a few modules on research methods and philosophy at the beginning of the year, but must admit I havent come across anymore useful ones and I am starting to think about attending some conferences across the country in my field - does anyone know if conferences are normally advertised on your uni website or do you need to go out looking for them?
And thanks PhDbug, after your prod I have started writing notes along side my reading, which means I am able to spend more time working (seeing as just reading sends me to sleep!) and the note taking has helped to sort out which of the 100's of articles are of more use and why.
But my plan for this year is to get the basic lit review done by August - I say basic as I know this will be constantly revised and updated, and also probably a very poor attempt at academic writing - get my proposal passed ethics deadline, of sept, and do a small pilot study during sept to dec.
Thats useful information regarding the amount of refs required for 1st yr thesis and lit review; I have started using endnote as a means of storing my references, what an amazing bit of software.

Cheers everyone 8-)

Hi

Doing a PhD to me is like having another baby it demands all your time, all your thoughts.  My advice to you is that you are young, you can be supported through your PhD, get your PhD done first, in the 3 yr time frame if poss, then try for a baby; time is on your side. Once you have a baby, you could feel completely differently about letting someone else look after your child or amount of time in nursery, you probably wont feel like working or able to concentrate after many sleepless nights - and sleepless nights can last up to 3 yrs etc, although the amount of times up per night does reduce, or you could be lucky and have the perfect baby.  I have 3 children, I wanted to start my PhD back in 1995, then came 1st pregnancy - too sick to work and complete change of focus; now at last all of them are at school and I am determined to complete my PhD in 3-4 yrs (14 yrs later), but with children you cant be selfish and its difficult trying to juggle family life, PhD, the list could go on, etc, etc. So, basically what I am trying to say is in an ideal world (whats one of them!) do the PhD 1st, you will never be able to throw yourself into studies so completely and utterly after children - your young enough to do it all. Having said this, it is only my opinion, you need to do whats best for you. All the best  :-x

Hi

Google Scholar is very good, especially if you link it up to your university library - through advanced search, although quite often you need to be on campus to do this, then you should be able to access full text or at least be able to order them through your library.  Can you make an appointment with the librarian at your uni to show you how to do searches and access all the information, as they will be able to not only access all their electronic journals but access all british libraries, as well as having a good stock of hard copy journals. Sounds like you need to make a list of all the help you would like and speak to you supervisor or the head post grad person in your dept to get the most out of your university; I know its very a woolly area when first starting a PhD, and it is my understanding so far that you need to be a bit pushy to get the things you need, and it sounds like you could do with some help to get off the ground.  Keep asking the questions and I hope you dont meet too many brick walls! (up)

Hi
Firstly the topic you choose is very personal and you need to be extremely enthusiastic about the subject to stay the course - unless you are being funded then the criteria could be laid out for you.  But my advice would be to read key books, recently published in your areas of interest as they normally conclude with areas that could be further researched, then when you have narrowed down your choice start looking at the journal articles to see what has been done and what hasnt. The wider you read the more you will be able to define a topic, and anyway your topic and questions etc will be constantly refined/changed/updated, especially in your first year (only 5 months in myself!!).  This isnt an area that anyone else can choose for you and is part of the process of being an independent researcher and working at doctorate level.

The research doesnt need to be groundbreaking, and some universities differ in their opinion of what the originality content needs to be, but I'm sure most require that a PhD makes a contribution to the development of knowledge in some form or another, and there are many ways this can be achieved.

Hopefully you have a good supervisor to help you through the fog, good luck :-)

Wow thanks for the replies.  It looks like your all doing more than me, but not to worry.... I'm at the reading stage, so concentrated reading for hours makes me sleepy, so I probably only do about 3 hours a day of reading, but then I am also ploughing through all the other literature out there and storing it electronically into files - which takes time.  I just think that when I get to the writing stage I shall be able to devote a more disciplined structure, and longer hours - but will make sure I take out time to go to the gym, and then there's the children to sort out, hmm, but I am planning to finish in 3-4 yrs!! I am self funding and because I'm at the reading stage I spend my time at home, but am planning to go to my desk at the uni when the writing starts and treat it more like a 9-5 job, well 10-3 at least  ;-)

It will be good to hear how your all getting on from time to time xx

Hi

Yes I am doing a PhD in health psychology looking at health risk behaviours: smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise and sexual health, just recently started. I am at the reading stage, feeling like I'm doing nothing, hoping to produce a 10,000 lit review sometime soon :p

Hi, I started an EdD in Jan but then changed to a PhD recently, so feeling like I havent made any progress. Could really do with some buddies that started the same time, full-time, to keep in touch and check progress etc. How many hours do you spend a week or even a day? What have you done so far? Have only done reading at the mo, but am aiming to get a basic lit review (10,000 words) by Aug. Would love to hear from some 1st yrs, even if you have done more than me!!

Thanks (up) xx