Signup date: 04 Feb 2012 at 9:35am
Last login: 20 Mar 2016 at 9:48pm
Post count: 87
Well I'm not sure where this panic and depression came from (again), but I feel it may have something to do with worrying about finding enough participants for my study. I'm trying to recruit a hard to reach population. Has anyone else had experience of this and what happened? Thanks :)
Some I was asked were: Why have you chosen to/what led you to apply for this PhD? Can you explain your research experience? Do you have experience of recruiting participants and, if so, how did you go about it? For the PhD you have applied for, what methods do you envisage using? How will you keep youself motivated and on track? Tell us about your undergraduate research project.
The easiest way is to find recent journal articles relevant to what you want to study and check their limitations and future areas for research in the discussions. If you get 3 or 4 that were published in 2012 or even 2013 you could start to build up a picture of what is missing in the literature. That's what I did, was easy :)
Completed :) Good luck!
When I started my PhD I thought I would have to be there every day.....well I'm there once or twice a week and when at home I stay in bed a lot. I really miss the structure of proper employment. If you're inclined to be a lazy person (like me) then a PhD will bring the worst out in you lol! Having said that, it's also very isolating and depressing. I had depression most of last year and staying at home by mysef only made things worse, but it's a hard thing to kick. On a good note, I really enjoy my afternoon naps :)))
Thanks for your replies. I have to say I'm feeling much, much worse at the moment compared to when I last posted. I've been very low and have thoughts of killing myself, I know it's very serious now. I want to quit, but the thought of doing so and the shame/humiliation involved is overwhelming. I just want to crawl away and hide all day and think the PhD is causing a large part of these feelings. Guess I'm just not cut out for this.
Hi all.
Haven't posted for a long while, but I feel like I've hit a bad patch. You know, that time when you think what's the point of putting myself through this for a PhD? I'm panicking about not being able to find participants and also that the research methods I'm planning to use are all wrong :-( I'm one year in now and feel like I should be so much further along. Any words of encouragement and how you got through a similar time would be greatly appreciated (up)
I really feel for you :( I have a feeling I may not pass either (dreadful year...ended up in hospital). It's such a shame you weren't given better supervision, and this is a failling of the university who has to take at least 50% of the blame for you not passing.
I used to work as a benefits advisor and there are many you can get! Get yourself down to your local citizens advice bureau asap or ring your local councils benefit advice line. Don't wait either as it can take a while for some benefits to start being paid.
Hope this helps. Please keep us updated on how you are.
Thank you for making me realise I'm a bunny boiler. I'll go be depressed now.
I really admire you for having the courage and strength to quit something you are not enjoying. I feel the same as you about my PhD at the moment but I'm too scared to quit even though I know it would be the best option.
Thanks for all your feedbacks :) Feels reassuring that I'm on target it seems!
Well I'm curious as to what other people did in their first year really(write any chapter, conduct studies....etc). I have my upgrade coming up which will mark the first full year of PhD study and I don't feel I have done much at all!
She clearly thinks you have a lot to offer as a PhD student so take the compliment :) But it is your life after all so do what you think will make you happiest. I'm doing a PhD right now and will not stay in academia at the end of it - i'm enjoying the process of it and learning more about myself and my abilities. I think a PhD can always be usful in other jobs/careers as it shows just how much dedication and commitment you can give to something - very desirable in todays job market!
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