Overview of lemonjuice
Recent Posts
PhD Dissertation in Sociology of Education
Try looking on http://ethos.bl.uk It's a website with a lot theses available from the UK. Sometimes you have to wait a month or two for them to scan and send them to you though.
Fantastic! Cheers TreeofLife - I needed to look at some Theses too :))))
Methodology Chapter - Structure
In the social sciences, what structure would you favour? This is what I have so far, something isn't sitting riht though and I can't put my finger on it. All feedback appreciated.
Introduction
Research Questions
Worldview
Methodology
Research Design
Research Methods
Sample/Access
Data analysis
Validity/Reliability
Ethical Considerations
Limitations?
Looks very good to me :) In fact this is how mine will look structure wise when I get around to sorting it out lol :)
Do you listen to music while writing an essay?
I don't usually, but if I do then it's classical music lol :)
Accountability Partners- Finishing your thesis on time.
Great thread :) I might come here and set myself targets - it's good to see what others are up to too!
Anyone finishing this year?
I'm the same as you. Funding ends in October but I'm not planning to submit til December - anything else will just be unrealistic for me!
How many years funding did you get? I have three.
I haven't even started writing the thesis properly yet... I have a half written introduction and methods, and then I have analysed and concluded most of the data I have so far, but I still have loads more experiments to do (my PhD is molecular biology) and the introductions for each chapter... I've still got a lot to do.
Nice to know there's someone working to a similar timetable though!
Hi TreeofLife :) I got 3 years funding too - my supervisors are quite strict about me finishing on time or early - really feeling the pressure! Actually my motivation has nose dived lol. I need to do a plan of what I need to do on a weekly basis to have any chance of staying on target I think.
Hi guys,
I too am in final year, funding runs out in October as well and I'm very glad to hear of other people in the same boat! Realistically I won't be able to submit until around March, I've got loads of experiments still to do and data to analyse from experiments that have been finished. I'll most likely be in the lab until the funding runs out, so I'm hoping to get bits written as I go.
I'm a bit ashamed to say this but I don't even have a complete literature review, just bits of writing here and there and draft figures of my results so far. How are you guys managing to juggle writing with data collection etc.? Or will you write up once the data is all ready to go? It's really good to hear from others at the same stage!
Tulip
Hi Tulip :) Yes I thought it would be good to do a thread where people at a similar stage can get a little support - also it's so easy to eel like I'm the only one struggling at the stage I'm at, so it's reassuring to know there are others like me :)
Hi guys,
I'm too in a similar situation, I have funding for working half-time till September (the other half is busy with other projects, fund acquisition and teaching - I'm employed full-time). I used a different approach, and wrote up chapter-by-chapter as the data collection and analysis proceeded (I think how to organize the writing up depends a lot from the kind of project you have, my field is psychology of music and I have a mixed quantitative-qualitative study, that could be split in 2-3 parts to be written up / published separately).
I'm too overwhelmed, also because I'm supposed to really only invest about 4 hrs a day on the PhD, and I feel there is still so much to do! It's very nice to hear I'm not alone though!
Wanderingbit
Hi Wanderingbit :) I think 4 hours a day is the most I can manage before my brain get fried or I get depressed about it lol! Hopefully that should be enough for now, until April come round and the panic really sets in :)
Anyone finishing this year?
My funding runs out in October and I'm expected to submit the thesis in August - I feel well and truly overwhelmed! Is anyone else in the same situation and how far along are you? :) Could do with some encouragement :D
Published in a paper for work at a different university
so should I just send an email to say thank you for the authorship and that the paper looks great, etc.?
First of all congrats! :) I know how good it feels to get you name on your first publication (also looks great on the CV). The part I quoted is exactly what I would do, in fact I did just that recently on another paper I was co-author of. They won't be expecting you to do much more than that - and you don't have to! Well done :D
Is my viva my last chance ? I think I failed my PhD already
Hi looking for advice and support really. I have my viva in early jan 2014 and I am wondering if by doing a good viva I can convince examiners to give me another shot at writing my PhD. I submitted after a drama of losing work on a laptop and just running out of time to complete my phd - so only 3/4 of it was done.
Plus to boot its in a real state - my supervisor never saw it and I had to submit or fail. I feel like the viva will just be hours of humiliation as the writing was poor and not fit for a phd, is there any way a viva can convince examiners to give time to do a full rewrite and submit again or is it a case of forget it and I will walk into the viva only to be told thanks for coming but you have failed. Any advice or support much appreciated, I feel pretty much alone with this problem. Thanks
This sounds like an awful situation to be in :( As the previous poster mentioned I would would spend from now until the viva making a list of the things you would work on/change if given a chance to resubmit. Also focus on the best parts of your research which have made a contribution to knowledge and may make a good article. Good luck and let us know how it goes :)
Burn out!
Hi all :)
This last couple of months I've completely lost motivation. I've taken to sleeping a lot and hoping somehow the PhD problems will magically vanish lol. I think I'm burned out and I'm not sure what to do do :( Still writing the Methods chapter and trying to recruit participants is a constant source of stress. I was wondering if any of you have some advice or experience to share about how you overcame this 'wall' I seem to have hit. Thanks! :)
Nervous about PhD
I'm a Sept start and also terrified. Serious case of imposter syndrome!
lol I still have this and I'm 2 years in :)))) It's very common.
Mixed methods ontology
Really struggling and could do with advice please :) Can anyone point me in the right direction about the ontology of mixed methods research where a 'middle ground' is being adopted?
Thanks!
Pragmatism
Hey guys :) I've got myself into a bit of a mess with pragmatism and how it relates to epistemology and ontology. I don't know why, but I feel I need a section on epistemology and ontology in my thesis, yet if I'm correct in my thinking, pragmatism does not need this?! Or can write about ontology? If anyone has any pointers or tips I will be eternally grateful!
Thanks :)
Methodology chapter HELL!
For some crazy reason, unless it's me that's crazy (likely), my supervisor is adament the methods/methodology chapter(s) are the easiest to write. Well I really beg to differ - it's causing me so much stress. Did anyone else suffer badly with this chapter? I feel like it needs to be 15,000 words long but at the moment is 5,500 and will be end up being no more than 10,000. Feeling like such a stupid failure again.....but guess that's another thread lol :O
Pralyzed PhD Student
Hi David,
I'm so sorry to hear you are feeling low :( I think that many of the PhD students (including me) can empathise with you on the depressed feelings a PhD can bring out. Are there any support services, such as counselling, at your uni? It sounds like you really need to talk to someone face to face to help you through this dificult time.
In a panic about finding participants
Two groups of about 70 each :/ lol
