Hey all- Wow, I wish I could stop time for at least a month so that I can catch up with everything! I'm feeling so tired, but I'm pushing through my tiredness and pain in my hands (might be repetitive strain injury! due to non stop typing!)

Anyway, I seem to be making some progress with my chapter 6- I've recoded most of my transcripts and I've developed a clear and coherent structure to my chapter 6. I'm glad I'm not writing from scratch just following my supervisors suggestions for improvement. My new coding frame is providing me with some indication of preference for particular domains, so I guess this little extra bit of work maybe worth it in the end!

I'm trying not to panic as there's so much that needs to be done! (ie cutting chapters 1-4 down and completing my discussion chapters). I think I've completed the more challenging parts of my thesis- ie statistical analysis, literature reviews, research questions, methods and methodology- I hope so anyway!

I'm trying to crush my self doubts (I tend to go through phases thinking that I'm completely worthless and a rubbish PhD student) and fears that everyone seems to be way ahead of me in terms of people submitting in September! (although I know all PhDs are different!)

Plan of action for remainder of today ie 6pm onwards/ until the early hours of tomorrow morning:
Recode the very small transcripts, flesh out some of my sketches for proposed models and link my findings back to other studies.

Hoorah for Lucozade and Pepsi- (keeping me awake at the moment!) Although I'm worried about the long term effects this thesis will have on my body- ie weight gain and serious wrinkles under my eyes! (I'm 29!)

I fear I may have to pull an all nighter today :(- as my supervisor is returning from AL tomorrow and she will be expecting completed chapters. I've just realised in two weeks, I've managed to finish 3 big result chapters! :S

Goal 1- Finish recoding of my transcripts (BEFORE 1PM!! doable, but I'll probably have to switch the internet off! ;) )

After 2pm and probably into the early hours of tomorrow morning.........

Goal 2- revise chapter 6 in light of new coding frame etc etc,
Goal 3- revise and produce hierarchical diagrams/models in order to visualise most common themes
Goal 4- Revise section 6s chapter on linking themes collected from my study with other research

Goals for tomorrow, as I've completed Chapter 5, 7 and 8, I just need to finalise discussion chapter and revise and update chapters 1-4. I hope to have a complete first draft by mid August........

eeeeeeeek! (I officially hate my life- I want to cry!!!)

I've just realised I need to go back to the drawing board with my chapter 6 in light of a few reliability checks!! arrrghhhhhhhhhhh!! I feel like bursting into tears! :(

I need to apply my new coding frame to all of the transcripts in order to compare my responses with other researchers coding to check reliability!

So goal for today (and I'll probably have to work till the early hours to get this done!) is to go through all my transcripts again (only have a handful thank goodness) and apply my new coding frame to my transcripts. My supervisors will be very unhappy with me- especially as this chapter is well overdue!:(

I'm trying to redefine this as a positive!! I'm pleased that I've spotted my mistakes now rather than in September. If I left my qualitative chapter as it stands, then I would be pulled apart if I came across an examiner who is particularly knowledgeable about qualitative stuff. At least now, I have a small window of opportunity to correct my mistakes- although my mistake will likely upset my supervisors further! My supervisors are completely quantitative academics and their very focused on my quantitative chapters (which I've completed) rather than the qualitative chapter, so their far less likely to spot the mistakes with my qualitative chapter. I'm now trying to make sure  my qualitative chapter is robust enough to withstand criticism from potential qualitative examiners! What do you all think??

Why oh why do I insist on doing things the hard way round!!!!

Managed to finish chapter 5 and chapter 7 today and I'm currently making my way through my content analysis/directory for my chapter 3.

Chapter 6 tomorrow!

Good morning everyone-

I can't believe its Monday already and its the 2nd of August!!!! I had a major panic over the weekend- re time is seriously running out, but I'm trying my best to remain calm and positive. Although my panic status definitely increased my productivity over the weekend!

I'm planning to submit final drafts of my 3 main result chapters by Thursday of this week so here's the plan for today ........

1. Monday- am (before 1pm) Chapter 7- Final changes to tables- (My chapter 7 is huge- ie over 60 pages- but necessary given the amount of analysis!!)
2. Monday pm (around 2pm) Chapter 6- chase up reliability checks, restructure chapter 6 and double check thematic analysis codings etc etc. If necessary, revise diagrams
3. Monday am/pm-Final checks of chapter 5 before submission

If I have time......

1. Complete my directory/content analysis of learning disability homes without nursing for chapter 3- (systematic review of particular learning disability social care services)
2. Re- read first draft of chapter 8 (final result chapter)

Goal 1 finished (finally!! I hate chapter 5!)

After faffing around and adding stuff to my chapter 3, I'm half way through goal 2.

(Many thanks for the positive words Buttons!, you have no idea how much I appreciate it!).

Hello, I'm also working on finishing my quantitative chapters today.

Goal 1 (deadline- 1pm)- Finish and finalise chapter 5.

Goal 2  (ideally start around 12pm) Redo chapter 7 tables, finish and finalise chapter 7. (Deadline around 5pm)

Goal 3- (ideally start around 7pm)- Finish chapter 3 content analyses of Age and Aging journal. (My external examiner conducted a content analyses of journal articles to make his point that this research was unexplored- and following from his work, I'm doing something similar, although for three years (2006-2009) and for both learning disability and older adult UK peer reviewed journals whereas his was 2000-2002 and for learning disability American journals.

I'm desperately trying to hold back the tears. My supervisors have no confidence in me and I just wish they were more supportive and encouraging. I have less than 2 months to submission and I feel very alone

:-(

Thanks for the responses.

I know that the next few months will probably be the most stressful few months ever, but I'll keep at it and keep trying.

My supervisors are not even considering that I'll get through with minor corrections, which is making things worse. I just have 'major corrections, major corrections' running through my head :(- which is affecting my motivation levels! I know at the moment, it probably is, but I still have time to shift the balance into minor corrections. Their definition of major corrections is anything from restructuring and rewording paragraphs, whereas their definition of minor corrections is very few typos and very small changes. They have however provided me with loads of recommendations on how to improve my thesis, but their very clear that my thesis will remain within major corrections :( (rather than minor corrections) mainly because of the subject area (social science/vulnerable adults in care settings).

I just want to pass at the end of the day, regardless of whether its major or minor corrections, but I'm glad they think my thesis is worthy of a PhD rather than an MPhil or an outright fail and I've received loads of positive feedback from academics and governmental organisations (who know more about my subject area than my supervisors).

I made it through the upgrade process (much to the astonishment of my supervisors!) so it feels like I'm going through the whole process again! :( so their probably just overly critical or just think that I'm a rubbish PhD student! ( probably a combination of the two!).

I'll keep plodding on! :$ (and aiming for minor rather than major corrections, by continuing to meet their recommendations for improvement and following my external examiners work).

Hey all, I can't believe its the 30th of July!! I have officially less than 2 months to go and I'm really starting to worry :(

I have written most of my thesis now, just need to finalise the discussion chapter and write the final chapter of conclusions and implications etc etc. I also need to update and restructure parts of my literature review chapters and cut the content down to 85,000 (max)- I've exceeded the word limit by around 20,000.

Anyway, I'm starting to panic and I'm now wondering if I can do this!! I can't turn to my supervisors as I know they will make me worry even further! My supervisors are filled with negativity and are making me question whether I can do this which is not helping things at all ie- they believe that I'll receive a pass with major corrections (which feels like preparing me for the worst/poorer outcome). It feels like I'm the only one who knows I can do this (as well as my close friends and significant other).

The temptation just to say 'I QUIT' is a attractive option!

The only thing that's keeping me going at the moment is that my work is completely new and from positive feedback I've received from relevant academics who have more expert knowledge of my subject area than my supervisors. I know from updating my literature reviews that my PhD definitely fills in the gap of my particular field and having located my external examiner, I've actually conducted research that my external examiner has explicitly stated needs to be researched. He also is currently advertising for PhD students to study the exactly same field of my PhD topic. I also have a stubborn case of resilience and determination to keep going! (ie this PhD will be my fifth degree).

If anyone has any words of encouragement, I would be very grateful!

The fact that this time in 2 months I'll be submitting has terrified me! I have no idea how I'm going to get through the next two months.

Hi Rousey,

Thanks for your reply! I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your viva. In an ideal world it would be great to have some middle ground don't you think?! Rousey, I find it shocking that your supervisor is so different- do you have another supervisor or someone you could talk to? and perhaps see if other postdocs could see your thesis for advice? From day 1, or at least with the first few submitted bit of work, they have concentrated almost entirely on how to improve with only very occasional words of encouragement, but that's not necessarily because my work is really bad (because other academics have seen my work and have provided me with loads of positive feedback!) If I had a mock viva with them, they would probably tear me apart with questions, so I know I'll have to be very well prepared and expect many awkward questions. All of my supervision sessions for over 3 years tend to be around 2-3 hours (as they go into very small details), so with a mock viva, Lord knows how long the mock viva will be!

Over the last few days, having picked myself off the ground, I've come to appreciate their brutal honesty as their only pushing me to pass at the end of the day. I have about 2 months to improve on my thesis, so I'm aiming for minor corrections rather than major corrections. My supervisors feel that the major corrections will involve rephrasing etc etc and not analyses, which I guess is good news, so I know exactly what to improve on. I'm just pleased that they think my thesis at the moment is definitely worthy of a pass, it's just a question of whether the examiners request extensive rephrasing throughout my chapters. If my writing is a big problem (and not anything else) then at least I know what I can improve on.

I'm taking today off from my thesis, but it will be full steam ahead tomorrow! Thanks for the responses everyone. x

======= Date Modified 22 Jul 2010 09:27:22 =======
Thanks for your replies!

I'm aware that given the state of my current thesis, I'm inclined to agree that it probably would be major corrections (as I know I can improve my writing style), but my argument is that I have until the end of September to submit, so I have time to polish my thesis and try to make the content as clear as possible and therefore perhaps tip the balance into minor corrections. I'm just upset that I now have 'this is only good enough for major corrections' running through my head which is very unhelpful when I'm trying to finish. Whilst they may be preparing me for it, its not helpful, at least at the moment (although I would question whether it would be helpful at all!). They have however, provided me with very useful tips on how to improve and said that my PhD is very original, detailed and extensive for a PhD which is helpful.

As my PhD area is very new and very unexplored, my supervisors have very little understanding of its content so perhaps are trying to help me make it as clear and consise as possible.

I do have some positive feedback from other academics within the field (who have more understanding of the content and are looking forward to reading my PhD/publications) and from feedback from other academics from the upgrading process ( who commented that my PhD was interesting unique area, candidate has the academic capacity to complete a PhD')  and I've also received feedback from the regulatory organisation involved with my PhD who are extremely interested in my findings. I've also had a major confidence boost from my most recent post doc RA post (I was promoted from a research assistant to a post doc/research associate after a few weeks) where I received very positive feedback ie that my work is worthy of a PhD/I have the academic capabilities to work at a postdoc level- unfortunately I had to leave to finish my PhD, but I know I have some positive foundations to draw from. So all in all, the above collectively point to more positive feedback and incentives to keep going.

I just wish that the my supervisors would recognise it as well! (rather than making me feel really stupid!).

Oh well, not long to go!

Hi all,

I'm submitting in September and I'm polishing chapters, reducing the content and writing my final chapter.

I'm really worried as my supervisors have said that the outcome will most likely be revise and resubmit, ie major corrections. They said major corrections on the basis of the subject area and requests to rewrite sections, but not reanalyses (as they feel my analyses are robust enough). They also pointed out that one my supervisors had major corrections as well, due to the subject area and her personal circumstances- ie working full time.

It just feels like they've set me up for a fail and have very little confidence in me! They were so negative with me yesterday :( with virtually no positive things to say, other than you need to re write sections, redo tables and reduce the whole thesis to 80-85k words. etc etc. This is however, their approach- ie very critical and negative with seldom use of positive feedback.

This is the last thing I need as I'm struggling with my motivation as it is!

The temptation to walk is an attractive option.

But, on the upside, my supervisor said a few weeks ago that my PhD contains much more work than her PhD thesis and that my work is completely original and new within the field. They also ended supervision with discussions regarding external examiners, which I'm taking as evidence to suggest that their confident that I have some chance of passing a PhD. (I know that if was only good enough for an MPhil or fail outright, they would tell me!)

I received some positive feedback from post docs where I worked as an RA a few months ago and I nearly burst into tears! I wish I received positive feedback from my PhD supervisors.

But, I'm also wondering if I should be grateful for their advice as their explicitly telling me what needs to be done and their pushing me to the maximum in order to pass. It's just the way they go about things is destroying all my confidence and making me feel very depressed and unhappy!

Feeling sad :( but I'm resolved enough not to let this affect me too much.......

Thanks for your continued support!

I've had my supervision this morning. Feeling very deflated :(  I've worked my butt off and they don't seem to have recognised that I've finished most of the work :(

We discussed external examiners etc so their going to start thinking about an appropriate examiner and I will be submitting end of September.

I was a bit upset that they said that the most likely outcome will be major corrections :( (because of the subject area amd potential requests to reword sections etc etc).

I'm trying to stay motivated, but talk about taking the wind out of my sails! Virtually no words of encouragement, just that I need to finish asap. I guess thats the ultimate aim at the end of the day. I miss the supportive words and positive encouragement from my work supervisors. I really wish I had supportive positive supervisors as opposed to supervisors who just make me feel really crap and demotivated!

I'm not happy :-(

======= Date Modified 20 Jul 2010 19:42:33 =======
Hello all,

Many thanks for everyone's excellent advice. It's a comforting feeling knowing that I'm not alone.

I've said to my supervisor that I wanted to submit by the 30th of September. I have supervision with them tomorrow so I'm sure we will discuss it then. Although, I'm pretty sure their going to recommend that I apply for an extension- ie I have a strong feeling this is what I'm going to have to face :( . I disagree though, next 9 weeks or so will be a living hell, but I CAN do this. I know another PhD student who started the same year as me as already got her examiners etc sorted, so I'm sure they feel that I'll never get there :( It's soul destroying when they say things like pass with major corrections (if I don't meet some of their recommendations) it feels as if their trying to prepare me for the worst! I struggle enough as it is with my confidence levels! (could just be in my head though- ie me interpreting things the wrong way)

I seriously wanted to give up and quit this morning though :( I just can't bear the constant ups and downs of emotions and my increasing waist line due to inactivity and stress induced flab! Yes, I'm nearly there, but I hate this whole process.