Have you checked your rules and regulations regarding this? For example, at my university, you can use a professional proof-reader for limited copy editing but you have to declare it formally when you submit. The Head of School then checks all the administrative matters, forms and reads or checks over the thesis. Thus chances are your supervisor would find out before submission even if you didn't 'officially' tell them.

Personally, I would tell them. The supervisor should be checking for academic content and rigour and clarity of argument, logical flow, etc. The copy editor is just checking over things like semi-colon use in APA referencing, minor typos, formatting of tables, basic expression and that it makes some sense to the reader (or at least that is what I understand).

Good luck T4T. You can do it-blue sky ahead!

I agree with Chickpea, I wouldn't raise it either. You don't need your supervisor to be a friend or close mentor-they simply need to supervise or provide guidance as you complete your PHD and then move on. I would try not to worry about it too much but simply make a decision to raise what you need to raise, 'pick your battles' so to speak and when you do raise points of difference, do it in a way that talks about your perceptions and perspectives on this issue. EG: Stating that you are raising this so you can clarify this with your supervisor and how she views the issue before deciding on any action.The main thing (I have found) in any ongoing professional relationship is behaving with respect and setting appropriate boundaries. If these are in place and are reasonable to the situation, then personal style and manner is much less important in the long term.

This is what I have done in similar situations and it has worked for me but it takes a bit of time and quite a bit of mental planning. It helps to have a close friend or colleague who will listen in an understanding way at times as well. Best of luck, it can be an awkward situation to undergo I know.

Hi there Tudor Queen, it is just a clash of personal style (extraverted versus introverted) or similar? It doesn't sound like you are arguing with her in a personal way?

My thoughts are that you might find that relying on your professional skills the best way to move forward, doing this without worrying overly much about her feelings beyond being polite and friendly. She may find an outgoing and frank approach confronting but if she does, then to some extent this is her problem to manage not yours. And you don't really know the reasons for her responses-she could be like this for any number of reasons. .

I would not use email to discuss anything that might be controversial or where you think there is a problem. When there is an issue or disagreement with a person, face to face or phone is definitely the way to go in my opinion. Email can just really exacerbate any issues.If she were a work colleague or team mate, you probably wouldn't be able to just move on but would have to work with her, so perhaps relying on the professional skills you have and use in the workplace might be the way to go.

Perhaps a focus on the working relationship, your mutual goals (both of you want you to get your PhD and do well) and forcing yourself not to worry or agonise over your personal style versus hers, might help? .

Sorry my university has this only available on microform dating back to 1977 as earliest records-visible in library only of state capital (some 2.5 hours commute). Not helpful, and you may find other Australian forumites have similar constraints. As Mr Fox says is Trove any good? This link may help but you may have to pay something for the article:

Cindylouwho, did you discuss any theorists when you outlined your epistemology for Mixed Methods and interpretivist studies. I found that Mixed Methods just seemed to fall into pragmatism and most of my (brief) research into this turned up practical texts like Creswell (Education) 2005 & 2013 (Sage) which mainly outline 'how to' not 'why you should use it'.

However when you discussed interpretivsm you would have discussed a theorist when mentioning your epistemology (how you know). So for example, who were the theorists behind your use of interpretivist theory-and if you are not sure, grab a copy of Creswell's Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (Sage-2013) and go to the chapter that provides a table of the five approaches.

One of them will be somewhat like your method for processing your qualitative data and this can be used to help establish validity of method. Braun and Clarke (2006) are great on Thematic Analysis-just don't be frightened off by some of their insistence on NOT using the terms 'emerging from the data'-they hate the word 'emerge' and their reasons are good, but sometimes you just have to use the word to get your message across.

Hi there, this is an older thread but as I am gearing up for submission on 17/01/17 I've been exploring the various guidelines and found this-which explains my Head of School's explanation of the A-D system-she didn't go into E and F. I've attached it below for any one who is interested. (My submission date is based on Part time loading, so essentially the 6 months is really 3 months in real time.)

Higher Degree by Research Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy
A. (a) be awarded; or
B. (b) be awarded provided that the minor revisions and textual changes identified in my report are undertaken to the satisfaction of the Chair of Examiners; or
C. (c) be awarded provided that the substantial revisions recommended in my report are undertaken to the satisfaction of a research committee of review convened by the Chair of Examiners; or
D. (d) be not yet awarded but that the Candidate be permitted to revise the Thesis in response to the examiners’ reports and submit it for re-examination; or
E. (e) Doctoral Degree and Professional Doctoral Candidates only:
(i) not be awarded but the appropriate degree of Master be awarded or, (ii) not be awarded but the Candidate be permitted to revise the Thesis and resubmit it for the degree of Master; or
F. (f) not be awarded and the Candidate not be permitted to resubmit the Thesis for the degree

Hi there, just wondering with your qualitative results-you mention that you didn't do any member checking (I think?). However, you must have used a method for analysing or interpreting your qualitative data. So for example, you would have coded for categories or sub themes and then used inductive methods or similar for clustering these into themes which you then would have described and interpreted. What I am trying to say I think is that the methodology you used to interpret your qualitative data provides validity and reliability.

A lot of these methods can be described as variations on inductive thematic analysis-which is a valid interpretivist methodology. Likewise with your questionnaire (for students), in analysing the quantitative data, you must have used simple descriptive statistics-which are valid provided you outline your use of these and clarify how far you are taking the results. I agree with Zutterfly, getting results from schools and institutions can be a challenge in itself and pilot studies are not always possible. When you discuss your results, comparing the findings from both data sets, then using the main themes and findings, cross analysed against the literature should be okay-provided, as mentioned by Zutterfly-you outline your understanding of the limitations.

Hi Zoya, I'm really sorry to learn of your difficulties and the current outcome. I hope that you understand that this could be any of us really-it must be an incredibly tough time for you at the moment. I think you have been given some excellent advice by many participants here and might need to time to process things anyway so won't add too much more.
I agree with AOE26's suggestions as well in that I would state on my resume that I spent six years looking after my children (one of whom was ill) and I studied for a doctorate during this time and then focus on the MSc and work experience. Whiie I think University counselling might be a short term solution, possibly a counsellor or psychologist that was not with the university and could support you through the long haul might be something to consider when you are ready.

While this might not be terribly helpful to state right now, I know personally of many fine and wise people who have begun and not finished their PhD for many very good reasons, and some of whom, some years later who began again and completed. Best wishes and be as kind to yourself as you would to others.

I've been thinking about why this happens and have wondered if perhaps it is because once you really get a grip on your topic, they are a step behind you in some ways. Not in term's of how to research, write papers or to complete a Phd, but with regard to the actual thinking of your topic. Perhaps it also indicates a need for further signposting, so they understand where you are coming from?

What ever it is, I now take my supervisors thinking about my thinking/writing on the actual topic with a bit of a grain of salt, but I never disregard any comments they make about communications, presentation or logical processes. I also now tend to think that when they are being critical it is usually going to be a communications or clarification issue or something where there is an inductive leap, which needs more explanation and detail for the reader.

Being supported for me is when family or friends provide an opportunity for a break. I tend to think along the lines of what Dunham was saying with regards to cooking and cleaning, I know things get hectic and its nice to have people do things for you, but I believe it is important to continue to do some of the real things in life sometimes (even when writing up), even if you don't do them very well or dinner is just instant rice, tinned chilli tuna and packet frozen veggies microwaved together.

So the best way people support me is by allowing me to take a break from the work when I do need one by being happy to just laugh, socialise, enjoy a drink or some food or a movie or Netflix together. The other thing is being understanding when yet another weekend involves lots of writing. Having said that, I think it is important to make some time for the people you love, even if it isn't as much during the final stages.

It sounds like you made your boyfriend very happy though Ellebelle, with your support and care. :)

A couple of thoughts...may or may not be helpful but I will put them out there anyway. It really sounds like second year slump to me.
I went through the part time version of it which lasted just under two years and basically thought several times a week, 'I should just give up'. I even had plans for giving up, which I discussed with family and friends but in the end, feeling like I was going to let my initial survey respondents down and the ethical committee kept me going-who knows why I felt so responsible to them but I did and so I limped along through the slump very slowly.

I'm lucky enough to have a great supervisor and a very busy but nice when I see her secondary supervisor, but while I really loved my Masters supervisor, we had real difficulties due to distance, different working styles and time lapses which nearly drove me insane at one point (well I exaggerate but it felt pretty bad at the time). In the end, I just came to a sort of conclusion that 'it was what it was' and I just had to bear it and keep on going. Both with Masters issues and the second year PhD slump.

(@Just an aside, the stats I am working with (not with my study but with in my workplace) say that one in five people will have a significant mental health issue at some point in their lives and I imagine that a PhD is enough to drive anyone to drink, so perhaps there are more who see counsellors than we admit to...)

My experience of PhDs are that progress is really uneven. You seem to be doing nothing for ages and then bam-you make a leap and there is some discernible progress and you have reached a milestone without even really knowing how you got there except through misery and tears.

Finally, (sorry long post) but while you are at this impasse, are you able to do some administrative type tasks, or improve the lit review or similar, so that you feel like you are doing something during these times when all the data, ideas and everything just seems to be swirling around in a blurry limbo. (I promise you, this happens for all of us in stages during this process). Best of luck, it is a tough time and a tough gig. Hang in there is my opinion. :)

"I don't particularly enjoy analysis, simulation or report writing, though can be quite good at these things if motivated by a tangible goal."

Just a caution-a fair bit of a PhD is writing up and analysis, and the end part of a PhD is all writing up and analysis, so you probably need to factor this into your decision.

It wouldn't be a reason not to do a PhD, but if you really don't like writing and analysis, you will need to be prepared for this being a large part of your life for a year or more. It can be pretty grim, but is doable. It is hard to imagine how miserable you would feel until you are immersed in it though...just one of the paradoxes of the PhD journey. Good luck with your decision though.

Best wishes Tree of Life, fingers crossed for you.

A couple of Phd students in my faculty have created a Facebook group for the doctoral candidates, which is also linked to a regular Friday writing meet up. So they searched and found us on Facebook and created an invitation, which most of us (part and full timers) seem to have taken up, and then those in the group who can, meet up for a solid 90 minutes of writing every Friday followed by coffee. It sounds great and honestly, if I didn't work full time (and crazy hours) I would love to join in the writing part. This might be a nice way to both meet people but also have a purpose to it.

You know, it helps provide a focus for a get together as you are just putting out 'feelers' initially for meeting fellow post grads, by seeking out other candidates who might be interested in improving their academic writing and productivity.

I don't think the writer's group promote themselves as experts. They just take their laptops along and write in a room together then finish with coffee and a chat.