Hi all,

I need some advice. I'm writing my dissertation and it's not going that well. Now, one of my supervisor specialises in the field and topic (the EXACT topic). I know his opinion better than I know my own (seriously).

He has basically told me to use his book to shape my argument. I'm happy to do so. It's a very good book. It is however, very new and there is a lot of other criticism I could be using. What i want to know is, is this an ego boost for him? Is he trying to make it easier for me to get a good mark, or is he trying to indoctrinate me? I feel weird about citing him so much, will he think i'm a tool if i tell him this? Can I admit that i think his book is great but i feel like a suck up using it? Is it normal to feel like that?

It is fine to cite supervisors work. Supervisors are bound to be recognised names in the research areas their PhD students are working in, meaning that during the course of writing a PhD thesis students will almost always cite the work of their supervisor at some point.

He is definatley trying to help you, and if his book is good it is logical, maybe even essential, to cite it. As long as you avoid the extremes (i.e. don't rip his work to bits, or be way over the top with praise) it will be absolutely fine and normal to cite your supervisors book!

I will be citing both my supervisors as they are the top in the field in this country and have a worldwide reputation, not quite in my area, but close enough in some aspects. My problem is worrying whether or not I have interpreted their work correctly. I hope I don't get the comment 'I didn't mean that at all' :$. It also seems quite embarrassing, but I guess they are well used to being cited by people, I shouldn't think it is an ego boost.