======= Date Modified 26 Oct 2011 16:11:53 =======
Hi All,

At present I have a grand total of 353 free/tree nodes and counting, and I still haven't finished importing all of my data from my Everest attempt of cutting and pasting 44 transcripts!

As my nodes continue to grow, I am starting to question my approach as to how I have decided to structure them. Owing to the complexity of the data, in some instances, I am creating a child node for the same subject area numerous times. If I was to try and illustrate this using tree nodes as an example (apologies in advance if this makes no sense!), it currently looks something like this:

Positive outcomes associated with attending university SINCE enrolment (tree node)
- Increased social network
- Financial (from student loans, topped up by ad hoc part time work, etc).

Negative outcomes associated with attending university SINCE enrolment (tree node)
- Financial (due to loss of guaranteed full time earnings)
- Mental wellbeing

Positive outcomes associated with attending university PRIOR to enrolment (tree node)
- Financial (earnings associated with full time job)
- Confidence (due to being a job they were comfortable with)

As you can see (hopefully) from this really basic example, I am repeating the node 'financial' on several occasions. I'm not sure whether to continue with this approach and use NVIVO as a storage facility per se and to run the tests later, or whether to structure my nodes in a way that I envisage to group and discuss them within my discussion chapter/s? I'm worried if I do the latter I'm going to get confused as to where I've put what, as at least with the former approach I can follow and locate the general themes rather than those more analytical in nature. I'm also worried that the latter will prevent me from seeing my data in new ways. However, as I keep repeating the same node in about 10 different places, I'm slowly getting lost in a pool of nodes!

Does this make any sense or have I babbled on for long enough :-)

Cheers to anyone in advance who is able to offer any advice.

RLD

I feel very blessed that I am thoroughly enjoying my PhD experience, which is most probably due to the fact that I have 2 very helpful supervisors and am completing mine p/t. I feel that allows me to distance myself from it and not be consumed by it Monday-Friday 9-5. However I have just begun my 3rd year so will most probably come back and give you a very different account to how I'm feeling in another year or so! :p

Thanks Batfink27 - that's really helpful.

I'm due to attend a supervision on Monday and it is on my list of things to discuss! I'll definitely ask if there is a similar scheme at my university.

Cheers again

RLD

======= Date Modified 04 Oct 2011 19:02:01 =======
Hi Ultimax,

I'm planning on moving to Australia in January and have just entered my 3rd year p/t.

My plan is to continue having 1-1 supervisions with my supervisors via Skype, attend face-to-face meetings when possible (once or twice a year if we decide to stay out there), and use my local (Oz) university library facilities.

======= Date Modified 29 Sep 2011 13:43:35 =======

Good luck Zinar7! I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine and surprise yourself at how well your thesis is coming along!

Hi Sneaks

My supervisor made a point of saying that, during her MPhil qualitative study she used something like the following:

F (for female), 18 (for the age), etc.

She said that the labels made them look like prisoners with tag numbers! It made me laugh, but I could see her point from a qualitative point of view (the exploration of personal opinions, beliefs, bla bla bla).

Hi Sparkles - yes it does make sense and is a good idea that I hadn't yet thought of. As you've said, so far I've just been trying to get through each of the required tasks as quickly as possible without really thinking how much time should be allocated to them. Taking this approach would ensure that both my supervisors and I are more thorough during each section and don't wait until the end to discover any major issues! I think that's what you meant anyway :-)

Hi Ady - that is one thing I definitely want my supervisors to do is read my first final draft chapters in detail and not let me just submit my thesis without this. But like mentioned in other conversations I have had on here, I haven't discussed with them what my expectations are of them regarding feedback. I just expected (or hoped!) that they will provide feedback in this way, but this is yet to be agreed. An item to add to the next supervision agenda I think ;-) a massive good luck for the submission too!

Hi Joyce - I'm really sorry to hear about your experience with your supervisors and university. I would do exactly the same and argue for a refund. Otherwise over the past year/s (?) any fees paid are basically to cover access to their library facilities. Your advice was cut off at the end of your post too, so if you see this I would still really value your advice. I've got everything crossed for you that you sort out this situation.

======= Date Modified 25 Sep 2011 19:03:54 =======
Delta - I don't know if you have seen yet, but I have started a thread on this topic about supervisions. I guess I'm lucky in a sense that I am fairly forward so would make sure that we work to my preset agenda ;-) but on the other hand I'm very lucky that my supervisors are willing to work this way and not to their own agendas.

Hi again Timefortea - thanks for the info on how you handle your situation. I am going to continue accessing electronic resources from my current university and have contacted the closest university to where we'll be living in Oz to see if I can use their library facilities (this was a main concern of my supervisors). Luckily I can pay a small fee and use their facilities as they open them to the local community! But I'm also hoping to visit my supervisors once or twice a year whilst visiting family and friends back here in the UK.

Hi All,

This topic has just come up in a recent thread I started.

I wondered whether anybody would mind sharing the structure of their supervision with their supervisor/s? The supervision I receive is structured as follows:

a) Electronically forward any completed work since the previous supervision meeting
b) Attend face to face meeting on a monthly basis (I am a part time student) where I briefly discuss any areas I deem as significant and get their thoughts on it
c) I describe what I intend to produce in time for next month's meeting
d) Repeat steps above

I suppose my intentions of this thread is to try and get as much out of supervisors as possible! ,-)

Cheers!

I'd never really thought about supervision in that way before ; that makes me question how effective my meetings are. My expectations are what I described in my previous post, but am I supposed to be getting more from them? I suppose I've got nothing to compare them with so don't really know!

Thanks for raising awareness of this Delta. This is definitely something I will discuss with my supervisors before I leave for Oz.

Thanks Delta that is really helpful.

I'm in social sciences too. The purpose of my supervisions to date is to provide an opportunity for me to discuss any work produced and to hear their views. But to be honest I think I would benefit more from the track changes approach as that would mean them going through what I have done in far greater detail than what we currently do.

Also congratulations on being so close to the end! 8-) looking at when you joined, are you studying full time?

Hi Mackem_Beefy - I am definitely going to continue with my current university for the next 12 months, which means by then I'll be going into my 4th year and am a little worried about starting afresh with a new supervisor. Has anybody had any experience of this so late into their PhD?

Hi Timefortea - do you mind me asking if you are studying f/t or p/t? How far into your studies are you? Are your supervisions via Skype monthly? However often they are, do you find supervisions via Skype adequate? Do you come back to the UK every so often for face to face meetings? Sorry for all the questions!

Anytime Delta :-)