why does the sun shine when I have a thesis to write???

[yummybunnymummy]

Shouldn't be here as I should be writing my thesis. Dh has taken the dc (3yrs and 18mths)out for the day so I need to take the opportunity to work, but its sooooo sunny, and i've been at the computer for 6 hours and my bottom is numb...slow progress here.

Well done Yummy!!!

Keep us posted re your viva, have everything crossed it goes smoothly & painlessly.... And at your no. of pages!! Don't think somehow mine will be particularly long...

I'm finally writing! Have stopped analysing data although still waiting for some stats that are being done by a bonafide statistician on my behalf (happy days!). Keep seeing more I could do but realised if I keep doing that it'll be another 6 years...

But I am finding every excuse to avoid writing, it's so darn hard to knuckle down. Especially with minimal childcare and v little sleep (& a mess of a house!). So think I may have to completely disconnect the internet for one thing and only reconnect it at weekends or something. I'm just too good at finding distractions.

Also, potentially have a research position (part-time) starting in April which will make writing really tough, although am told at first there won't be too much for me to do so can write-up at work.... Really need the cash and would be good to be out of the house but maybe it's the wrong time...

On the positive though the paper I submitted in Dec has been accepted- just waiting to see what revisions I have to make...

Acinonyx- how are you getting on now? xx

Hi everyone, mind if I join in the fun??

I'm writing up my EdD thesis at the moment. Its only 50K so quite lightweight by comparison to you ladies, but still I find it really hard to get writing and have to reward myself with computer time to keep going!

As to my thesis I'm looking at stakeholder perceptions of plagiarism policy in higher education institutions. Have almost finsihed data collection, one focus group to go!! Have to have first three chapters for tutor comments by 1 March so really up against it specially with half term next week- incovenient or what!! I've given up on housework, have found a cleaner/ironer as I end up using those as distractions to getting writing. Still as I'm based on Cyprus I expect i'll get little sympathy.

I am hoping to submit by 1 SEP...well I have to as I can;t afford another years fees and I've been doing this 8 years already.

Really keen to know how others are doing and especially viva Yummy....am already panicking myself on that one....Tutor thinks I could do it by web cam from here but I think I'd be better flying back to the UK- argh decisions decisions

Nika - sound like you are well on track - and great news about the job.

sunny - can you expalin that a bit more/ Who are the stakeholders - the sudents?? What have you found? I keep wondering when we will get some software made available to check for plagiarism. Cyprus with a cleaner and ironer - what a dream! Nope - not much sympathy here. I just gave up ironing.

I'm waiting for the last of my data to come in and can't finalise the analysis until the very last bit is in - very frustrating. Between this and teaching (which I was not intending to do this term but wasn't really given much choice) I have completely blown the end-Sep deadline and I'm aiming for before Xmas. The other final year students all seem to be submitting chapters already and I'm still doing the analysis. Scary! Getting really anxious and giving dh lectures about how he will have to help make more time for me. Wish I could bargain with dd but she is in full toddler tantrum mode.

Yummy - come and tell us about your viva!

Hiya
The stakeholders are the policy formulators, lecturers and students. I found research tended to focus on lecturers and students and I wanted to balance this against the policy formulators. So have done series of interviews and focus groups to compare and contrast perceptions of the plagiarism policy in their institution
So far I've found that there seems to be a mixture of a hard line and a sympathetic ear given by lecturers... formulators seem to worry about the external perceptions of quality and students appear to feel worried they'll inadvertently plagiarise as well as wanting blatant plagiarisers treated harshly...seem to think some play the system and get away with it....well that's the gist of it, I'll have to write it up more academically!!

Cyprus today is windy and wet....so I guess its only fair. Only able to do this because of the internet, bless it!!

Have managed to submit chaps 1-3 but expect tons of amendments.....little rest for a few days to placate 4.11yr old and then back to work...

Good luck

viva next thursday..........
...agh...........

That's fantastic Yummy - best of luck!

Can I ask you - how long did it take you to write up (excluding bits and pieces you may have written along the way)?

Good luck Yummy...looking forward to hearing all about it!!

hello, my viva is over - hurrah!!!!!!!!! Overall it went really well, they were quite tough and attacking but all their comments and the small changes I need to make are constructive and I managed to defend the stuff I didn't want to change and they agreed with me! Am so pleased its over (well with the exception of doing typos changing things around a bit and printing it off etc..etc..) but its mine, I've done it!!!!! Am really emotional, its been so difficult and hard getting it in and the night before viva day my 2 ds were ill and up all night (how surprising) I feel amazed that I've got through it all..I was self-doubting myself etc.
keep going ladies...its amazing when you get there, noone can argue with you regarding your commitment and dedication whilst writing it up with kids etc..which definitely makes a difficult task harder..xxxxxxxxxx

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

How long was your viva?

I am so ready to be done - I'm on the writing up phase now. A chapter a month to Xmas (plus one chapter some how or another). Plod, plod. As they say, the longest journey begins with a single step.

Hey - what are you going to do with it now you've got it???

Mega congratualations

Am very pleased and also jealous!! I'm on final chapter and starting revisions. under 4 months to hand it - yiks!!

Many, many heartfelt Congratulations Yummy!! You very much deserve your PhD title and I am so so glad for you that the viva went well and you only have minor corrections. You really have inspired me!
What are your plans now?

Well I'm still in the writing up stage....but it's going slowly. DD was quite poorly for a while (she has cystic fibrosis which complicates things a little) and I hardly even turned the computer on for more than 10 mins for a month. I now feel that a September submission is too ambitious- and I only have childcare for my two for 2 morns and 1 full day each week. DP was also trying to take them both to his parents 1 day a weekend but since DD was poorly that hasn't really happened. But I'm still hoping somehow to get all my chapters written at least in first draft by Sept so really it'll only be editing after that. And still hoping to start work at the local uni 2 days a week from early June just to get my hand back in so to speak. Feeling motivated but wish either I didn't need to sleep or there were more hours in the day!!

How are you all doing? xx