PhD thesis writing motivation/support thread!

[JumpingJellyfish]

I know there's a few of you lurking out there and thought we could have a new sparkly thread to coerce encourage us with thesis writing....

I'm in my 6th (or is it 7th) year of a part-time PhD in marine biology- and writing up (though still occassionally dabbling in data analysis which I shouldn't be!! but it's always more interesting than writing...). Hoping to submit 1st May 2009. have to really for my sanity and that of my long-suffering DH & DCs. Need to finish my first draft by end of January I reckon to give me time to make corrections etc.

But I am having long periods of self doubt and general procrastination so could do with some motivational support from anyone going through similar (Acinonyx for example?! ps. I've name-changed from madmarriedNika )

Here its coping with studying in the heat- we have a heatwave at the moment and its 40C. Will I feel cold in England on Wednesday????
Feeling very tense and worked up too. Snappy with everyone and finding life tough. Am also a bit sore as last friday I completed a 1800M bay to bay swim. Really pleased that I managed this as I hate swimming in deep water
So one challenge completed now just the dreaded viva.
Good luck and sock it to them!!

It's raining, raining, raining here! We need a nice compromise - about 30 and sunny with some couds and a breeze. And large margheritas all round.

Very tense here. Snappy. Irritable. Just counting down the hours. What time is yours? Mines 1 pm.

Very cheered up to find this thread. Figured there must be other phd mothers out there, tho of course seldom seen in RL except sprinting from lib/lab to nursery pick up.

I'm in 4th year of fulltime phd, writing up now. Stressed and guilty about effects on marriage and DS and cost of childcare, especially now my funding has finished.

But... the thing I find most frustrating is trying to make extended family, well to be honest DH's family, understand how difficult this time is.

They are Scandinavian, so used to readily available fulltime (almost free!) childcare, and don't know anyone who works what would be considered a fulltime professional week in UK.

I try to explain about DH's commute and long hours and how much most phd students (my competitors!) work, but they just tell me how busy they are (they work 4 days a week between them) and how much they need to do in the garden.

And then they come and stay and are upset by me being tired and snappy.

Gloom. Well, it helped to get that off my chest!

Mines at 1.30 and I have been told to expect 1-2 hours! so guess we will be at it at the same time. Did suggest to my supervisor that I bring a bag of sunshine and heat and that this may make them give me a straight pass- she found this funny! We also spent ages talking about clothes and shoes to wear so at least life's essentials are sorted. I have also been invited to champagne afterwardss by 3 of the professors! Lets hope its to celebrate not drown my sorrows.

Hi Umf- glad to see some more of us around! Writing up is such a pain, as you never think its exactly right. Even now 48 hours from my viva I reread parts and think DOH could have written that far better. As to the perenial childcare conundrum and tierdness just think that it will come to an end sometime. I used to get quite annoyed that family didn't understand what i was doing studying and now mentally say to myself they are DHAC (Doesn;t have a clue) and smile serenely! Good luck and keep plodding!!

sunnylabs and acinoyx

Good luck in your vivas - hope they both go stunningly well!

Reading your messages helps me realise it does actually come to an end at some point!

Good luck

umf - I have felt very bad about money this year as my finding also ran out and we still have childcare.

Sunny - my supervisor left for Africa and won't be back until sometime in Sep. My main friend in the dept has also gone home for the summer (overseas). So there will be no-one around but me and my examiners. I hope they tell me roughly where I stand - usually they tell the supervisor informerly but he won't be here and isn't even in email contact.

Can I borrow your supervisor's advice? What did you decide about clothes?

Thanks!! Bit more together today.

All the best for those vivas.

smart trousers, smart top and comfortable clothes-

Here are the viva questions I am working on

1. Why did you select this topic? (answer in intro chapter)
2. Why is this topic significant?
3. How did you arrive at the objectives for this topic?
4. How did you decide on your conceptual framework? (lit review chap)
5. How did your literature inform your thinking and approaches?
6. How do you relate your work to that of XXX?
7. How did you decide your research design? (Methodology chapter)
8. How would you justify your choice of methodology?
9. Why did you decide to use XXX as your main research instruments

10. Why did you decide on these experiments/ quasi experiments? 11 Why did you decide not to follow the research approaches of XXX? 12. What challenges or unexpected problems did you meet in setting up your methodology and how did you overcome these? 13 How does your research methodology differ from those of other researchers and why 14 How did you select your sources of evidence (subjects, materials, loctions) (Meth and findings chapters) 15. How did you reach your conclusions? 16. How do you justify your methods of analysis of your data? 17 What are your most significant findings? 18. How far are your conclusions generalisable (last chap) 19What have you contributed to knowledge? 20 In what ways is your thesis original? 21. How would you rate your work in comparison with other researchers in the field? 22 How would you critique your thesis 23 How might your research be developed further?

Hope this helps

I'm going to cross ref your list with mine which is largely taken from that book:

Why did you choose this topic?
How did you develop an interest in this subject?
Summarize your thesis for us.
Did your study turn out as you expected?
How do you see research developing in the next 5 years?
What, for you, were the most interesting things to come out of your thesis?

Why is this subject important?
What are the pros and cons of the methods you chose?
What precautions were taken against likely sources of bias?
What are the limitations in the design?

Explain what is new about your work?
What would you say has been your contribution?
What is original about your work?

Why should we accept you interpretation of the results?

I've got some grey trousers and a white shirt I'm planning to wear. An old school friend is here in another dept so I might go for a drink with him afterwards.

I'm so anxious I am just about paralysed but will crac k on reading some of my externals papers.

Best of luck for the vivas.

When I try to imagine myself at mine, I will keep reminding myself that no matter what, at least the uncertainty will be over. Even with major corrections () there'll be a definite list of what precisely needs to be done, so no more guessing. Whether I have the will to live do them remains to be seen!

I'm sure that none of us will have to handle major corrections, so that really is worst case

Do post when you have recovered from the experience - will be thinking of you both!

Good luck for the vivas Acinonyx and Sunnylabsmum - will be thinking of you both! Do come back afterwards and tell us how you went/what it was like.

The end is in sight for my thesis now too - aiming for the end of August. Hopefully will make it by then, slogging on...

2 hours 22 mins to go. I feel slightly sick

Been listening to my power ballads CD to get me in the mood.

OK. Got a proper grilling but astonishingly passed with minor corrections! Very stressfful. I was very fiesty until called back in for the verdict and then I confes I cired like a baby

WAY TO GO ACINONYX!! Bet that's a great feeling, congrats

How long do you have for your minor corrections? Did they ask any oddball questions?

Enjoy celebrating and have a nice long, relaxed sleep!!

I have an excrutiating hangover today which I nursed at a petting farm with dd.

I have about 2 months (maybe 3) for the corrections but I haven't recieved the official list yet.

No oddball questions. It was about 3.5 hours and at least half of that was spent grilling me mercilously on two issues

I wish I hadn't cried like that but there you go

God don't worry about the crying, i bet that happens all the time. It's just the sustained pressure and relief... at least it was at the end, not when they asked you the first question

That sounds great about the petting zoo with your DD. Something I'm looking forward to a lot is being able to spend time doing other things without thinking about all the thesis stuff I could have done in that time.

Enjoy your weekend, Dr. Acinonyx!!

Hello everyone. I have just been pointed at this thread when I asked a question on doing a part-time PhD whilst working in the Further Ed section. I hope you don't mind me re-posting my question here as I think you are the right people to answer it.

I am seriously thinking about doing a p/t PhD whilst working full time (also have 2 kids under 6 but DH is a SAHD).
I did a part time Masters a number of years ago so I have some idea of the commitment involved.
The area I want to study overlaps with my work and I can legitimately do some of the reading in work as it is part of my role to advise on regulatory changes affecting my industry and my PhD would cover the ongoing effect of those regulatory changes. I am also on a couple of advisory groups that advise the Government on the technical aspects of some of these changes.
Firstly am I mad and even if I am mad and decide to go for it anyway any tips, advice and experience from anyone who has done this (or similar) would be welcome.
Can anyone point me to some good examples of a PhD research proposal as the uni I am thinking of attending only gives about 1 para of info (its a social sciences subject and lends itself more to qualitative analysis rather than quantitative). Additionally, some of the advice the advisory groups have given to the government has been published on the gov't dep't website and been debated in parliament. I am named on the advice as one of the "experts" as the advice is directly relevant to the PhD topic would you include it with your proposal (as it is in the public domain) or simply reference it.
Sorry its long, and thanks.

Acinoyx Congratulations! It muts be such a relief.

ChazsBarmyArmy - sounds like you are very motivated! I am doing my phd in a area that I used to work in at a senior level - regulation related - but i have found that the "academic" approach required for the Phd required a complete culture change and change of approach and writing style - and my policy approach needed to be tailored. In your field that may not be a problem but its something to bear in mind. If you are going to combine the two your approach is best but don't underestimate the difficulty of working full time and doing the phd plus finding time to see your family. I tried ft for 6 mths and gave up to focus on the Phd followed then by DD.

chazsbarmyarmy - I would reference the reports in which your work was cited along with any other papers unless you are using them as writing samples as part of the application. There are some good websites with outline research proposals but of course at this time can't remember them! Good luck with the application!

mcg1 - thanks for the advice. It is useful to be reminded that the academic style is very different so I shouldn't rely too much on the overlap with work. I did a 24,000 word dissertation as one of my masters' options partly to get experience of producing a longer piece of academic writing and you are right it is not the same as the approach for work.
The thing that is probably worrying me most is sustaining the enthusiasm for the project for such a long period of time. This is even bearing in mind that it is a topic that really grips my interest (much to the bemusement of my colleagues).
If anyone does have any suggestions for research proposal websites they would be gratefully received (I have found a couple but I would like a few more pointers)

I switched to part-time after dd was born and took 5.5 years. All part-time wuns to 6-8 years. Sustainng interest and motivation is definately a major challenge with taking the long route and you basically have to grit your teeth and keep going.

I found occaisional conference posters/presentations helped to keep up my enthusiasm as I was very isolated. Isolation is also worse when part-time as it is next to impossible to be a part of dept life. But trying to keep some contact going is good - attending research seminars and meetings and such like.

I know of people who have done as you are planning and there does need to be a considerable overalap between work and project otherwise you would need to also work part-time. Personally, there would have been absolutely no question of working at teh same time - my part-time hours were as much or more than a lot of full-time students.

Your potential supervisor should be in a position to advise on whether the overlap is sufficient. Any chance of taking say a one year sabbatical to write up or going down to 4 days/week?

Haven't been online for a while, but wanted to say a HUGE Congratulations to Acinonyx!! So, so pleased for you, you must feel on cloud 9!

Chazs- I started off working full-time (as an RA) and doing a p-t PhD (funded by the uni as "staff development"). The plus side was I got to pretty much choose my own topic etc., but the downside was that I found there was very little overlap between my paid work and my PhD (which I had been promised there was likely to be, and partly why I agreed to the p-t route). I then had DS after a year into the p-t Phd, which really made it tough- my full-time work was still very full-time, and found I had no spare time at all to work on the PhD. So I dropped my paid work to 3 days a week and arranged childcare for one extra day each week...this was still tough and after having DC2 I opted to become self-employed, doing odd bits of consultancy but basically concentrated on the PhD (childcare 2 days a week, rest of work done in evenings/weekends). I then got another part-time job at uni and carried on PhD work in eves/weekends. I am now finally a month off submitting (!!!) and should get there. In total I have been doing this for 7 years! It is very isolating- I worked mainly from home for 2 of those years and live 1.5hrs from the uni I'm registered with. But I got to the point where I just had to keep going... I honestly don't think I'll know myself to start having evenings back to ourselves, and the lack of guilt of not working! But still have lots of papers to get written....The joys of academia!

Good luck working out what to do- if you love your subject, and really want to get into studying it in depth, the PhD is the way to go.

sorry for the delay in letting you all know. Was out of Internet contact in the UK and only now back on line now I'm back in cyprus. I too got a pass with minor revisions. Was in there for 2 hours. Loads of methodology questions but strange questions that never really got to the point or just hung in the air waiting for who knows what. So I took a stab at them and turned the point into what i wanted to say! Even had a break half way as the chair wanted the loo I think. Anyway at the 2 hour point the chair asked the examiners if they could bring it to a close. Waited and was called back for the verdict. Was pleasantly surprised to get minor revisions, and have 3 months to do them in so should fit in nicely before we return to the UK.

Well done acinonyx. thought of you when i was waiting beforehand and you too wowed them!!

thanks one and all for your excellent motivational support and encouragement

That's great news Sunny! How do you feel? I felt mainly washed out and relieved rather than elated.

Jumping Jellyfish and Acinonyx thank you both for the benefit of your experience. Going part time at work may be an option a bit later on and I am certainly not ruling it out (ideally when both kids are in school and DH is back in work as I am currently the breadwinner). It is useful having some practical advice from people who know just how much work is involved so I can gauge the impact on my family life and how to manage that.
The Uni I am looking at is about 15-20 mins from my work and 40 mins from my home so it would be feasible for me to do library runs etc at lunchtime or after work.

BTW Huge congratulations to those who have completed their PhD's.