PART 1 - GETTING STARTED Dr C Wilson 2009 Managing Your PhD Matthiesen & Binder, 2009.

PART 1 - GETTING STARTED

Dr C Wilson 2009

Managing Your PhD

Matthiesen & Binder, 2009

Introductions

Why am I here?Why are you here?Activity - Get to know the people you will be working

with Who you are & the area of your research Why you decided to do a PhD Where you hope it will take you

Dr C Wilson 2009

What is a PhD?

Dr C Wilson 2009

A PhD is about making an original contribution to knowledge

You don’t need to re-invent the wheel to make a contribution to knowledge

A PhD is primarily a research training exercise

The Doctorate

Dr C Wilson 2009

Year 1: You will be encouraged to attend some training In addition the formative stage of the doctoral process is to:

Begin your literature review Develop or refine your research

Year 2: Normally dedicated to conducting field or laboratory research, including data collection and analysis. Writing of research papers

Year 3: Consolidate your research, write your thesis, defend your work

Your Research

Choose a partner Describe Briefly :

The context of your research (literature and background) The aim of your research (what you will add) The methodology

Just 5 minutes each

Dr C Wilson 2009

Your Motivations…

Advance knowledgeUndertake international level researchDevelop Personal Knowledge and ExpertiseDevelop Research SkillsAcquire advance qualifications for career development

Important to know why you are doing research

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How to Get a PhD

Dr C Wilson 2009

The only way to succeed at PhD level, is to take responsibility for your own learning, and your own progress from the outset

1. Nag yourself everyday2. Set yourself goals

3. Build in a structure4. Give yourself treats5. Discipline Yourself

6. Send yourself to bed7. Do NOT be too proud to ask for help

8. Eat Your greensRef: Self Parenting – Peggy Foster

How Not to Get a PhD

Over or Under estimating what is requiredNot having a thesisTaking a new job before finishing

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The PhD - Getting Started Health Check

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Physical / Financial Keep Physically active – helps stimulate mental activity, increases energy

levels and has a positive effect on motivation Financial difficulties - seek help and advice early on

Social / Relation Avoid social isolation Social support is good – interpersonal relationships are often critical to

academic successEmotional / Psychological

A doctorate is an emotional rollercoaster Ask for help Maintain a work – life balance

Matthiesen & Binder, 2009

Set Objectives!

Set targets and deadlinesClearly express what you need to do

Helps clarify the tasks to be doneHelp motivate yourselfAssess progress against the plan

Know when you have achieved the objective

Dr C Wilson 2009

Setting SMART Objectives

Dr C Wilson 2009

A PhD is: Complex, Iterative and Confusing

Agree with your supervisor goals which are:

Specific MeasurableAchievableRealisticTime Bound

SMART Activity

In pairs discuss what you are aiming to achieve in your research in the next 6 months

Spend some time turning these into SMART objectivesCheck with your partner – are these really SMART?Take your notes to your next supervisors meeting and

discuss

Dr C Wilson 2009

Some Survival Suggestions

Dr C Wilson 2009

Plan Your time – Remember it’s a Marathon not a Sprint! Annual year plan monthly and weekly plans: prepare and revise A daily ‘to do’ list keep a diary and use it daily

Define your research project within 6 monthsSet a realistic scope for the projectComplete a literature review in 3 monthsLearn to be independentStay abreast of new journal releasesMaintain contact with your supervisor (weekly or two weekly)

Planning Your PhD

Identify your project constraintsIdentify your scope - Remember - Know the limitationsMake use of Project toolsGet an experienced researcher or your supervisor to

check your plan

Dr C Wilson, 2009

Activity: Mind Map – Your Research

For your research topic: Set out a mind map which includes the key information

surrounding you and your project Include any questions or areas of uncertainty Identify any risks Compare your approach to the person next to you and see if

their mind map adds any ideas to yours

Dr C Wilson, 2009

Supervision – Your Role

Dr C Wilson 2009

Turn up to appointments and be well prepared. Take responsibility for your own time Do the research and agreed research tasks within agreed

timescale, show enthusiasm Write regularly and share drafts, learn your methodology Be truthful. Be direct if you have anxieties about supervision

(Delamont et al 2000) Keep a research log and keep it up to date Maintain a relationship with your supervisor and accept

supervisory guidance

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Offer regular supervision to student – show enthusiasmRead work in advance of meetings (with reasonable

notice)Comment on work, in writing where appropriateOffer guidance with encouragement (doesn’t mean

doing the work for the student!)Support involvement in research activities

Supervisor(s)’ roles

Managing your relationship with supervisor(s)

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Schedule meetings – agree on how often and how longAgree at the end of each meeting an agenda for the nextAgree a means of communication between meetingsAgree how records of meetings will be keptTry and get your supervisor(s) to be explicit about what

they are offering to do, and what they expect from you both in broad terms and on the occasion of each formal meeting

2 supervisors: always ensure that everyone included in all communications

Develop a Network

Seek out other students Training /seminars Coffee room In your office

Talk to other researchers Share problems and worries Ask advice Share ideas, references and tips

Support each other

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Next Step - Refining your research question

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What is the purpose of the research?Does it fulfill the requirements of a PhD thesis? Is your topic practical/feasible and what are the

constraints? (ownership of data)Is it sensibly scoped?(too wide or too narrow)Consider its political or ethical acceptabilityIs it interesting to you?Will It be interesting to others?

Research Ethics

Personal integrity Part of a professional community Who might be potentially interested in or affected by my research? What are the implications for anyone who is involved in my research What are the implications for me?

Quality of research worthy of publication

Reproducibility If your work has the impact you hope it will, at some point someone will

want to repeat it and develop it

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Next Step – Literature Review

Set yourself deadlines and milestonesUse the Abstract - it allows you to browse. If it looks interesting,

read it. If not, dump it.Check the references - helps you to position the articleBefore you tackle the ‘superbook’ remember that articles may

give a neat summary of theoryIf you are finding a book difficult, read some reviews of it – these

might help you find a ‘way in’Record all the details of the articleAvoid Plagiarism - Make it clear in your notes whether you have

“lifted” from the text, or summarised in your own words

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Impact on You…

Early stages of research are often repetitionWhen you try to repeat someone’s work make critical

judgements about the accuracy/validity of their descriptions

Ensure your records will enable someone to repeat your work

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Practical tips

Keep a journal – maintain it on ‘daily’ basisKeep a ‘card system’ for references – helps you cross referenceRecord everything relevant to your research – Summarise data and

record initial thoughts, leave space for notes to be added at a later stage

Write up methodology or data into paper / thesis formatNote ideas for future work and explain reasoningIdentify any points needing discussion or clarificationHave an open mind and question everythingEvery now and then look up and see the big holistic picture! No Backup - No Sympathy!!

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Attitude and Realistic Expectations

Consider yourself as a research professional in training, rather than a student

Strive for respect as a valued research colleague through a mature approach

Remember that a PhD is a 3 year project and a path to your next career stage

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How to Keep Going!

Dr C Wilson 2009

Keep checking your goals as you go along. What did you intend to do this week, this term, this year? Are you keeping up? If not, can you accelerate your progress? Or do you need to revisit your goals.

Remember you can share your plans for project managing your PhD with your supervisor(s)

References

Dr C Wilson 2009

How to Get a PhD: A Handbook for Students and Their Supervisors Estelle Phillips, Derek S. Pugh (2005) Open University Press

How to Write a thesisRowena Murray(2003) Open University Press

How to Survive Your Viva: Defending a Thesis in an Oral Examination Rowena Murray(2003) Open University Press