Planning and Managing your PhD Dr. Mark Matthews Student Learning Development 4pm 3rd Floor Room 318

Practice makes perfect…

Your PhD Your first piece of significant academic work Contribution to new knowledge AND a learning process for you

Getting Started Find out what you are expected to do by: Attending departmental orientation and technical programs Course handbooks GSO guidelines Books and websites Read excellent theses Attend Conferences

SWOT Analysis

6 Most Common Problems 1.Poor planning 2.Methodological difficulties 3.Writing 4.Isolation 5.Personal Problems 6.Supervision Brown & Atkins, 1990

What are your challenges? Write down your top 3 challenges to completing your PhD in time and in one piece.

Challenge 1: Poor Planning

Set Goals Goals: -Increase motivation -Keep you on track -Increase Productivity Long / Medium / Short Write Goals then Specific Actions

Self-Management Scheduling & Actions Free your mind If your system works, you trust it to remind you Ask for Help

Scheduling Get a diary Practical Check daily Dates, meetings, lectures, timetable

To-do list Make a list of all upcoming tasks If it can be done in 2 mins do it now Otherwise add it to your list Order by importance

Questions: –When am I going to work? –Where will I work? –How will I know if I’m on the right track? –What can I do to tackle challenges? Avoid anxiety Get a management system External deadlines & Rewards Managing yourself

Challenge 2: Methodological

Subject-Skills What skills do you need? Department specific Course Handbook Department Seminars Ask Supervisor Ask Postgrad Contact GSU Self-directed

Other Needs Information Support Services: “Planning thesis production using MS Word” “Using Endnote” “SPSS” Student Learning Development Monday, November 29 4:00pm Thesis Writing Process for Postgraduates Thursday, December 2 nd, 4pm-6pm Thesis Writing Process (Repeat) Thursday, December 9 th, 10:00am Systematic approaches to literature review

Challenge 3: Writing

Managing your writing Focused Tasks Structure Academic Writing Research Journal

Thesis types Find out the structure for your discipline

Ask the person next to you: 1.How do you manage your writing? 2.Do you have a clear research question?

Start writing Formalities (one file) –Cover Page –Key words –Abstract –List of Tables and Figures –Ethics statement –Statement of original authorship –Acknowledgements –Table of contents Chapters (one file each) –Chapter 1. Introduction and overview –Chapter 2. Literature review –Chapter 3. Research question –Chapter 4. Methodology –Chapter 5. Results –Chapter 6. Discussion –Chapter 7. Summary and conclusions –References/bibliography

What is my thesis about? Research Statement (25-30 words) Get feedback early and often Discuss with supervisor Reach agreement as early as possible

SPSE How would you describe the current situation? What is the key problem your PhD addresses? What did you do to address this problem? (solution) How did you evaluate this solution? (evaluation)

Challenge 4: Isolation

Get Involved Volunteer Volunteer Fair: Edmund Burke Theatre from 6-8pm on Thursday 25th of November. Get involved in social events: Get involved in a society | Join the gym | Join one of the 50 sports clubs |

Academic Isolation Get your material reviewed by peers (seminars, conferences, publish) Make contact with people doing similar research (network)

Challenge 5: Stress

When stressed, try to come back to what you know. When bored look for the novel.

Maintain Balance Exercise Balance Establish a Routine

Need more help? I need advice on dealing with stress Student Counselling Service | Ph: | I need general advice on being a post-graduate Postgraduate Advisory Service | Graduate’s Student Union | Student Learning Development | |

Challenge 6: Supervisor

What you want to do What your supervisor wants you to do How to contact your supervisor? Know supervisor’s strengths/weaknesses Set task targets with your supervisor Make maximum use of resources Your Supervisor

Managing the Process Agree a plan of supervisions Prepare for supervision Six monthly review of progress Annual review of progress Submit work for supervisor to read Attend supervision Summarise what you agreed Send summary to supervisor Source:

6 Most Common Problems 1.Poor planning 2.Methodological difficulties 3.Writing 4.Isolation 5.Personal Problems 6.Supervision

What can you do now? Make a plan Establish a routine / rhythm Start writing now Read one book on writing Read one thesis Set long-term / short-term goals

Further help How to Get a PhD: A Handbook for Students and Their Supervisors by Estelle Phillips & D.S. PughEstelle PhillipsD.S. Pugh How to Write a Thesis (Paperback) by Rowena MurrayRowena Murray

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