Dissertation motivation!

pandora205

I posted a while ago when I was having a crisis about an assignment being due (I'm on a 4 year p/t doctorate where the first two years are 'taught' and have assignments leading up to the research.) I was really impressed when I last posted as some people seem to have written theses in a week etc. which sounded unlikely but made anything seem possible!

Now I'm on the second assignment and struggling, not least as I haven't put in enough time yet. Also as a late returner to studying, I'm grappling with the finer points of literature searching (well the basic ones really!) as when I did my masters courses we sat in libraries and did a lot of photocopying! I must stick with it... but it's much harder now, as there is so much literature out there. When I studied before we were limited by time and access, so noone expected us to read everything, and I did quite like sitting in Senate House library feeling I was part of something big.

Anyway, the topic of my assignment is related to the 'Epistemology and Identity' research training module so it's a bit heavy to say the least. I'm doing a compare and contrast between two research paradigms related to my area of study..... I hope I'm up to it conceptually, as I'm not short of ideas if I can sort them out.

I've gone through a bit of an identity crisis myself as my background is in purer scientific methodology and this course swings towards the more qualitative approach. Not sure where my own orientation lies now..... I thought 'evidence based practice' and the scientific method was the ultimate aim but now I don't know!

My goal (it might happen if I post it here) is to complete the 4000 word assignment by the deadline of 2nd June with a written draft by 25th (or sooner if I can). So far I have various plans, notes and heaps of stuff still to read.... This does sound doable, but I have quite a busy life (full time work and family of three for starters).

Plan for today (apart from clean lounge, cut grass, dinner for family etc) is to have a coherent plan and to stop making notes on one long meta-analysis. So, number one.. turn off MSE and get going (though I did quite a bit of reading and note making in bed this morning, so made a start).

Overthetop

If it helps, I used to leave mine to the last minute then when I least thought I had time to write it I would do it.
Remember 4000 words is a short step in your life

pandora205

Overthetop wrote: »

If it helps, I used to leave mine to the last minute then when I least thought I had time to write it I would do it.
Remember 4000 words is a short step in your life

That's me too, though last time I told myself I'd never do that again. Stuff just gets in the way.....

I like the idea that 4000 words is just a short step - it makes it more manageable.

How's everyone else doing this weekend?

Jolaaled

Diss. is going slowly...very slowly. Want to complete draft by end of May. Have got a bit stuck on discussion part (have also spent hours in senate house library!) so gone back to lit.review ..to review it!...bit of a bad move, in a way, cos am now having to change quite a bit of it.
Be so glad when it's all over.

pandora205

It must be difficult to keep up the momentum for several years, especially if you don't have lots of support. At least on my course there are nine of us in the cohort.. And most dissertations are so long....
I think I need to develop better study habits and not use excuses (even genuine ones) for not doing work. Years ago (when I did my first degree which was with the OU) I used to get up very early - say 5.30 or 6 - and do a couple of hours before work. Perhaps I'll try that as evenings are a waste of time for me!

Jolaaled

pandora205 wrote: »

It must be difficult to keep up the momentum for several years, especially if you don't have lots of support. At least on my course there are nine of us in the cohort.. And most dissertations are so long....
I think I need to develop better study habits and not use excuses (even genuine ones) for not doing work. Years ago (when I did my first degree which was with the OU) I used to get up very early - say 5.30 or 6 - and do a couple of hours before work. Perhaps I'll try that as evenings are a waste of time for me!

I'm the same..much better in the early mornings...seem to get more done..then less and less as the day goes on. (That's why i'm now on sofa, chillin with wine)!

pandora205

Jolaaled wrote: »

I'm the same..much better in the early mornings...seem to get more done..then less and less as the day goes on. (That's why i'm now on sofa, chillin with wine)!

Ah wine... that sounds like a good idea! Given up on today (studying and everything else) so maybe an early night, not that it feels like I've had an evening if I do that. I'm just unfocused in the evenings... finding lots of other urgent things to do and then there's no time left.

I haven't done my plan today though I've lots of ideas about what it will look like when it's written. Maybe that's what I'll do at the crack of dawn - no reading just writing, then read around the plan. Time will limit how much I can cover as I really need to get a draft written this week.

Truth is there is just too much information out there!

Jolaaled

pandora205 wrote: »

Ah wine... that sounds like a good idea! Given up on today (studying and everything else) so maybe an early night, not that it feels like I've had an evening if I do that. I'm just unfocused in the evenings... finding lots of other urgent things to do and then there's no time left.

I haven't done my plan today though I've lots of ideas about what it will look like when it's written. Maybe that's what I'll do at the crack of dawn - no reading just writing, then read around the plan. Time will limit how much I can cover as I really need to get a draft written this week.

Truth is there is just too much information out there!

Information overload is a problem these, days...i can download a zillion papers via Athens, whereas, in the 'old' days, i would have probably only read about half of what i've got now. It's a double-edged sword. Basically, cost limits my literature access...if it aint on Athens (free), then it probably won't get read, as photocopy is so expensive at Uni.

pandora205

I agree... time and copying do limit - though I'm a bit sneaky as I get my admin person to do mine for me at work, which is okay as my course is job related. It's a bit demanding on the photocopier though. We've downloaded a couple of long research summaries of 200 pages plus recently! And now... where do I keep all this stuff (once it's been read)?

I did wake fairly early (6ish) and did an hour before I got up today which is a good start. I can do some during the day but not much, as I have my 'other' work to do too. Fortunately I am interested in the topic (just as well really!) so it's not bad once I get going, though I think I'm trying to be quite ambitious/original in my analysis, which is conceptually challenging, and I could go down blind alleys (or do I mean cul de sacs?).

You were obviously up early too Jolaaled, judging by the time of the last post.

Jolaaled

.....yeah.....and today likewise!