5 reason you should take a study break this Christmas

I admit, that a 'thesis holiday' sat in my meeting agenda with my supervisor for well over a month! It wasn't until my supervisor gave me the instruction that for two weeks I was to do no writing on my thesis. that my 'holiday' was scheduled. I can't not write though. So my supervisor gave me 'permission' to write anything else except my thesis. This is great as I can still write my ebook and the edited book chapter that was accepted (but not on my thesis topic!). But, I still need a break. I'm on 'paid work' holidays and I'm mentally prepared to not write or read anything to do with my thesis from this coming Monday BUT, here are 5 big reasons, I know my supervisor wants me to ensure I take a study break:

1. Sustainability - I need to avoid burnout. I need to start with a fresh mind in the new year.

2. Spend quality time with my friends and family- admit it- friends and some family get neglected during the PhD journey! Christmas time is about being with the important people In your life.

3. Mind break: everyone's mind needs a holiday every now and again- the mind needs to take a break from itself.

4. Reconnect with things you love doing such as beach trips, baking or reading a novel.

5. Sleep, rest, eat repeat. It's the festive season and I love this time of year. Let's enjoy it!

So, are you taking a studybreak? 

Why you should 'network' during your PHD?

I have been getting out of my comfort zone and taking up every social offer at Uni. This includes presentations, seminars, workshops, social gatherings for staff or students. I am taking up every opportunity to network. Most of the time I have known at least one person at these events. On one occasion I knew nobody but at least I knew I had something in common with the other students- we were all working on our PhD. It was a HDR student dinner organised and provided by the Uni committee. It was worth going - I won a $100 gift voucher for submitting a feedback survey!

Besides sometimes having free food on offer, what are the benefits of networking during your PhD?

- meeting like-minded people

- meeting academics that could help with your thesis

- find out 'who's who' at University

- gain a job

- share ideas

- broaden your knowledge by learning about others' research

- minimize research isolation

-did I mention sometimes there's free food?

When networking at events with like-minded people, finding common ground is easy: research! 

Here are 5 tips to getting a conversation going at a networking opportunity:

1. Ask about their research first

2. Listen before you speak

3. Be interesting - share something besides your research

4. Be polite - definitely don't say something negative about another academic- it's a small world!

5. Be able to share your research topic in one, maybe two clear concise sentences.

What do you benefit from networking during your PhD?

Starting and finishing school: the bar has been set

Presenting your research idea to an audience is hard enough but when it is a requirement to continue your research it is quite daunting. Completing this seminar at 'starting school' means a PHD candidate moves from probationary to confirmed. Then at the 'finishing school' at the end of the research journey there's the final presentation similar to the viva in other countries.

Yesterday, I attended one of each seminar for my school, the School of Education, and it was my first time seeing these types of presentations that I will be also giving in the future. I plan to hold my confirmation seminar early next year (so hold me to that!). It was a privilege to be there for my fellow students and listen to their research journey. 

I now see why my supervisor has been encouraging me to go to these presentations. Not only did I find them enjoyable because they were also from the school of education but because of the following benefits too:

*meet students from other fields and own field

*meet more academic staff

*develop my own ideas

*broaden my knowledge on other topics, methodology and methods 

*learn what works and what doesn't work when presenting own ideas and research

*support fellow students- hopefully they will return the favour when it's your turn!

I'm sure there are many more and I'm looking forward to attending future 'starting and finishing school' presentations. One thing I know is that for the first presentations I attended yesterday, my fellow students certainly set the bar high.

5 tips for choosing a supervisor

Choosing a supervisor, let alone a replacement supervisor can be a little daunting. My previous post was how I found myself in need of a new co-supervisor. It's made even more sad because I had built a strong working relationship with this supervisor who is taking up post at a university in a different state. 

The positive I guess is, it's a good reason to travel and visit my new associate supervisor!

The five things I look for when choosing a supervisor are:

1) personality - I have known both my supervisors for 4 years prior to asking them to take me on as their student. I had already built rapport with them. I knew how they worked professionally and I knew their areas of research. But I also knew I could work with them. It is important to choose a supervisor that you get along with as you will be their student for at least 3 years and possibly up to 8 years. 

2) their ranking- a supervisor's position at the university and number of published articles will give you an idea of their presence in research. Go for the best!

3) field of research- It is your project on your niche area. However, their expertise are invaluable. Is the prospective supervisor interested in your topic or is their expertise on a particular methodology the draw card?

4) how many students are they looking after at the moment? - if a supervisor has many students, will they gave time for you or if they are not supervising any, why not?

5) theses to completion -have they seen through research students to completion and how many? This is important as you want them to see you through to your thesis completion too!

I'm pleased to say I have a new co-supervisor who I believe will be a great fit into my project team. After my supervisor put a potential co-supervisor's name forward, I discussed my thesis topic with her. As she said she was looking for students to take on and after discussing my thesis topic, she agreed to be my co- supervisor.

Presenting to fellow researchers

I presented my first paper at a conference last June and I must admit I was a little starstruck. I listened to as many of the researchers covering my topic and found that many researchers I met, I've cited their or read their work. 

The research conference I attended was one of the smaller conferences each year. I can see why it's recommended as a good one for a beginning researcher to attend.

I met researchers in my field and I followed them up if I was able to via Linked In or Twitter. I also received terrific feedback on the beginning of my journey. It wasn't so scary in the end as it was a supportive atmosphere,

I'm already looking forward to the next one even though it will be held in a place that is very cold!

I highly recommend attending and presenting your research to date if you are a beginning researcher. You boost your public speaking confidence, remind yourself that your research is worthy and meet doctors in your field that could possibly help you down the track with your thesis.

Have you presented at a conference recently?

My supervisor is breaking up with me.

I'm heartbroken. I never thought this would happen to me. My supervisor is breaking up with me. We have seen through a Master's thesis together and he has been my rock. How could he take up a post at another University let alone in another state?!

I text my Principal supervisor in a daze. She said there was no need to panic and we would sort it out. The positives are it isn't her that's leaving and I only have to find a new co-supervisor. Thinking more clearly now, my supervisor has introduced me to some great academics so it shouldn't be a problem. It's just that I had rapport with my co-supervisor and a relationship built up over years. 

This post has now led me to: what should I look for in a supervisor?

I believe choosing a supervisor is key to a good working relationship and completing your thesis.

Luckily for me, choosing and asking an academic to be my co-supervisor is made easier because I have already started my PHD, I know some academics in my school and it is a co-supervisor I need not a Principal supervisor so they won't have the bulk of the supervisory part.

Things to look for in a supervisor:

Personality - would you be able to work with them?

Number of research students they have seen through to completion 

Number of students they currently have under their wing

Expertise in your field- look at their publications 

Position- go for the experienced and highly regarded member of the academic staff

Is there anything you would add?

The never ending literature review

At the moment, I am taking another look at my topic from a different aspect of the literature. This is to build on the current knowledge of my general topic and ensure that I have covered and made connections across field.  I read a book recommended to me,  'Doing a literature review: releasing the social science research imagination' by Chris Hart. Although a little dated, 1998, it still had valid points and reinforced my thoughts from a previous blog post on doing a literature review.

A thorough and extensive literature review is needed for a PhD thesis. A thorough review of the literature ensures the researcher shows scholarship and a deep understanding of key literature and the problem within the topic. 

The book recognises there is no such thing as a perfect review as it is an individual process of knowledge generation. Regular reading and writing on what was read helps develop a scholar's critical reading skills. It is important to write your thoughts down as you read literature say 3 to 5 articles or chapters. This process ensures that your work is documented and new writing is occurring regularly. In the long term, it will make writing the thesis easier as you will have plenty of your own work to draw from.

Key points to think about when you've had enough of the literature review and look like the guy on the cover Hart's book:

*the literature review is about 16 000 words long (approx 128 references)

*use mapping to get started for key words and word strings and add to it as you progress with searches

*read a little then produce new writing of your thoughts on what you just read

*the literature review will evolve your thinking on a topic and see it from different perspectives

* a thorough literature review will strengthen your argument and research question

*it will be the chapter that will continue to be reviewed until your final thesis is handed in for examination

*an examination of the literature review will increase your confidence on your topic, especially helpful for your defense oral (viva/confirmation).

So there you have it, the literature review in a nutshell and hope that you might just end up enjoying it!

I have 'readitis'

This is the realisation that I had today during a workshop presented by Hugh Kearns. 'Readitis' is where I read and read and find more wonderful things to read from what i just read that I don't actually give myself a chance to write.

You may remember from my 'PhD must-reads' post that I recently added a series of books by Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner. Today's workshop was based on one of their books, The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Research Students. 

Kearns presents an engaging workshop that provides a real and doable guide to successfully complete a Higher Degree by Research. Check out his website www.ithinkwell.com.au for free tools and resources.

Is the literature the most important part of the thesis?

Simple terms. Yes.

Without a well researched and constructed literature review to base your own research project, it would be difficult to show a number of things including:

The reason your research is needed;

The basis for your research and;

Where your research is placed in the current field of knowledge.

A strong literature review needs to be presented in a logical manner. This provides the reader, who may or may not be a leader in the field of knowledge, to understand the context which may include the political and historical background of where your research fits within the topic being examined.

There are a number of ways to structure a literature. I suggest ensuring that it flows. There are many hint sheets on how to start paragraphs, connect ideas and themes as well as critically analyse the work you are including. I found that reading theses front TROVE closely related to your topic and methodology will give you an idea how you would like your thesis structured. 

TROVE is created and maintained by the National Library of Australia and holds a variety of content sources including theses completed at Australian Universities. I suggest choosing three theses you think are close to your style of writing, read them in full (not all at once!) and then work out how you would begin to structure your thesis. There's no one right way. Remember the authors of the theses found on TROVE have all been conferred to PhDs.

When reading through the theses, take notes. In my note taking I included, at minimum, the following:

Title

Date

University

Methodology

Methods

No. Of pages

Number of themes or sections within the literature review and

Any ideas that came to mind for my own research.

Working with your notes, place your  headings in to your own thesis template.

This is your starting point. Now on to sorting all those articles you've collected over time, selecting crucial pieces, rereading them and writing your own notes within your literature storage software, which in my case is Endnote.

Where to start with the literature review?

I have written and re-written a couple of literature reviews and now that I am embarking on my PhD journey, I know it is an area that I need to further develop.

My first port of call I recommend is your university's faculty librarian. They are a wealth of knowledge. I already know my librarian from my Master's degree- she taught me how to use Endnote! I have improved my search technique and I have set up alerts for my search 'strings'- a list of key words related to my topic. I have also saved the search strings to use again later in my research.

I will develop a mind map or as my Librarian calls it- semantic mapping.  A map of key words that shows my main themes, related and similar key words and how they are connected. This provides a base for sorting and structuring the literature. When I finish my map I will be happy to share on Twitter - look up @studybreak.

For alternate terms and further literature, I will take a look at other articles that have cited the work that is relevant to my topic. This will add to my semantic map and provide further search strings to work with.

Another approach I will take is to look through theses online. Your University will have a repository of their theses and publications or you can have a look at TROVE that was formally known as the Australasian Digital Theses. This is a great way to see how literature reviews can be structured and how how they differ between the types of theses and methodology. I will be looking for theses that have a literature review that I believe is structured in a way that I believe suits my style of writing and chosen methodology.

Do you have any literature review tips to share?

My newest research tool: using a livescribe smart pen in research

I have spent the last two hours playing with my latest research tool: a livescribe wifi smart pen. I have used the livescribe echo smart pen previously for my master's research. It made data collection and the transcribing of interviews much easier and it was also a fun way to integrate technology into my research.

The difference between the Echo and the Wifi version is in the name itself. To retrieve the audio and writing, the Echo needed to be connected to a computer whereas the wifi version syncs wirelessly to the application Endnote. I already had an Endnote account and the application on my ipad and now my laptop. But it is easy to set up Endnote if you haven't done this yet.

I realise not only is this tool going to come in handy for my qualitative data collection for my current research product but also for meetings and seminars as writing without recording audio is an option as my notes will be synced and can be transformed to readable text. 

Have you used a Livescribe smartpen in your research?

The elusive scholarship

I attended a seminar on how to obtain a HDR scholarship at my University yesterday. Last round, only 8 out of around 100 applications received a scholarship. However, I do believe in the old adage 'you have to be in it to win it'. 

Scholarships are awarded based on a point system. What I have realised is that I need to get an article published in a peer-reviewed article (or a book chapter!) to be in with a good chance. My goal is to get at least one article published in the next 12 months. So even if I am not successful this round, I will continue to apply each round until I do obtain that elusive scholarship or I am awarded my PhD! A $26k stipend would help quite a bit! It would also mean I could go full -time instead of part-time.

Have you received a HDR scholarship? What are your tips for gaining that elusive scholarship?

Completing the first milestone

Already in week 2 and preparing my first milestone- the Research Plan. The Research Plan includes milestone dates and deadlines, training I'm intending to undertake, a supervisor- student role perspectives survey, plans to publish, terms of agreement and schedule of meetings. I also included a project overview on a Gantt chart, a year long project planner and my intended research design in a flow chart.This Research Plan will form part of my progress report required bi- annually.

My first milestone should be complete in the next two weeks. Then I look to the next item on the agenda- the Literature Review. 

My first week as an HDR student - what are you doing today?

I knew that as soon as I was accepted into the PhD program I would hit the ground running.
My first week as an HDR probationary candidate entailed;

-meeting with my Supervisor
-scheduling workshops and research days
-beginning my research plan
-filling in a survey regarding supervisor and student roles
-watching HDR induction videos
-reading policies and procedures (recently updated)
-re-doing my research planner
-updating my research gantt chart (love my Gantt!)
-setting up NVivo for Lit review


A great tip from Dr Lee-Ann Bye, USC, when she was a PhD candidate, was if someone asks what you are doing today, reply with 'I am working'. This will be one of the best tips to keep with me as I found when I did my research for my Master's degree, others thought that if I was home, I was free to do as I pleased including odd jobs for them! So, instead of saying 'I am studying', I will be saying 'I am working!'.

Day 1 - on probation

There are lots of little steps to meet the milestones required to complete a PhDrogram.

Today was my first meeting with my supervisor to discuss my project. Although I have had plenty of meetings and catch ups with her, today is the first as a PhD student.

I'm privileged to have a supervisor that is supportive, knowledgeable and that I have already worked with. I always leaving her office more motivated than before.

I now have two months to meet my first milestone deadline- my research plan. I have hit the ground running, which I expected, but I'm still trying to get my head around that I am on my new journey. One that I have been dreaming about for a few years and now it's real.

The next few months, I will be establishing clear goals, scheduling workshops for professional development and writing my Research Plan document. 

Next...Milestone two...

Offer of acceptance!

Oh to have the words written 'I'm very please to offer you a place in the PhD program'.

Yes it it's probationary until confirmation but it's that one small step closer to...the next step!

It is a wonderful feeling and a great end to the week to read those words. I have this weekend to breathe before I hit the ground running. I look forward to the journey ahead and everything that comes with undertaking a PhD program.

Stay tuned...😀

PhD Proposal and Application - The Process

Needless to say, I was shocked yesterday when I had a catch up with my supervisor yesterday and she said 'Great, let's submit this today'. I guess I was expecting another edit, another chat but to walk physically down to the Research office and hand it over was amazing. I am still in shock and it's only the first step - I still have to get my letter of acceptance. Receiving that letter could take a month!

After six months getting the application together, I now need to re-do my project planner and Gantt chart. This may be the only time I'm actually ahead of time in this new research journey!

A short but sweet blog post today. I'm sure there will be many long posts in the future as I charge through challenges.

Must reads in the PhD journey

I'm going to keep adding to this list of must reads for anyone doing an HDR.

First on my list is 

1.The PhD Manual: 132 Tips For Surviving And Thriving Whilst Writing Your Thesis [Kindle Edition]

By Mitch Albright

This is an easy to read, point by point ebook. Inexpensive and it had good coverage of the ,any dimensions that encompass the PhD journey. Oh did I mention he also recommends my favorite blogger, researcher, tweeter aka the Thesis Whisperer: Dr Inger Mewburn?

2. Digital Tools for Qualitative Research
By Paulus, Lester and Dempster, 2014

A new book published this year, I borrowed this one from my Supervisor. However, I think I may need to purchase this one. I found it a very useful handbook and covers using digital tools for literature reviews, Nvivo, Livescribe pen and analysis of data just for starters. It is well set out, making an excellent handbook to keep close by.

3. A series of books by Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner

I) The seven secrets of highly successful research students II) The PhD Experience III)Turbocharge your writing IV) Defeating self-sabotage and V)Time for Research

4. Succeeding with your Literature Review: A handbook for students by Paul Oliver

Available as an ebook, it has excellent suggestions on how to approach  doing your literature review including how to sort the literature. Definitely a book to take notes or in my case highlight in my Kindle important tips.

5. Qualitative Data Analysis: A methods sourcebook

This book by Miles, Huberman and Saldana is one that I cited in my Master's thesis and it's exciting to have my very own copy on my bookshelf. It covers qualitative data analysis mainly but it does describe the difference in strategies of data analysis between qualitative and quantitative. I believe this is a book that is needed before data collection is started not just when data analysis is being completed.

6. Ethnography: step by step third edition by David M. Fetterman

An easy and informative read for ethnographers and those thinking about doing ethnography. This book provides a greater understanding of what ethnography really is. It's not just about immersing yourself into a culture to observe.

Conquer the fear of public speaking

I've presented before, I've spoken to large audiences, I've taught groups of school students - I'm a teacher: I know the content and I deliver it in an engaging way.

BUT I have a fear of public speaking especially when it comes to talking something closer to home- such as my own research.

This is the fear I faced yesterday. I wrote about my key tip for public speaking here: http://thepath2phd.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/one-key-way-to-beat-fear-of-public.html

So, how did it go? I did it and I did it well. How do I know? Well I guess it helped my supervisor was pleased and I had fellow academics congratulate me! But what else? How did I know without someone giving me praise?

1. I felt comfortable and relaxed allowing my words to flow.

2. I didn't stumble

3. No I.T failures- slides worked, microphone worked

4. I stayed calm, I remembered to breathe!

5. I stayed within the time limit and won a $50 giftcard.

6. I kept the audience's attention

Here are my tips for being well prepared and having a successful presentation

1. Prepare- use slides or another application but don't read off it.

2. Use notes- keep them with you on stage- it's okay to refer to them 

3. Use a quote or two from your research

4. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes - keep it slightly understated and professional

5. Breathe- write that on your notes as a reminder.

6. Stick to 2 or 3 key points that - don't overload your audience as they won't remember anyway 

(Source:http://www.speechmarc.co.uk/public-speaking-tips-make-it-memorable/)

7. Make your opening line matter.

8. Practise and time yourself- practise presenting to your son, mum or dog!

The proposal - getting it over the line and ready for the application

Walking back from my Supervisor's office to my car and I do a happy dance. Okay okay, I walk back to my car with my feet firmly on the ground but a grin from ear to ear and a sense of achievement that one small goal has been achieved towards submitting my application to be a PhD candidate. The word 'brilliant' echoing in my ears as I realise my hard work has seen me through the first of many challenges in the journey that is ahead.

I'm a week from bring able to have my application and proposal signed off and submitted. I know my chances of a scholarship are slim but even without it, I have started my journey as a 

PhD candidate. The first of many little steps in the HDR process. Next!

One key way to beat the fear of public speaking

I have my first presentation on my research coming up. 'Wow' 'fantastic' 'how exciting' my family say. I'm secretly panicking. You see I have a fear of public speaking. I can easily lecture to a room full of pre-service teachers, I can talk day in and day delivering lessons to six year olds, yet given my big chance to present my very own research to respected academics and I panic. That's right presenting on MY topic. A topic that I have spent three years researching and continuing to research in associated areas. 

A week to go, slides are done, a practice run through worked and I finally have had a full nights sleep without waking with the fear that people will 'think' I'm stupid, no good at both opening my mouth and at my research. What evidence do I have to base these thoughts? None. 

So how did I get my confidence back to overcome my fear of public speaking next week?

I found a killer opening sentence that gives me a sense of ease and most likely the audience's attention.The opening line could be anything related to your topic. I went with a quote that would go on to prove my point why my research matters. Probably best to stay away from a joke as your opening line though - unless of course your topic is based on research about what makes a good comedian. 

Once I knew how I was going to begin my presentation, I stopped worrying. I believe if I don't do the presentation then I fail.  But if I do the presentation even if I mess it up- I win because I will stand up and still present my research. 

The research question - which is?

It has taken me a good six months to refine my research question and redraft my proposal to begin my PhD journey. And even though I have a fair idea where my research is heading, the research question and design may still take a detour during the research process. My research design includes my methodology and methods that I will use to approach my research question and attempt to answer it while also filling a gap in the knowledge of my particular topic.

Are you still with me?

 Six months has passed since first starting to write my proposal and I thought I would be closer to submitting my application. The research question needs to be realistic and the researcher (me!) needs to find a method suitable to answering it. 

Three major redrafts and I have once again refined my question. Hopefully when I see my supervisor in the new week, I will feel more confident in knowing I'm closer to submitting my application to begin my journey as an HDR student and begin my dreams of furthering my knowledge through research and fulfilling my desire to write on something close to my heart and that in some way or another contribute at least a snippet to the literature on my topic.

So, before that application even gets submitted, the research question (which may transform later!) needs to be refined and a suitable research design needed to attempt to answer it. AND I need to prove or, I believe, argue that it is a worthwhile topic to research.

I will get there. How do I know that? Sheer determination. 

How did you work through refining your research question?