Thursday 24 July 2014

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.

Thursday 17 July 2014

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.

Tuesday 15 July 2014

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!

Monday 14 July 2014

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!

Thursday 10 July 2014

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?