Mr Fredblack, from what I can see, it appears that you have finished your Phd. Whats more, it appears that you have done your dissertation at one of our finest university, on that you should be congratulated. I am about to begin my dissertaion in politics. As you could proberly understand, I find it a bit overwhelming. Could you please give me some advice. How did you choose the title? how did you organise your research, how original should it be?.

From reading your post, it is obvious to all of us that you are extremly perceptive, almost certernly above average intellect, so if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you give me the reference to your Phd dissertation. All I need is the university, the year, your name and your advisors name. It would REALLY help me to have a look at your project.


Thanks in advance for your help.

@Donnie. First, have you got a book called "How to Get a PHD" by EPhillips and D Pugh. If not help yourself and get a copy. An excellent little book and will help you understand the various components and skills which need to be demonstrated at each stage, right up writting the damn thing up and taking your viva examination and the forms it can take. Hey your thesis is only part of the examination. There is more to come.

Sorry will not give my academic details or thesis details on here, as I might as well publish my wife's work details. Don't think her majesty will be best pleased. Plus you are not sure on what you want to research and I would not advise anyone who was not very sure to look at mine it will do your head in. Multi-disciplinary across three disciplines and sets of techniques and methods. Not for the faint hearted. Once you have decided your area and have got into your reading seriously,then look for any number of doctorate thesis which will be referenced in artilces and books you come across. Then choose the one or how many which uses a method or approach you favour.

About developing your thesis always extremely difficult. First it helps to know why you want to do a doctorate. I knew what area I wanted to study because it reflected my practical interests and thins I was involved in so had an inside view which I knew many would never have. So you have to ask yourself honestly what area of study that you personally find either fascinating, compelling or you would like to know more about.

You have to know and or find your own motivational trigger for doing the damn thing, because a PHD is like a really really long hike and you have to have something that motivates and keeps you at it in a disciplined way. You are entering the big boy league and there is nobody to hold your hand. So motivation is vital.

Your thesis will come and not by being forced. Again once you start thinking about the things I have mentioned and what areas interest you and you start to master the literature with a critical mind, then things will start to appear. For example things that don't follow or patterns of ommission or the way evidence is used or keeping the evidence and using alternative explanations..

But as I said it will come once you start doing the work. A bit like martial arts, just got to start from the begining and do the graft, then before you know it the magic comes.

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Thanks for your advice Mr Fredback. That book looks very helpful. Anyways, will you be publishing your disseratation?

donnie wrote:

On the contary, there is nothing 'bare face cheek' about asking a brother about his dissertaion project. Dissertations are meant to be read by others. It is not like I am asking for his Address. Anyways, from reading Mr Fredblacks post, I am sure we can all agree that he can defend himself, if and hevens forbid, I turn out to a raving manic who likes to read other peoples disseratation and stalk them.

Anyways, the only reason I ask for these informations is so I can instruct our librarian to get me a copy of that research. There is nothing sinister about that.

Also, Familiarity is no safeguard against anything. It is those whom we know the most that often does us the most damage.offtopic.gif