Thesis Writing: Doing Data Right
The middle of the academic year is always the time where students find themselves in a frenzy over just one thing: DATA. How many participants? Where and how to find them? And then what? It’s overwhelming. Now is the time to take stock of the overall picture– where you are at and if you’re progressing on schedule. Take double stock of your data– this is the backbone of your thesis. Data handling has many moving parts, and many students do not make the transition from student to researcher with ease. It’s a giant leap and requires meticulous record-keeping and strategy. If you’re lucky, your research will yield plenty of studies to use as your scaffold, but you will have to conduct your own research, compare it to previous findings, and come to some (hopefully) new and fresh conclusions. If you’re in the throws of your thesis year, you’ll know I’m…
Procrastination: it’s all in your head
It’s a worldwide phenomenon and we’ve all been there. We know that certain tasks must be done, but instead, we do something (anything!) else– bingeing a Netflix series, googling down internet rabbit holes, reorganising the kitchen cupboards, or doing nothing at all. We procrastinate until we can’t anymore, or worse until it’s too late. In both instances, dealing with the consequences of our delaying tactics is never pretty. You lose time you’ll never get back. Procrastination fosters poor personal, academic, and professional performance. It causes stress, anxiety, and guilt. You’re not being lazy It would be easy to label procrastination as the result of poor time management or, worse, sheer laziness. But the science simply does not support this. Procrastination is a complex psychological issue that has much to do with how our brains are hardwired. The limbic system is one of the oldest and most dominant portions of the…
How to Write a Winning Research Proposal
Writing a research proposal is a vital step in your thesis writing year. Why is the Research Proposal Important? Your research proposal must persuade potential supervisors and/or funders that your work is worthy of their support and approval. Articulate your research ideas and reasons in a compelling way, while demonstrating your understanding of existing literature. It must also clearly define your questions or objectives and your approach to answering them. If just reading those requirements is making you feel out of your depth already. Keep reading. This article will give you the all-important structure you need to make a success of this crucial step. My advice? While it must be well-structured, your research proposal should retain a degree of flexibility to accommodate any changes you need to make as your thesis progresses. Before you even start writing your research proposal it is crucial that you do plenty of background…
You are the Champion
Writing a thesis is a singular and solitary journey. You may well have the support from your family, an amazing supervisor and an academic coach to help you navigate the challenges and obstacles (of which, let’s be 100% honest, there are many), but in the end, you and only you can be the one to put the words on the page. And you, only you, will be awarded the degree/diploma in the end. Therefore, You are the champion and you have to learn to champion yourself. What do I mean? While having everyone else cheer you on throughout the thesis writing process may give you the warm and fuzzies, you need to be your own biggest fan. It’s not conceited to have a healthy amount of self-confidence in your abilities or to champion yourself. In fact, I’d like to argue the opposite is true. If you don’t believe in yourself,…
Stop Procrastinating and Write your Literature Review
The second chapter of your thesis is the literature review (LR), and it is this segment of the written work that often presents as a major stumbling block for students. The biggest issue is not being certain where to start. What is a Literature Review? This is the culmination of all your research, succinctly presented and scrutinised for it’s worth. All that reading and gathering of articles, academic papers and books you read will feature here. In this chapter, you will provide an overview of key findings, concepts and developments in relation to your research problem or question. As you make your way through the research, you should begin the writing process—take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review. It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism. A useful technique is to copy and paste pieces of articles…
Your Thesis Year. Are You Ready?
Before you get properly stuck into writing your thesis, there’s an important action for you to take. I’m not talking about doing more literature searches or setting up appointments with your supervisor, there’ll be plenty of that in the coming months. The most crucial action you can take right now before the year starts unravelling is to get your mind right and your systems in place. These are the foundations that will hold up all the work you will do in the coming months. What do I mean by getting your mind right and your systems in place? James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits says this: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there. This year, spend less time…
Swapping Resolutions for Strategies
2020 turned our lives upside down and inside out and it’s not over yet. So, how do we make resolutions for the coming year with this continuing uncertainty? We don’t. Instead, we become master strategists of our own success stories. We have learned that resolutions don’t always last and we understand that it takes more than a declaration to achieve a goal. Therefore, now, more than ever, articulating specific goals to give purpose to our restricted existence is essential. The difference between a resolution that is merely a whimsical wish and a resolution that amounts to achieving a well-considered objective that aligns to your top-priority values, is colossal. And, formulating a realistic strategy and plan to achieve that goal is fundamental to your success. Think about completing your thesis or dissertation in 2021. This undeniably amounts to more than just a resolution. It is tangible. You can feel it in…
Harness the Power of Being Proactive
If your thesis or dissertation year commences in the new year, and you’re already contemplating the tasks of research and academic writing, this article is for you. Instead of just thinking about what the year will hold as you take on this mammoth task, you can be proactive and start planning right now. Reducing stress, managing your time effectively, and even saving money are some of the major benefits of grabbing the bull by the horns, before the countdown clock starts ticking on 1 January. What does it really mean to be proactive? The best description I’ve come across is that of proaction expert Thomas S Bateman, who explains that “…it (proaction) is the “possible you” that 1) spots and prevents problems, 2) identifies, pursues, and captures opportunities, and 3) creates a new, personally-chosen, desired future through a strategic change of trajectory.” Being proactive makes room for possibility and…
Your Time to Shine
October and the early weeks of November may be the very months in which you feel like you’ve simply “had enough” on your thesis journey. You’re exhausted, stressed and plain old gatvol. While some might convince themselves that they have done all they can and take their foot off the gas at this point, students who push through and work on polishing their thesis are the ones that take their work from good to great and possibly distinction. This is your time to shine: your time to step up where others are slowing down; your time to dig deep for the final sprint and your time to demonstrate mental strength. This is tenacity, the ability to keep going when others give up. Mental strength Here are some ways you can build up your mental strength and actively put tenacity into practice. Remember that you are in control. There’s a…
Defining Success in order to Succeed
Is your definition of success to pass your degree? What if I told you your definition is too weak, too vague and that should you reach the milestone of passing the final exams or thesis component you still won’t achieve the sense of fulfilment you crave? Here’s the proven truth about experiencing success in all it’s glory: you need to be specific. You need to apply a level of introspection, decide what success actually means to you. Just you. Not your boss, your partner, or anyone else – just you. According to Debbie Allen’s book Success is Easy: “The meaning of success is different for each person. You may not fit into other people’s definition of success, but you can give yourself permission to be OK with that. Success is an individual concept. Here’s the exciting part: you get to define and design your own success, which will become the…