Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012

Discussion for current and prospective students about social life at university, societies, what stationery and bedroom items to buy and anything else relating to life as a university student.

Announcements Posted on
Please change your TSR password 23-05-2013
Enter our travel-writing competition for the chance to win a Nikon 1 J3 camera 20-05-2013
IMPORTANT: You must wait until midnight (morning exams)/4.30AM (afternoon exams) to discuss Edexcel exams and until 1pm/6pm the following day for STEP and IB exams. Please read before posting, including for rules for practical and oral exams. 28-04-2013
Sign in to Reply
  1. i'm no superman's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    I'm on 2373 words so far. Still on my introduction. FML

    I can't believe I didn't see this thread earlier. I'm going to be complaining in here for quite a while...
  2. Boo_x's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Posts: 618
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    I'm actually enjoying my dissertation at the moment apart from one stupid hypothesis which needs to go figure itself out about what I actually mean and what I found. As otherwise my dissertation is fine but this tiny bit is just confusing me and throwing everything else off..20 days til the draft is due in eep.
  3. ellejaytee's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Hampshire
    • Posts: 215
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by Boo_x)
    I'm actually enjoying my dissertation at the moment apart from one stupid hypothesis which needs to go figure itself out about what I actually mean and what I found. As otherwise my dissertation is fine but this tiny bit is just confusing me and throwing everything else off..20 days til the draft is due in eep.
    I am enjoying my dissertation, but only when I'm not stuck. I am considering skipping my econometrics lectures on Fridays occassionally soon, just because it will give me an extra whole day to do dissertation and I can let the lecturer know exactly why I need the extra time. (only because he's my tutor though...)
  4. i'm no superman's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    I can't believe it's March already.
  5. Sapphire_Eyes's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Derby
    • Posts: 2,228
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    Got a meeting with supervisor for results on Friday should have everything sorted for then just getting it together in the spreadsheet now.

    Aiming to complete over the weekend a first draft of my IS as im going to finish everything else this weekend so i can spend time with family on Sunday
  6. aeterno's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 5,691
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    It's freaking March! :zomg:

    On the plus side, I'm at least cracking on with my dissertation :yep: Ignoring all other work though
  7. Sapphire_Eyes's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Derby
    • Posts: 2,228
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by aeterno)
    It's freaking March! :zomg:

    On the plus side, I'm at least cracking on with my dissertation :yep: Ignoring all other work though
    I know scary stuff

    Should have 1 piece in tomorrow and wont need to worry about the second half for a while. Will get my other stuff in soon as well hoping to crack out about 5k words over weekend
  8. itzme's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 1,481
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    guys and gals, I still have my literature review to do as well as one chapter and a half!
    I WILL NEVER MANAGE!
  9. aeterno's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 5,691
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by itzme)
    guys and gals, I still have my literature review to do as well as one chapter and a half!
    I WILL NEVER MANAGE!
    When's it due in?
  10. amizzle91's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Suffolk
    • Posts: 2,869
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    asdfghjkl.

    Written 3,800 words for one chapter and I was aiming for 2,600. It's not a really bad thing that I have too many words but now I have to consider whether to edit this chapter severely or just cut another chapter/analysis entirely. Hmm, decisions, decisions.

    I have a question, or a query for you lovely dissertationers (not a word :p:)

    How many words have you written/planning to write for your introduction/conclusion? I'm just wondering about the average really. I was thinking 1,500 for both but I don't know if that's too few.
  11. ArtGoblin's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Posts: 4,813
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    I finished my lit review today! It's taken me far too long to do; I'm just hoping my supervisor doesn't send it back saying it's all wrong. I sent out a request for participants tonight as well and I've already had a response! I'm so scared of doing the interviews. :cry:
  12. itzme's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 1,481
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by aeterno)
    When's it due in?
    officially: end of april.
    first draft: within 2 weeks
  13. aeterno's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 5,691
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by itzme)
    officially: end of april.
    first draft: within 2 weeks
    Hm, and approx. how many words do you left to write? Are you quite quick when it comes to writing things up? Is your supervisor quite flexible with your first draft hand in date? (Sorry - bombarding you with questions but yeah would be useful to know these things to give you any useful advice )

    (Original post by amizzle91)
    asdfghjkl.

    Written 3,800 words for one chapter and I was aiming for 2,600. It's not a really bad thing that I have too many words but now I have to consider whether to edit this chapter severely or just cut another chapter/analysis entirely. Hmm, decisions, decisions.

    I have a question, or a query for you lovely dissertationers (not a word :p:)

    How many words have you written/planning to write for your introduction/conclusion? I'm just wondering about the average really. I was thinking 1,500 for both but I don't know if that's too few.
    I've got one rather long chapter too - and I've already cut out 2000 words from it :zomg: :emo:

    My intro/concl will be about 1500 words each too :yep: Might even have to be a little shorter for me just because I've got to cut down on words somewhere So you should be fine
  14. amizzle91's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Suffolk
    • Posts: 2,869
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by aeterno)
    Hm, and approx. how many words do you left to write? Are you quite quick when it comes to writing things up? Is your supervisor quite flexible with your first draft hand in date? (Sorry - bombarding you with questions but yeah would be useful to know these things to give you any useful advice )



    I've got one rather long chapter too - and I've already cut out 2000 words from it :zomg: :emo:

    My intro/concl will be about 1500 words each too :yep: Might even have to be a little shorter for me just because I've got to cut down on words somewhere So you should be fine
    Thanks for replying! At least I know what others are doing now, makes me feel better and that I'm doing okay

    Will have to see supervisor about chapter issues, just gotta keep chugging along until May 14th! Roll on then :P
  15. aeterno's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 5,691
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by amizzle91)
    Thanks for replying! At least I know what others are doing now, makes me feel better and that I'm doing okay

    Will have to see supervisor about chapter issues, just gotta keep chugging along until May 14th! Roll on then :P
    At least you've got some time to sort out those issues :yep:

    In other news, I think I've officially freaked out my supervisor by constantly telling him how many more words I've written every time I see him. I saw him twice within about 10 mins and the second time I saw him I said 'I've got 40 more words :awesome:' 'Ok. Good. Well done...:erm:'

    :facepalm2:

    [yes, that was something I needed to get off my chest :ninja:]
  16. ellejaytee's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Hampshire
    • Posts: 215
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    Can I ask opinions of people in here?

    I am really struggling with my analysis section so am trying to bulk out an earlier section by following the methods of an earlier paper. Do you think this is a good idea as long as i reference the earlier paper or could it cross the boundary of plagarism?
  17. noregrets's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Location: The Roaring Twenties
    • Posts: 385
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    Hello everyone, just found out about this thread now so thought i'd join in Writing my dissertation (Law) at the moment. It's about reforming the law for negligently caused psychiatric injury (surprisingly interesting, but technically difficult). 15-20,000 words but I think mine will probably end up like 18/19k.

    I'm currently sitting at 11k (left the two hardest chapters until last, bad idea in hindsight lol) and moving nowhere fast. Hand in is the 29th of March so I really need to start motivating myself! Sunday night is the worst though!
  18. aeterno's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 5,691
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by noregrets)
    Hello everyone, just found out about this thread now so thought i'd join in Writing my dissertation (Law) at the moment. It's about reforming the law for negligently caused psychiatric injury (surprisingly interesting, but technically difficult). 15-20,000 words but I think mine will probably end up like 18/19k.

    I'm currently sitting at 11k (left the two hardest chapters until last, bad idea in hindsight lol) and moving nowhere fast. Hand in is the 29th of March so I really need to start motivating myself! Sunday night is the worst though!
    That sounds really interesting! (Not being sarcastic, that genuinely sounds interesting ) Do you mind expanding a little on what exactly you're doing? You get such a high word count though! :eek: Lucky bastard :unimpressed:

    Just go all Hitler on yourself for motivation (the, er, general dictatorial part not the genocidal, bloodthirsty, fascist part :ninja:)
  19. Sapphire_Eyes's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Derby
    • Posts: 2,228
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    Currently written: 2280 -_- fail need to write out 4000 so 1720 words to finish. Got to write out instructions, understanding the levels of divergence and about the software for materials and methods. For the introduction got to finish 2 sections on squirrelpox virus and evolution.

    Should like to get my results section set out for mid-week as well.

    Deadline 23rd urgh
  20. noregrets's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Location: The Roaring Twenties
    • Posts: 385
    Re: Official Dissertation Thread - 2011-2012
    (Original post by aeterno)
    That sounds really interesting! (Not being sarcastic, that genuinely sounds interesting ) Do you mind expanding a little on what exactly you're doing? You get such a high word count though! :eek: Lucky bastard :unimpressed:

    Just go all Hitler on yourself for motivation (the, er, general dictatorial part not the genocidal, bloodthirsty, fascist part :ninja:)
    Haha of course! Talking about it generally helps me see the bigger picture.

    So basically, my dissertation involves giving a brief history of the law, stating the law as it currently stands, critiquing it, offering an international comparison (Australian Law) and offering suggestions for reform (those are my chapter headings )

    The law itself concerns people claiming compensation for a psychiatric injury they have developed (most commonly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but there are others too like anxiety neurosis etc). The law used to be particularly strict. PTSD has only recently been given recognition as a psychiatric illness and courts/people in general have always been skeptical about psychiatric injury.

    Claims broadly fall under two heads; from primary victims - these are people who suffer Psychiatric as a consequence from physical injuries they have sustained at the same time (e.g. they get hit by a car and then develop PTSD). The second type of victim is a secondary victim - these are slightly different in that they only suffer psychiatric injury, usually as a result of witnessing someone else get injured (e.g. seeing your child get hit by a car - terrible examples lol).

    This area of law was very much in the public eye after the Hillsborough Disaster (lots of relatives of the victims sustained psychiatric injuries when they were told about/saw their loved ones dying).

    Very basically, the law is pretty kind to primary victims (the leading decision says that you can recover for psychiatric injury, even if psychiatric injury is not foreseeable, as long as PERSONAL injury is foreseeable). On the other hand, the law is extremely harsh towards secondary victims - they have to satisfy 3 distinct control mechanisms, in addition to foreseeability of psychiatric injury (they must prove very close ties of love and affection to the victim- one case they didn't let a brother in law recover as they didn't think he was close enough to the victim!; they have to be at the scene of the disaster/at the immediate aftermath and they have to witness the disaster with their own unaided senses (i.e. if they are told by someone else about it, e.g. through radio like some at the Hillsborough Disaster, they are barred from recovering). These are extremely harsh control mechanisms and most agree that they are pretty arbitrary.

    This is a very brief summary lol, there are all sorts of technicalities that I won't bore you with. Anyway, i'm arguing that primary victims should not be treated so favourably, and secondary victims should be treated more favourably. Not exactly sure what my reform proposals are yet I think I will have a better idea when i've finished my critique chapter (doing that now). Australia have a much, much fairer system than us! Overall, i've really enjoyed it, though it is very technical and at some points difficult (certain parts of the law just are not all that clear and you have just got to accept that and interpret it how you think it should look). I've loved the medical aspect to it as well, it's allowed me to research psychiatric illnesses, how they are diagnosed, how they develop etc, which I love. The worst part has probably been stating the current law if i'm honest (it;s all over the place and there are so many different types of claim - like rescuers, bystanders, people who are stressed at work etc etc)

    I hope this has not confused the hell out of you lol, it's hard to describe it to someone that isn't from a legal background, simply because of the terminology etc lol. I've tried to keep it as non-legal as possible.

    Oh and TOMORROW I WILL GET 1000 words done (I hope )
    Last edited by noregrets; 05-03-2012 at 01:22.
Sign in to Reply
Share this discussion:  
Article updates
Moderators

We have a brilliant team of more than 60 volunteers looking after discussions on The Student Room, helping to make it a fun, safe and useful place to hang out.

Reputation gems:
The Reputation gems seen here indicate how well reputed the user is, red gem indicate negative reputation and green indicates a good rep.
Post rating score:
These scores show if a post has been positively or negatively rated by our members.