Putting the framework into words

I've been tackling my least favourite part of the thesis process - the theory chapter. This is also the chapter my supervisors emphasise as the framework of the thesis. But it's hard trying to work out exactly what my theoretical basis is going to be.

My supervisors have thrown phrases around like 'theory think-piece', or 'conceptualisation piece', which seem to make sense when we're discussing it in the meeting, but by the next day sound like another language. Then I get frustrated with myself because I can't put a finger on what my approach is exactly. I want to use discourses...so poststructuralism... so social constructionism gets a mention... what about citizenship? Where does that fit in - the lit review or the theory chapter? Or both? What about other aspects? Bourdieu? Arendt? Connectedness or belonging? Or should I focus on participation?

(Cue thoughts of "I don't know anything!". Impostor syndrome anyone?)

The more I think about it, the more confused I feel - and the more I feel I need to read! As a result, I have a stack of articles added to the stack of library books to read. Reading what others have written about my topic (digital citizenship, btw) and trying to identify their theoretical approach is helping me identify at least some approaches. I also spent a while writing down statements about my topic and then trying to identify my underlying assumptions and therefore my approach.  I put it all into a chapter outline, albeit skeletal - I really do have a LOT of reading to do. I'll slowly fill in the gaps and someday in a few years I'll have a finished theory chapter as part of my finished thesis - I hope!

So anyone else have this problem? Or maybe this is just my own peculiar weakness :)

Getting in touch

By Keely Blanch

Phew, we're slowly getting things up and running.

We've now initiated a Facebook group called 'UOCE Postgrads' and a link is on the sidebar if you'd like to join that. We're hoping the FB group can become a supportive social environment for Otago Education postgrads. We'll also be putting links to new blog posts on this group page.

But I don't use facebook, you say? No problems - we have another link on the sidebar for you to subscribe by email to new posts. This is done through Feedburner and we do not have access to your email addresses. And don't worry - you won't be spammed! No new posts = no email. :)

Got something you'd like to share? Or want to become an author on the blog? Drop us an email via the contact form over on the bottom of the sidebar, or post a comment, or post on the FB group.

Bitten!

By Lara Sanderson

Good Afternoon fellow Postgraders!

This post is all about the free stuff! Yes, FREE! A free book called BITE: Recipes for remarkable research I found it via Thesis Whisperer (on Facebook) - a very valuable Like for those who Facebook with lots of links to articles, tips on getting through your thesis etc. Anyway one of the links was to a book review to BITE which is a free book and from the look of the contents page - awesome for pg student and supervisor a like! I didn't link you to the article, just the book and it is below (copy and paste it)

https://www.sensepublishers.com/catalogs/bookseries/other-books/bite/

I hope you all get suitably bitten by this book!

Postgrad Group?

By Kim Brown

Hi all,

Sylvia and I are attending workshops with the SLC on how to set up and lead a postgrad group. Before she went up to Chch, we had a chat about approaching other postgrads to find out a) are you interested in a postgrad group, and b) what type of group would you see as being useful?

Here are few things to consider as suggested by the SLC:

• there are big diferences between what Masters and PhD students need
• students at different stages of their PhD study often look for different things from their groups (if they can attend at all!)
• if ain't useful/interesting/fun/ all or any of these things people won't come to the group - keep your finger on the pulse of what your members want from your group
• we cannot be all things to all people

So, sounds a bit like life really.

I have started to ask people what they think about a postgrad group and the types of activities that would appeal. Below is a contextualised report of responses:

First year PhD student - make the offer of membership open to all postgrads enrolled at UOCE; focused writing sessions where we actually sit and write for a given period of time (could book a group study room @ Robertson), after session retire to a convivial establishment for coffee or the like to review our writing; coffee chats where we invite a guest speaker to moring tea for informal talks on matters of interest, for example, invite Martin Tollich to talk about ethics; meet as a group one a month.

Finishing PhD student - less able to commit time to a group; look for links to what is happening elsewhere in the university, for example, Festival of Graduate Research (aka postgrad month); informal writing sharing sessions where students share writing amongst themselves.

There is also agreement that postgrads at UOCE would like to raise our profile in the department and amongst other students studying here.

Thoughts, ideas, responses? If I've not spoken with you yet, I shall be coming your way soon!