Dissertation Diary

It happens to me time and time again. I am in the depths of a problem. It seems like there is no way to solve it and that I will never feel happy. Then something happens and the problem is solved but still the next time I am struggling with a problem, I feel like I will never solve it.

When it comes to studying and writing (which is one long problem solving process. We were given a reference for this in the Written English class but I can't remember it. Anyone?), the problem is usually solved by me continually asking myself questions, writing them down, reading and looking at data, writing possible answers, evaluating what I still don't know etc. I am much better at doing this than I was at the beginning of this degree and I am much better at trusting myself to find the answers, although I still have moments of despair. I used to think that if I couldn't solve a problem quickly, I would never solve it and I gave up. I have a bit more patience now when it comes to studying. I wonder if I could apply this to other areas of my life?

Today I have done all the things I said I would! Hooray. I have also had a flash of inspiration re my long-standing analysis problem mentioned in many other posts. I am thinking of differentiating between (1.) the phenomena being studied, (2.)previous researchers who have written about that phenomena and their theories and (3.)the theories and evaluations written by the author of the text. Of course all these elements exist in professional as well as student writing, but I think the balance might be different in student essays. Perhaps there will be more of (2.) in the essay writing as questions often ask about theories and in a way, the theories become the phenomena. Also, the undergraduate students in this case, aren't doing their own research so may not come to their own conclusions as much. The higher level/better student might have more of (3.) as they realise what is valused at undergraduate level.

Another possible category might be researchers who write about (2.), although it may be hard to distinguish between the two groups. A pattern that seems to be emerging is that researchers and theories in group (2.) are not followed by a date in brackets when they are being treated as phenomena.

It is getting complicated but I feel like I am making progress albeit slowly.

Today I will:

1. Analyse another text.

2. Try to resolve as many problems with the analysis as possible.

3. Think more about the problem analysed in the last post.

4. Read Boas article.

If I do all that I will celebrate with chocolate