This post is to make sure you’re aware of the resources for MSc students writing dissertations. Of course, writing a dissertation is never a stress-free experience, but we would like to make sure that you’re adequately supported. Accordingly, we’ve extended our offerings and will be organising a series of events to help you finish up.
1) One-on-one appointments
First, I’d like to remind you that PPLS Writing Centre one-on-one appointments are available in the summer months as well. You’ve each been given three hours per month to talk with PhD tutors about your work. You’d be welcome to bring in sections of your dissertation. Make sure not to let your June hours expire. Don’t forget to reserve your July/August spots as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
As always, the booking form is available in the “Appointments” tab (https://writingcentre.ppls.ed.ac.uk/appointments/). Note that these sessions are not for proofreading – the reason we’re here is to make sure that you communicate your ideas in a way that matches expectations in your subject area.
2) Help with statistics
Students tackling quantitative work for the first time can run into all sorts of problems when analysing and interpreting data. While you should always consult your supervisor first about questions of *what* to do (analysis planning), we can help you figure out *how* to do what you want to do (implementation).
If you need that sort of help, click on the “Request help (stats, etc.)” tab (https://writingcentre.ppls.ed.ac.uk/more-help/), choose “PGT DISSERTATIONS” under “Statistics help for student researchers, and tell us about your project. Once you’ve submitted your answers, they will be passed along to our PhD tutors and, in some cases, the Teaching Fellows for statistics.
Please be aware that it will take some time for your query to reach the right person. The turnaround time could be as high as 2 weeks in some cases. Make sure to request help well in advance of when you need it.
3) Writing and statistics workshops
In late June and early July, we will be running a series of workshops on writing quantitative reports and visualising data. These workshops were developed by senior tutors working for the centre, and will, of course, be held online. Exact dates will be announced within a week.
4) Programming
If you’re using jsPsych to collect data online, you can ask a PhD tutor for help with your code. These appointments are booked using the same interface as the writing appointments (https://writingcentre.ppls.ed.ac.uk/appointments/). Make sure to select “Programming – jsPsych” as the appointment type.
5) Learning resources
Don’t forget about our new Learning Resources site (https://uoe.sharepoint.com/sites/PPLSLearningResources). We’ve gathered links to online resources that include past dissertations, skills training, and help with online data collection. We’ll be adding new resources later this month – expect an announcement in a week or two.
As always, write me if you have any questions.
