Think you're not clever enough to get a PhD? Maybe you think you're too clever to fail to get a PhD. Success is much about how you approach it as your innate academic ability and intelligence. Here are 10 top tips on how to get a PhD distilled from over 15 years of successful PhD supervision. How to Get a PhD The secret of how to get a ...

Microsoft Office Excel is the most commonly used spreadsheet. This is a basic lesson plan for training in Microsoft Excel for Windows 2007. It takes into account the changes between the 2003 and 2007 versions and covers the controversial new ribbon interface to find the features you need. Learning Outcome 1: Using The Excel Application At end o...

Ending a presentation can be a problem. You can use a visual metaphor to reinforce the end. I have used PowerPoint’s gradient fill and animation facilities to create a strong visual metaphor based upon red velvet curtains in an homage to Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge. Introduction Closing a talk can be challenging. A strong visual metaphor...

RSS feeds are becoming increasingly important as a way of communicating content. They can be read by modern browsers as well as dedicated news reader programmes. Drupal provides the Views module to query the content of the database and generate bespoke RSS feeds. RSS News Feeds in Drupal One of the most important features of modern web sites is the...

This article is a review of Drupal the open source content management system. It covers building a web site. It is not a comprehensive review of the many features of Drupal, rather a review of its usefulness for an intermediate user with no prior knowledge of PHP and mySQL. How to Build a Web Site with Drupal This review describes the use of Drupal...

Drupal is a powerful open source content management system. But how easy is it for an intermediate web user without experience of PHP and MySQL to use? This article reviews the installation process on a Vista PC. Later articles will review the development of my site in Drupal. How to Install Drupal Drupal is an open source content management sy...

When you have got your results and you have presented them to the reader in your thesis you are left to answer the most difficult question of all: So what? The job of your PhD thesis conclusion is to show what contribution you have made to the field of knowledge. Originality versus Contribution to Knowledge Many people think PhDs have to be...

Once you have collected your data, how do you present your results? Do you include everything in the dissertation results section? Do you present raw data or use charts and tables to summarise your results? Can you ever include too much data? Find the answers here. Presenting Your Results How you present your results will depend upo...

Nearly all PhDs require data to be collected. However, there are many different ways to collect data, which is dependent upon the type of study to be undertaken, the problem domain, and the methodology and PhD project plan used. Data Generally, data is of two types: quantitative, which is numerical, and qualitative, which is not. Collecting data is...

Traditionally, debates about confidentiality and privacy of sensitive patient information have focused on who should have access to the information. There is another dimension: the purpose for which access is sought. This article proposes a two dimensional people-purpose privacy matrix. Introduction Uses of personal data including health record...

Clinicians and managers have a professional duty to protect patient information. Therefore, we have a duty to assess and manage risks arising from the way that we process and store that data. In general, storing information using IT exposes it to greater risk. Find out how to manage that risk. How to Manage the Risks to Patient Information Using In...

There are a huge number of possible study designs for a PhD, depending upon your subject area. However, all PhDs need a credible study design and a rationale for why you chose it. At the end of your PhD, you should always reflect on how well your chosen design served your needs. Designing a PhD Study The design of a PhD study is crucial to its succ...

The first key activity you will undertake for your PhD is to find out what other people have already found out about your topic. Found out how to do it, and how computers can help you and hinder you. Reviewing the Literature The purpose of a literature review is to establish the current state of knowledge before you start your PhD study. There are ...

Once you have got a refine research question or aim, the next step in planning a PhD is to set clear objectives. Once again, we shall use the SMART acronym to define objectives, but also show how your objectives can structure your whole proposal The Difference Between Aims and Objectives It is important to distinguish your objectives from your rese...

If you don't get the research question right at the start of your PhD you probably won't enjoy your studies and you will seriously reduce the chance of a successful outcome. You need a SMART research question, and you need to be very clear about what you are trying to do. Introduction In The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams c...