Data points

Managing data points is something you should do as a separate exercise when drafting the whole thesis together. Take a few sessions to look at these in isolation.

The first question to ask is: are they (all) really necessary? What do these charts, figures and diagrams really add to the analysis or overall thesis?

There is a temptation, because we have created them, that we must use every chart, figure and graph in the final document. Sometimes, when you bring the thesis together, you might be able to see that that particular data point does not actually add anything to your argument. In fact, it may be a distraction. Just because you have the data, does not mean you have to present it. Just because you are using it, does not mean you need every fancy iteration of it in several different ways / charts.

Remember we use data points to present information that is too complex to describe by text alone. But data points are not points of analysis. They are descriptive, and a PhD thesis should be dominated by evaluation and analysis not description. Too much description is another way of missing the ‘PhD level’.

Sometimes it is hard to let go of things we have spent lots of time doing, and look rather fancy. But you might perhaps use that particular data in a journal article or spin off publication. 

Not everything belongs in the thesis. So when you come to reviewing the data you have presented and how you have presented it, ask yourself, is this the best representation of that data? And crucially do I actually need it? Does it add to my argument and augment my original contribution?

Today I will…

• Continue writing for 2 hours minimum on my PhD chapter, working my way down my task list;

• Review my use of figures, charts and data points.