Dissertation Survey

geeofcrazy

Hello all,

My name is George and I'm a geography student at Staffordshire university, im in my final year and am writing my dissertation, the title for this paper is ' An investigation to explore the challenges for cycling as a sustainable form of transport within the city of london, United Kindom'

With these running themes throughout the work.
1) Is the number of cyclists increasing in London?
2) What do cyclists/Potential cyclists regard as the drives and barriers towards cycling within the city?
3) How successful have recent schemes been in regards to the number of people cycling today?

The overall aim of this survey is based on cyclists perceptions towards cycling, why people choose to do so, wether or not cycling is becoming more popular, and why you decide to get on the bike.

Even if you dont ride in london, but have done so in the past please try and answer some questions, the more feedback the better, many thanks.
updated link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Q0YocH ... M/viewform

Heres the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Q0YocH ... M/viewform

If you have any questions, send me a message and il try my best to answer and issues, or feedback that you may want to give. Cheers all!

navrig

Link doesn't work. I get an error saying:

Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist.

jasonbrim

You might want to check the title of your dissertation...

fevmeister

terrible dissertation title!

Phil_D

Don't forget to get someone to proof read it before submission

geeofcrazy

Its not a terrible title, you can comment by all means. but its not your writing it, and obviously there are some errors no doubt sorry.

updated link is here, thanks again to anyone. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Q0YocH ... M/viewform

Also keep comments constructive please,

fevmeister

I can comment yes, having graduated with a 1st class geography degree two years ago

Brakeless

' Do you feel cycling is better off for the environment'?

It may well be better for the environment if more people cycle rather than use more polluting forms of transport but your question doesn't really make sense.

Good luck with the rest of your study, I think you'll need it!

Pross

geeofcrazy wrote:

Its not a terrible title, you can comment by all means. but its not your writing it, and obviously there are some errors no doubt sorry.

updated link is here, thanks again to anyone. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Q0YocH ... M/viewform

Also keep comments constructive please,

I'd say 'an investigation to explore' is poor wording. Just say an investigation (an investigation investigates by its very nature) or an exploration. 'An investigation into the challenges' reads far better. Question 1 in your original post would appear superfluous, it's obvious that the number of cyclists in London is increasing.

I'm not sure how far down the line you have gone but just a suggestion (from someone working for a transport consultancy). Given how cycling for transport has increased so much in London over the past decade might it be worth concentrating more on how London has achieved this and how it can be applied to areas throughout the UK that are still a long way behind (what would work, what wouldn't, how could things be made even better). Of course, you may already be going down that route and the survey is to establish how London has achieved this.

chrisaonabike

geeofcrazy wrote:

Its not a terrible title, you can comment by all means. but its not your writing it, and obviously there are some errors no doubt sorry.

updated link is here, thanks again to anyone. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Q0YocH ... M/viewform

Also keep comments constructive please,

Top tip:

If you ask for feedback, be grateful that someone has used some of their precious time to give it, rather than defensive about the nature of the feedback.

johnny25

So long as it's constructive feedback as opposed to criticism for the sake of criticism.

Completed questions for you. Good luck with the dissertation. I didn't have a problem with the title.

fevmeister

How can you investigate to explore something? does this mean you are investigating how you are going to explore it or exploring the actual matter in question?

Not 'AH' comments at all. If at this stage (5months from submission) i were writing my dissertation and someone with a first class degree in the same subject had anything to say about it I would certainly have taken note!

fevmeister

also i would think any non-geographer or in fact any non-'academic' can correctly answer your first question without research.

It appears to me that question 1 is there just for the sake of it. If i were you id move it to number 3, if not delete it.

dissertation hypothesis are not meant to be easily answered and should generate discussion.

geeofcrazy

Hello all,

thank you to some of your constuctive thoughts,

Earlier, on, i had received a high amount of negativity towards my work, which well as a stressed student already hasnt done wonders for me.

A main issue i have with some of your comments on here, they are meant to be constructive, i posted this under Commuting and mountain biking too, mountain biking is where the majority of negative comments have come from, which is upsetting.
Im trying to do my best, this is a major piece of work for me, and being stressed as it is, well its not great. My dissertation is 9000 words long, i have a long way to come, first off some work ive already done. Over the summer, i spent many days and money visiting london, asking people questions, this was my pilot study, one thing i learnt from that is that many of you are very busy, so i created a survey that was quick to answer and wouldnt take up valuable time. I think ive acheived this as ive had over 100 responses so far.
Of course this is also a learning curve, il be constantly editing and researching this, maybe some of my questions are a bit simple, but its got to be so any one can understand it. I hope you all consider this, and im sorry about my grammar, its not my strongest point in life.

@Fev Thanks for your input, and maybe i should take into account you have a 1st class honurs in geography, but my tutors have approved my title etc and they probably know more, prehaps, prehaps not. I have taken your comments on board and will look at what i can do to improve my title.


@Pross, i think your comments have been the most helpful, so im really grateful for your feedback, really useful, and has opened up some new possibilities in terms of research.

Once again, sorry if the link has been sketchy.

hulla the hulla

Just my 2p's worth. People often come on to forums like this with requests for survey feedback. In the main they are badly thought out, inconsistent and contrary. George, this was your opportunity to "sell yourself" to a pretty focused and knowledgeable audience and to be blunt, you didn't do a great job. I too think that the title is flawed and some of the language used is questionable. Also, toughen up buddy. It's a big bad world out there and you will get eaten alive if you can't take a little negative feedback. Yes I get that you are stressed out, doing a piece of work this significant is never easy but you choose the topic so must have had a fair idea of what was involved. Personally I think that the topic is so expansive you will struggle, there are just so many aspects to explore that a 9000 word study merely scratches the surface.

Don't get me wrong, this is not me sat behind a keyboard having a pop for no reason, I wish you well and hope you succeed, I just think it'll be tough.

mfin

OP, is English your first language? I suspect not.

Either way, as mentioned above, it seems obvious that you would benefit from someone proof reading for you as your grammar is a bit 'all over the place'. I'm trying to be constructive here, as I'm sure some of the people above are. Poorly written stuff will hinder you, regardless of the value of what you are actually trying to say.

Rattling off posts on Forums with poor grammar is one thing, but I wouldn't taint a Dissertation unnecessarily when it's easily avoidable.

geeofcrazy

English is my first language, i'm english.

Just because maybe i have poor grammar, which i have said sorry for over and over again, doesn't give other users to be so negative, i'm trying here to create something with meaning, and of course, like i have highlighted i'm grateful to those who have said something constructive.

When it comes to the dissertation of course, proof reading will be done, grammar has never been my strong point.

mfin

You don't have to apologise to anyone for grammar! ...and that's cool that you will get it proof read.

I also wouldn't worry about what some people think you can achieve on the topic in 9,000 words. Personally I think it's possible to gather some extremely insightful research data and conclusions about the chosen subject as well as communicating them well in the somewhat short length required.

(Mind you, that's not an opinion informed by the survey you constructed as I didn't fill it in for two reasons, the first being the awful wording of the title that put me off. The second, had I got past the first, was that I don't live in London anyway )

Good luck

navrig

It's worth remembering that these studies are assessed at all stages and not just on the disertation itself. So the subject, the objective, the title, the pilot study, the survey, the presentation and the disertation will be marked.

There is little point in being critical about what has been done to date - the guy has set a plan and is simply asking for some folks to answer a questionnaire. Help him out and let him get on and deliver.

As for me, I've never cycled in London and have no intention to ever do so - therefore I didn't get beyond the title and first question.

geeofcrazy

Navrig wrote:

It's worth remembering that these studies are assessed at all stages and not just on the disertation itself. So the subject, the objective, the title, the pilot study, the survey, the presentation and the disertation will be marked.

There is little point in being critical about what has been done to date - the guy has set a plan and is simply asking for some folks to answer a questionnaire. Help him out and let him get on and deliver.

As for me, I've never cycled in London and have no intention to ever do so - therefore I didn't get beyond the title and first question.

Thank you so much finally someone who understands,

maybe i should have explained all that, although never thought it would ever reach this point.

the playing mantis

dont do what i did and do most of your dissertation the night before ' the impact of new football stadia developments on deprivation'....fackin hate course work type assessments, give me a exam any day.

MaxwellBygraves

I've answered the survey for you. I actually thought you did a good job of keeping the survey short and sweet. Nothing worse than a really long and boring survey where you want to quit half way.

I would recommend getting someone you trust to proof read your work at all stages. Reading your posts you're obviously interested and committed to the topic at hand - don't let sloppy grammar or poor structure ruin what is otherwise a thorough and relevant study.

I'm not sure how your process works exactly, but make sure you use your supervisor, they are there to help and guide you through your study. Like you say, this is likely the biggest project you've had to do to date so make sure you draw on the knowledge of your supervisor as presumably they will have many years of experience in the field.

Dissertations are difficult but stay focused and then when it's done you'll look back with pride on your work and it'll give you confidence going forward.

Also, I didn't quite catch what class of degree Fevmeister received, maybe s/he could repeat...

mozzer2906

Fevmeister did you get a 1st?

fevmeister

i only mentioned it twice!