Sorry, the dog ate it...

October 27, 2014 10:56 AM

As kind of a part-two to this question, I have been asked to pass on my dissertation to the Manager of the Centre who helped me find my interviewees. Problem is, it’s absolute rubbish and I’m too embarrassed to let him read it. How do I decline?

For my research study I needed professionals working in the field, and after approaching a particular centre the Manager took an interest in the topic and helped me find participants. I told him I’d pass on the finished paper when it was submitted. He emailed me a short time ago asking for it but as I’d got an extension I told him it was running behind schedule but I’d get it to him soon. It was submitted last week and it’s really terrible. I mean, I can’t stress enough how awful it is, and I’m totally convinced I’m going to fail it. I’ve been so stressed about this fact that I forgot about him, and he’s just emailed me today asking for it again. Help.

I would be mortified to let him read it, but I did promise him a copy. Also, the area I’m training in is quite specialised and there might be a possibility of applying for work with the Centre in the future as it’s one of the few places focusing on this kind of work, so refusing to hand it over might not do me any favours. On the other hand, I might sabotage my chance of working with the Centre if he reads it as it’s so bad and I don’t know if I could take the humiliation.

I was thinking of asking him to wait until I got my grade – if it’s not as bad as I think (oh but it is) I mightn’t mind him reading it, but does that sound terrible and how do I phrase that? Is it actually better just to say “look, it’s not the work I’d hoped to do so I’d prefer not to let you see it, sorry about that”. But that is embarrassing in its own right. Or do I just forward it with no comment and die a little inside and hope I never hear from him again? What do I do??

posted by billiebee to Education (13 answers total)

I'd wait until you got your grade, because there is just no way you're objectively assessing the merits of the paper right now. I'm sure it wasn't what you wanted it to be, but you're way too close to know if it was actually unreadable garbage, or merely fine but not great.

Congratulations on finishing it, by the way. Sincerely.
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:59 AM on October 27, 2014 [6 favorites]

Tell him you have submitted it for approval and you will send him the "final" version once it's been reviewed. I am not sure what your schools process is but it is not uncommon to have a thesis approved or passed but with specific revisions required. Once that is done and your grade is in, then send it to him.
posted by saradarlin at 11:10 AM on October 27, 2014 [15 favorites]

Yeah, it's perfectly normal to think your diss is a piece of crap (ask me how I know). I guarantee you he will not think of it in the bleak way you do; try to put that out of your head. You promised him a copy, you owe him a copy, you'll give him a copy. It'll be fine.
posted by languagehat at 11:12 AM on October 27, 2014 [6 favorites]

"Hi, I'm glad we share such a great interest in #topic. I've just submitted my paper and am waiting to see about any revisions." Don't make any promises about when.

Yeah, my master's thesis petered out in a "it's too early to draw any reliable conclusions" fizzle, so I know what you mean about crap work. But it's done and I have my diploma and the job trajectory that goes with it, so last laugh's on them, I guess.
posted by Liesl at 11:26 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]

I like saradarlin's answer a lot. Tell them you'll send it to them after grading and final revisions. No big deal.

I remember your last question and was wondering how you made out. You did it!
posted by futureisunwritten at 11:35 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]

It could also be that once you're ready to send him the final version, you might also be in a position to add a covering email that outlines succinctly where you are aware it fell short and cover yourself that way: "In hindsight, I think I should have looked more closely at x,y,z, but completing this work has been a huge learning experience and I'm so grateful for your help."
posted by penguin pie at 12:00 PM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]

I would also wait until your revisions are done. But, on the off chance that it doesn't go well, you could send him an edited version - pull out the pieces he'd be most interested in and which you are happiest with. You do need to send him something, but even the best dissertations are long and boring anyway - telling him you're sending the highlights while you work on "revisions for possible submission to a journal" would mean you could put off sending him a complete copy for, oh, years.
posted by umwhat at 12:04 PM on October 27, 2014 [3 favorites]

I agree with all the above, but please, please do send him something! It's difficult to get people engaged in research so nurture that interest both for your own future benefit and for the benefit of other researchers.

Also, certainly in the UK when you apply for grants / permission to do studies, they are increasingly making you have concrete plans about how you are going to share your results with the people who paid for the research and the people who participated. So get used to it!

If it turns out horrible, you could always write an informal summary of your results for him.
posted by kadia_a at 12:41 PM on October 27, 2014 [3 favorites]

I'd recommend sending a summary paper. Use the standard Intro/Methods/Analysis/Findings/Conclusion structure and just condense what is in your MA. It'll also be useful to have if other people want to read your work.
posted by yellowcandy at 12:46 PM on October 27, 2014

What sort of terms were you on with this manager? You might call him (or email, if that wouldn't be appropriate) and say a little about how you're not super pleased with how your dissertation came out, but that you did come across some interesting points, especially with regard to X and Y; basically be a little bit chatty about this topic that he took an interest in. Then tell him again how helpful he was and how encouraging it's been that he's been interested in the project, and that you'll send him the dissertation when it's final.

Alternatively, if he's conveniently located, you can say "my dissertation isn't final yet and I'm a little loath to show it in its current state, but I'd love to meet up with you and discuss what I found."

Considering your last question there's a good chance you're feeling pretty burnt out and disgusted right now and not in the mood to discuss your work at all, and certainly not in a positive tone. But you did do the work and even if the writing was rushed, the actual work you put in will be of interest to him.

Meanwhile, many congratulations on submitting.
posted by egg drop at 1:56 PM on October 27, 2014 [3 favorites]

Put it off until it's official, and then send a summary.
posted by vitabellosi at 3:44 PM on October 27, 2014

The manager has been persistent in his requests. Do you know why he is so eager? He might not even want to read the dissertation.

Maybe he needs it to demonstrate his value in assisting your project. Maybe he needs to archive the dissertation, as an exhibit for a grant proposal. Maybe he wants to extract a small quote for an article about his own work. He may just need evidence of the dissertation's existence.

Try telling him you are not ready to release the complete work until all reviews and revisions are complete. Ask what, in particular he needs. Maybe a small section of the dissertation, you could send it marked "draft copy - not for distribution". Maybe just a quotation, abstract, or a testimonial.
posted by valannc at 4:55 PM on October 27, 2014 [3 favorites]

I would send him a copy (with draft at the end of the file name), but also include a well written, easy to understand summary. Chances are, he'll read the summary and ignore the full dissertation.
posted by kjs4 at 8:24 PM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]