* Warning: This post might only be relevant to postgraduate students writing up their thesis *
I was struggling with the way to quote data in the thesis.
Eventually, I liked the way Poehner (2008) presents his data, ie by assigning line numbers to data excerpts.
My problem then was whether line numbers should be consecutive (ie, run on through the different excerpts used) or start the count at number 1 every time I quote data.
I started off with a compromise: if the data comes from the same source (I have several sources, as you may do too) and follows on chronologically, then I use consecutive numbering. If not, I start the count from 1 with the new quote of data.
But this became confusing. I have now decided to have consecutive numbering within any given section of the thesis, regardless of the source or time stamp of the data. It looks neater and it avoids confusion, for the reader and for me.
Perhaps I can get away with this as long as I justify it somewhere in the thesis (where?).
Best wishes to everyone who is writing up.