Protecting PhD Progress
Welcome to the blog
If you’ve landed here on my blog homepage, you may already know the feeling of working hard on your qualitative PhD without being convinced you’re actually moving forwards.
That uncertainty often shows up as a literature review that feels out of control, analysis that doesn’t feel quite “good” or “strong” enough, and a discussion chapter that leaves you wondering, “What am I actually allowed to claim here anyway?”.
The good news is that if you’re experiencing any of the above, you’re likely in the middle of the deep work - where things naturally get very messy. Some of the most intellectually productive stages of the PhD look completely chaotic from the outside. My goal here on the blog is to keep you moving through them and towards completion.
Each blogpost is designed to help you think more clearly, work more deliberately, and move your research forward with greater confidence.
You can explore by category below, or start with the latest posts.
Qualitative Methods | Literature Review | Methodology | Planning and Organisation | Writing Up | Supervision | PhD Mindset | Paradigms, Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks
Why does my literature review feel disjointed after I’ve analysed my qualitative data?
If your literature review feels disjointed after analysing your qualitative data, the issue isn’t that you need to read more - it’s that your structure no longer reflects your thinking.
When to stop reading for your thematic literature review (and start writing)
If you’re writing a thematic or narrative literature review, endless reading can feel productive - but it often delays real progress. This post explains how to recognise when you’ve read enough and how to shift into structured, critical synthesis.
How to structure your thematic PhD literature review in three clear steps
If your PhD literature review feels overwhelming, it’s usually not a motivation problem - it’s a structure problem. This post explains how to organise a thematic or narrative literature review in three clear steps that move you from summary to synthesis.
How to write and structure a thematic literature review for your qualitative PhD research
Struggling with a messy literature review? Learn how to structure a qualitative literature review using thematic and narrative approaches.
Research gaps in qualitative research: why it’s not really about “finding a gap”
Is your PhD supposed to “find a research gap”? In qualitative research the answer is more complicated. Learn how qualitative studies contribute to academic conversations.
How to write an annotated bibliography for a PhD (and turn it into a literature review)
Learn how an annotated bibliography can help qualitative PhD researchers organise sources and transition into writing a thematic or narrative literature review.
Thematic Literature Review: How to decide what not to include - a guide for qualitative researchers
A thematic literature review isn’t about including everything - it’s about including what matters. This blogpost helps you decide what to leave out without second-guessing yourself.
How to be more critical in a thematic literature review - a guide for qualitative researchers
Being “more critical” isn’t about tearing studies apart. This guide shows qualitative PhD researchers how to move from summary to meaningful analysis in a thematic literature review.
What to do when there is little or no literature on your qualitative research topic (thematic literature review guide)
Can’t find literature for your qualitative research topic? This post shows you how to work with limited or scattered sources and begin building a thematic literature review that actually holds together. For PhD researchers who want more than quick fixes.
Why is a literature review so important in academic research?
Why do a literature review? I know, sounds like a stupid question, but it’s an important one!
Thematic Literature Review - How to write one without getting into a mess
How do you write a thematic literature review that actually holds together? This guide shows you how to move from scattered reading to a structured, coherent set of themes. Ideal for qualitative PhD researchers working through the messy middle of their literature review.
Thematic Literature Reviews - How to develop an initial set of themes
Not sure where to start with your thematic literature review? An initial set of themes is a good place to begin.
Thematic literature reviews and chronological literature reviews. What’s the difference? Which one should you choose for your PhD literature review?
Thematic or chronological? Are you considering one of these structures for your literature review? Understand the difference between them and which works best for your study.
First draft of a thematic literature review - how to get started and develop initial themes
One of the things that catches a lot of qualitative PhD researchers off guard is how much a literature review stutters and splutters in the beginning. It’s like trying to start an old car on a cold morning…
Critical Analysis for Qualitative PhD Students: Moving beyond description
Many qualitative PhD students are told they need to “be more critical” in their literature review without anybody clearly explaining what that actually means. This post explores a more practical way to think about critical analysis using an unexpected analogy from learning to drive - helping you move from description towards interpretation, synthesis, and confident doctoral positioning.