Welcome to the Degree Doctor blog - practical, honest support for qualitative PhD students.
If you’ve ever stared at your draft thinking “Is this critical enough?”
If you’ve read ten more articles but still don’t feel ready to write.
If you’re making progress… but somehow still feel behind.
You’re not doing anything “wrong”. You’re navigating the normal (and rarely explained) realities of doctoral research.
This blog is where we unpack the actual sticking points of a qualitative PhD - literature reviews that feel endless, discussion chapters that won’t click, methodology confusion, supervisor stress, guilt, burnout, imposter syndrome - and turn them into clear, manageable next steps.
You’ll find thoughtful guidance on:
Writing and structuring your thesis with confidence
Strengthening critical analysis and contribution
Clarifying conceptual and theoretical foundations
Conducting rigorous qualitative research
Managing the psychological weight of a doctorate
You can explore by category below, or scroll to the latest posts.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity, confidence, and steady progress.
Let’s make your PhD feel intellectually solid, and psychologically sustainable.
Methodology in Qualitative Research: 7 things to understand before writing your PhD methodology chapter
If you’re preparing to write your PhD methodology chapter and feeling uncertain about research design, paradigms, or how to justify your approach, this article walks you through seven foundational principles that clarify what methodology is really doing.
Reflexive Thematic Analysis: A practical step-by-step guide for qualitative PhD researchers
Staring at transcripts and unsure how to turn them into themes? This step-by-step guide to Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis explains how to code, construct themes, and write up with clarity and confidence.
Struggling with IPA in your PhD? A practical guide to analysing and writing up Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Collected your IPA interviews and now unsure what to do next? This post explains how to analyse, interpret, and write up Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with clarity and confidence.
Is qualitative research less rigorous? Debunking the myth in your PhD
Ever wondered if your qualitative PhD is “rigorous enough”? Let’s unpack where that doubt comes from and what rigour actually looks like in qualitative research.
Struggling with qualitative research? 4 common problems and how to handle them
If your qualitative data feels messy, contradictory, or impossible to write up, you’re not alone. Here are four common struggles and what to do about them.
Reflexive Thematic Analysis vs Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Which should you use?
RTA and IPA both use coding and themes, but they’re built for different kinds of qualitative questions. Here’s how to choose the right one for your PhD.
How to build strong themes in Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis
Staring at 200 codes and wondering how to turn them into actual themes? This guide breaks down how to move from messy coding to clear, defensible themes in Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis - without second-guessing yourself.
Semi-Structured Interviews: A beginner’s guide for qualitative PhD research
Clear, practical guide to semi-structured interviews for qualitative PhD research. Learn how to design your interview guide, avoid common mistakes, and build a coherent research method.
How to write up your Braun and Clarke Reflexive Thematic Analysis (without losing your mind)
Writing up Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis? Here’s how to structure your findings chapter clearly, interpret confidently, and show doctoral-level rigour.
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in a Qualitative PhD: A beginner’s guide to IPA
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) can sound intimidating, but it’s fundamentally about exploring how people make sense of meaningful experiences. This beginner’s guide explains when to use IPA and how the analysis process works.
Mixed methods research designs for beginners (and when you actually need them)
What is mixed methods research and should you use it in your PhD? This guide explains common mixed methods designs and when combining qualitative and quantitative approaches actually makes sense.
How to code qualitative data using Braun & Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA)
Struggling with coding in Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis? Learn how to code qualitative data step-by-step with practical examples.
Constructivist Grounded Theory - A simple introduction to Kathy Charmaz’s approach
Constructivist Grounded Theory - what’s it all about? How is Kathy Charmaz’s approach different from traditional Grounded Theory? Keep reading…
Research questions for qualitative research - how to develop them, with templates and examples
Qualitative research questions, how should you write them? What shouldn’t you do? Keep reading for ideas, templates and examples!
Ethnographic Content Analysis - a step-by-step guide for beginners
Ethnographic content analysis, what’s it all about? Keep reading!
Classical Grounded Theory
Classical grounded theory. What’s this qualitative method all about? What are some of its key principles and ideas? Keep reading and I’ll explain!
Braun and Clarke Thematic Analysis - How to do the six-step process in your qualitative research project
Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis is one of the most popular techniques for analysing qualitative data. But, how do you do it? Let me walk you through it…
What’s the difference between qualitative and quantitative research interviews?
How are qualitative interviews different from quantitative interviews? Keep reading to find out!
How to do Ethnography: Top tips for graduate school PhD students
Considering ethnography? Read my top tips on how to do it properly and ethically!
The basics of qualitative research - a guide for PhD researchers
Subjectivity, validity and reliability - what do they mean for qualitative research? Keep reading, and I’ll explain …