Welcome to my PhD blog
Worried you're doing your PhD all wrong and someone's about to find out? You're in the right place. 😂
In this blog, I cover all the stuff you might need help with. Like writing your literature review, doing your qualitative data analysis, developing your discussion chapter, and trying not to go completely bonkerpants in the process.
I'll help you work out HOW to do all those things everyone keeps telling you to do.
Expect practical PhD advice, based on the unspoken truth that nobody's PhD is nearly as neat as their finished thesis makes it look.
Have a nosey at the latest posts below, or browse by topic to find what you need.
Qualitative Methods | Literature Review | Methodology | Planning and Organisation | Writing Up | Supervision | PhD Mindset | Paradigms, Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks
Featured Posts
Latest Posts
What does Degree Doctor sell? PhD Survival Guides, Books and Momentum Community explained
If you've found your way to Degree Doctor through my blog, YouTube channel or social media, you might be wondering what I actually DO here. Apart from talking about the various ways a PhD can drive an otherwise perfectly reasonable adult human being completely bonkerpants, that is. 😂 I also make things that people can buy. Because, well, I have bills to pay and a cat who expects a certain standard of living.
How many participants do I need for qualitative research? A better way to decide
How many participants do you need for qualitative research? Many PhD researchers search for a magic number. Here’s a more useful way to decide.
Research ethics in qualitative research: beyond the approval form
Research ethics in qualitative PhD research is more than paperwork. This guide explores anonymity, confidentiality, consent, and defensible ethical judgement for serious researchers.
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.
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.
Method vs methodology in qualitative research - a simple guide for PhD students
What’s the difference between method and methodology in qualitative research? Learn how to explain your research design clearly in your PhD thesis.
How to choose participant quotes in qualitative research - without overloading your findings chapter
Qualitative researchers often struggle to decide which participant quotes to include in their findings chapter. Learn how to select quotes that support your analysis without overwhelming your writing.
How to Recruit Research Participants: Top tips for social science PhD students
If you need to recruit more participants for your research study, read this before you design another leaflet or post anything else on social media!
I’m guessing you’re here because you’ve chosen to do a qualitative study for your PhD but things have started to feel a bit… slippery. You like how qualitative approaches value people’s lived experiences and you’re researching something you genuinely care about so that’s why you felt drawn to it. However, recently you seem to have unlocked a whole new level of confusing and it’s all gone a bit Alice in Wonderland.