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
How to Write a Qualitative PhD Research Proposal
Learn how to structure a qualitative PhD research proposal, including research questions, literature foundations and methodology.
Is a PhD worth it? 5 things to consider before starting a qualitative research PhD
Thinking about doing a PhD? Here are 5 essential things to consider before starting a qualitative research PhD - from motivation and time to finances and mental wellbeing.
How to narrow your qualitative PhD topic without getting stuck - a clear approach using the PIC strategy (people, issue / interest, context)
Narrowing your qualitative PhD topic isn’t about finding the “perfect” title. It’s about giving your thinking enough structure to move forward. This post shows you how to use PIC (People, Issue, Context) to develop a focused, workable topic without closing things down too early.
PhD by Publication vs PhD by Research: A guide for qualitative researchers
Trying to decide between a PhD by research and a PhD by publication? This guide helps qualitative researchers understand the differences and choose a path that supports deeper, more meaningful work.
How to Write a Qualitative PhD Research Proposal: Structure, strategy, and what reviewers look for
Writing a research proposal for a qualitative study? This guide walks you through a simple four-part structure (introduction, foundations, methodology, feasibility) and shows you how to make your research problem, approach, and contribution easier for reviewers to say yes to.