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
Your qualitative analysis “needs more depth”, but what does that mean?
Maybe you’re writing your qualitative findings chapter and getting feedback like: “Needs more depth.” One of the most frustrating parts of this stage of the PhD is that nobody ever really explains what those comments actually mean. You can end up staring at your work thinking, “I genuinely do not know what else I’m supposed to be seeing here.”
Why your PhD supervisor keeps changing their mind - and what it actually means in qualitative research
When your PhD supervisor keeps changing expectations, it can feel destabilising. When you’re a qualitative researcher, there’s something specific driving this that you need to know about.
Critical analysis in a qualitative PhD: how to develop doctoral-level critique across your thesis
Struggling with feedback that your PhD “needs to be more critical”? This guide explains what doctoral-level critical analysis actually means and how to apply it across your entire qualitative thesis.
How to work effectively with your PhD supervisor (especially in a qualitative doctorate)
Supervision can make or break your PhD experience. If feedback feels confusing or inconsistent, this post explains how to communicate more clearly, reduce frustration, and work more effectively with your supervisor.
Publishing during your PhD: how to turn your thesis into journal articles (without the panic)
Feeling pressured to publish before you have even finished your PhD? This guide shows you how to turn parts of your thesis into focused journal articles - without panic or overwork.
Choosing a PhD Supervisor: What really matters (especially for qualitative researchers)
Choosing a PhD supervisor can shape your entire doctorate. Here’s what really matters - especially if you’re conducting qualitative research and need methodological alignment as well as personal fit.
Navigating PhD supervision as a qualitative researcher
Endless revisions are common in qualitative PhDs. Learn why supervisors keep suggesting changes and how to manage the qualitative thesis revision process.
PhD Feedback Anxiety: How to send drafts to your supervisor without spiraling
Sending a draft chapter to your PhD supervisor can feel far more exposing than it should. This post explores why feedback anxiety runs so deep in a qualitative PhD - and how to loosen its grip.
PhD Supervision - How to deal with critical feedback that makes you want to cry
Do you want to cry when you receive a chapter draft covered in tracked changes and direct, cutting remarks? You’re not alone!