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 |
AI and PhD Research | Paid PhD Resources
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PhD researcher doing qualitative data analysis? You're the family tech support now. Sorry.
Qualitative data analysis during your PhD can feel a bit like trying to untangle the cables behind your TV. “Wait, what's this one for?”, “Where does this go?”, “It's not even connected to anything!”, "Should we just call Tom?" (every family has someone who knows how to mop up a techy mess, ours is Tom, he's the law-abiding equivalent of Harry de Souza from MobLand).
How do you know if your qualitative analysis is good enough? Quality criteria to judge analytical work
Maybe you’re questioning your analysis right now. “Is this good enough?”, “Are my themes strong enough?”. One of the most uncomfortable parts of qualitative analysis is that nobody can give you a neat, reassuring answer to your question: “Is this right?”
Writing Your PhD Methodology Chapter? 7 things to understand about qualitative research methodology
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)
It’s time to write up your reflexive thematic analysis. This is the sixth and final stage of the Braun and Clarke process, so this should be the easier part, right? All of the difficult things have been done - coding, developing themes, refining themes - now it’s just a case of writing it all up. The finish line is in sight, hurrah! Mmmm…
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
Confused by constructivist grounded theory? This beginner-friendly guide explains Kathy Charmaz’s approach to qualitative research in simple terms - from coding to theory development.
Ethnographic Content Analysis (ECA) for qualitative PhD researchers
Not sure what Ethnographic Content Analysis (ECA) is - or whether you need it? This guide explains ECA clearly while helping qualitative PhD researchers understand how it fits into broader qualitative thinking.
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 Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) catches a lot of qualitative researchers out. In theory, the six step process can look neat and logical. Many researchers assume they simply need to follow the stages, 1-2-3-4-5-6, and they’ll have a lovely little analysis with lots of tidy codes and themes…
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 …
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.