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
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…
Thematic Literature Review - How to write one without getting into a mess
How do you write a thematic literature review that actually holds together? This guide shows you how to move from scattered reading to a structured, coherent set of themes. Ideal for qualitative PhD researchers working through the messy middle of their literature review.
Critical Realism - A simple explanation for beginners
Understanding critical realism is one thing - applying it in your qualitative PhD is another. This post explains the key ideas clearly while showing how they shape real research decisions. For researchers who want more than a surface-level explanation.
Interpretivism vs Positivism | A simple explanation of interpretivist vs positivist research for beginners
Not sure whether your research is positivist or interpretivist? This clear, no-jargon guide helps qualitative researchers understand the difference - and where they fit.
Positivism in Research: What qualitative PhD researchers need to understand
Positivism isn’t your approach - but understanding it can sharpen your qualitative research. This guide helps you see what positivism is, and what your work is not.
Thematic Literature Reviews - How to develop an initial set of themes
Not sure where to start with your thematic literature review? An initial set of themes is a good place to begin.
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.
Thematic literature reviews and chronological literature reviews. What’s the difference? Which one should you choose for your PhD literature review?
Thematic or chronological? Are you considering one of these structures for your literature review? Understand the difference between them and which works best for your study.
First draft of a thematic literature review - how to get started and develop initial themes
One of the things that catches a lot of qualitative PhD researchers off guard is how much a literature review stutters and splutters in the beginning. It’s like trying to start an old car on a cold morning…
Paradigms in social science, a beginner’s guide to positivism, interpretivism and critical realism
If you are trying to understand paradigms in social science research, there is a good chance you have already disappeared down an internet rabbit hole involving words like ontology, epistemology, positivism, interpretivism, and critical realism… and emerged slightly dazed wondering whether everyone else somehow already understands this.
How to write your PhD thesis discussion and conclusion chapters
Confused about what goes in the discussion and what you should ‘save’ for the conclusion? You’re not alone! Keep reading, it will soon become clear …
PhD Burnout - How to prevent it when you’re balancing work and study, 3 more top tips
Doing the PhD juggle? Here are three strategies to try when you feel like you’re losing the battle balancing work and study!
PhD Work Life Balance | Three ways to stay sane when juggling study with part-time or full-time work!
PhD and a full-time or part-time job? Struggling with the juggling?! You’re not alone - but there are some tweaks and changes you can make to supercharge your productivity. Let me share three of them with you …
How to write like a serious researcher - four things I learned from two decades supporting qualitative PhD students
Struggling to write up your PhD? Read on!
Your PhD and ChatGPT - Never the twain shall meet?
3 ways ChatGPT can help you as a PhD student - you probably haven’t heard these before!
Reflective Writing for Qualitative PhD Researchers: How to write reflectively and reflexively with examples
Reflective writing in a qualitative PhD isn’t about journaling - it’s about making your thinking visible. This guide shows you how to write reflexively with clarity, structure, and confidence.
What is Ethnomethodology? Key principles and ideas from Harold Garfinkel
Ethnomethodology. What’s it all about?! Keep reading to learn more!
What is Phenomenology? Origins, Concepts and Development of the Theory: An introduction for PhD students.
What exactly is phenomenology? Get ready to find out, and learn some cool new words in the process!
How to write aims and objectives for a qualitative PhD study
Aims and objectives aren’t just formalities. They reflect how clearly you understand your research. This guide shows qualitative PhD researchers how to develop them with precision and confidence.
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!
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.