Welcome to the Degree Doctor blog - practical, honest support for qualitative PhD students.
If you’ve ever stared at your draft thinking “Is this critical enough?”
If you’ve read ten more articles but still don’t feel ready to write.
If you’re making progress… but somehow still feel behind.
You’re not doing anything “wrong”. You’re navigating the normal (and rarely explained) realities of doctoral research.
This blog is where we unpack the actual sticking points of a qualitative PhD - literature reviews that feel endless, discussion chapters that won’t click, methodology confusion, supervisor stress, guilt, burnout, imposter syndrome - and turn them into clear, manageable next steps.
You’ll find thoughtful guidance on:
Writing and structuring your thesis with confidence
Strengthening critical analysis and contribution
Clarifying conceptual and theoretical foundations
Conducting rigorous qualitative research
Managing the psychological weight of a doctorate
You can explore by category below, or scroll to the latest posts.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity, confidence, and steady progress.
Let’s make your PhD feel intellectually solid, and psychologically sustainable.
“Do I really want to do a PhD?!”
Should you do a PhD? What factors do you need to think about before taking the plunge and applying? Keep reading!
Constructivist Grounded Theory - A simple introduction to Kathy Charmaz’s approach
Constructivist Grounded Theory - what’s it all about? How is Kathy Charmaz’s approach different from traditional Grounded Theory? Keep reading…
Research questions for qualitative research - how to develop them, with templates and examples
Qualitative research questions, how should you write them? What shouldn’t you do? Keep reading for ideas, templates and examples!
Thesis writing - if you’re not doing THIS, your examiner won’t like it!
Writing up your masters or PhD thesis can feel like a bit of a mystery. Like you have to take on a whole other persona and write like a "smart" person. First up, you are a smart person. Second, despite that, you're probably not doing this...
Pragmatism as a research philosophy - or paradigm, or approach? What’s it all about?
Pragmatism - is it a paradigm? Is it an approach? What's it all about? Keep reading, because I'm going to break it all down in this blogpost.
Dissertation topics - how to narrow down your social sciences PhD title
Is your PhD topic too broad? Need to narrow it down? Keep reading!
Navigating Research Terminology: Paradigms, Theories, and Frameworks Explained
Research paradigms, theory, conceptual framework, theoretical framework - what do they all mean? Keep reading!
PhD by publication or published works - how is it different from a traditional PhD by research?
A PhD by publication or published works - what exactly is this, an how does it differ from a traditional, standard PhD? Keep reading!
Grand theory - what are “grand theories” and how should I use them in my research?
Grand theory. What is it? Should you use it in your research? If so, how? Keep reading to find out the answers!
How to know which theories to use for your theoretical framework
Struggling to decide what theories to use in your PhD? Keep reading for some pointers!
Literature Review Problems: How to decide what NOT to include in your literature review!
When can you stop reviewing the literature? When is your lit review “finished”? Keep reading to find out…
How can I be more critical in my dissertation literature review?
So, you’ve been told you need to be more critical in your dissertation literature review. But, how?! Keep reading for some tips on what to do.
Ethnographic Content Analysis - a step-by-step guide for beginners
Ethnographic content analysis, what’s it all about? Keep reading!
PhD Feedback Anxiety: How to send drafts to your supervisor without spiraling
Avoiding sending drafts to your PhD supervisor? Feedback anxiety is common in qualitative doctoral research - especially when your work feels personal. This post explains how to separate your worth from your writing, send smaller drafts, process criticism strategically, and turn feedback into progress instead of paralysis.
Writing about paradigms in your PhD thesis - where to write about them and what to say
Paradigms. They’re important. But, where should you write about them in your PhD thesis? What do you need to say? Keep reading, I’ve got you!
What to do when there is little or no existing literature on your dissertation research topic
If you’ve tried searching for literature and you’re struggling to find anything, what should you do? Keep reading, I have some tips to help you!
Six top tips to pass your PhD viva
PhD viva or thesis defense coming up? You need to read this!
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!
Conceptual vs theoretical framework
What’s the difference between a conceptual and a theoretical framework? Why does this matter?
Why is a literature review so important in academic research?
Why do a literature review? I know, sounds like a stupid question, but it’s an important one!