Category Archives: doctoral research

refining your research topic – starting the phd

Posted on November 27, 2017 by

Where do research topics come from? The research topic you have at the start of your PhD may come from work you did in your Masters. It may come from a professional or policy context, perhaps your own professional work … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, doctoral research, doctoral researcher, research design, research proposal, research question, research warrant, starting the PhD | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

a doctorate at a distance – take two

Posted on April 13, 2017 by

Thinking back on my own doctorate by distance I can see that there were some key things that helped in the process. Of course, what worked for me won’t necessarily work for you – we are different people, and there … Continue reading →

Posted in doctoral research by distance, office, PhD by distance, supervisor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

a doctorate at a distance – take one

Posted on March 30, 2017 by

I did my PhD by distance education. This wasn’t terribly common at the time I did it – but it wasn’t all that unusual in universities that specialised in catering for remote, working or part-time students. However, the doctorate at a distance is … Continue reading →

Posted in doctoral research by distance, PhD, PhD by distance, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

why do doctoral researchers blog?

Posted on December 10, 2015 by

Today Inger Mewburn, Thesis Whisperer, and I presented the first cut from the survey we did – with your help – on PhD blogging. As yet, we don’t know whether we are going end up with a book chapter, or one or … Continue reading →

Posted in academic blogging, doctoral experience, doctoral research | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

starting the PhD – don’t panic

Posted on October 19, 2015 by

I was sitting in my office the other day talking with a beginning PhDer. A nearly-finished doctor popped her head around the door. I asked her what advice she would give someone just starting out on their doctorate, and her … Continue reading →

Posted in data, doctoral research, literature review, panic, questions, research question, thesis | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

reflecting on PhD learning

Posted on December 11, 2014 by

Some supervisors ask the doctoral researchers they work with to formally reflect on their learning. A what-am-I-learning conversation might be a regular part of supervision. Reflection is also often self initiated – ongoing thoughts are recorded in a doctoral researcher journal … Continue reading →

Posted in doctoral research, text work/identity work, thesis, viva | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

should doctoral researchers blog?

Posted on September 15, 2014 by

I often get asked about the pros and cons of doctoral researchers blogging, and I know other colleagues do too. There isn’t a right or wrong answer to the question of course, it’s always an “It depends”. But here’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in academic blogging, doctoral research, networking, plagiarism, publications | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments