Tag Archives: reflection

writing more than one thing at the same time – part three, managing

Posted on September 10, 2018 by pat thomson

Writing several things at once is often called multi-tasking. This is a term I try to avoid, as it focuses on an action – ‘tasking’. Tasking has two problems – first of all, it doesn’t really highlight the thinking involved … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, academic writing voice, authority in writing, reflection, reflection on learning, time, writing and thinking, writing more then one thing at once, writing regularly | Tagged academic writing, Pat Thomson, reflection, reflection on learning, time, writing more then one thing at the same time | Leave a comment

managing the PhD – keeping a journal

Posted on January 23, 2017 by pat thomson

The PhD is often stressful and trying. Nevertheless, most people do get through it. Many PhDers keep a journal to help work through the difficulties, challenges and worries that they experience. Writing about the everyday can of course just be … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, journaling, PhD, reflection, reflection on learning, starting the PhD, Uncategorized | Tagged journaling, managing the PhD, Pat Thomson, reflection | 6 Comments

doing field work? don’t ignore the anecdote

Posted on October 10, 2016 by pat thomson

Anecdote. It’s the worst thing that someone can say about your research, right. This is an anecdote – it’s not “evidence”. Well, there’s a lot of ways to deal with that objection, and I want to offer only one here. … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, anecdote | Tagged analysis, anecdote, field work, Pat Thomson, reflection | Leave a comment

taking the doctoral walk

Posted on April 20, 2015 by pat thomson

This is a guest post from Susan Gollifer, a doctoral researcher in education at The University of Iceland. Susan’s research looks at teachers and human rights curriculum. I am coming towards the end of a two-month Erasmus placement at a … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, reflection, reflexivity, supervision, supervisor, Susan Gollifer | Tagged academic writing, home and away, Pat Thomson, reflection, Susan Gollifer | 1 Comment

mulling it over – a thinking tool for reflecting on a research experience

Posted on October 29, 2012 by pat thomson

Reflection is one of those weasel-ly words that can mean anything and nothing. Most of us acknowledge that we need to do it, but what does it actually mean as a practice? You are probably familiar with Donald Schön’s (a) … Continue reading →

Posted in conceptual, experience, introspection, recollection, reflection, reflexivity, theory | Tagged Donald Schon, experience, Maria Piantanida, Noreen Garman, Pat Thomson, reflection, reflexivity | 1 Comment

can you write about mess in your thesis and if so how? part two

Posted on July 16, 2012 by pat thomson

Peter Matthews continues his post about writing about the messy bits of his research. In my previous post I reported the “positive story” of my fieldwork – reflecting on that feeling of “connection” with my research participants in the narrative … Continue reading →

Posted in crafting writing, Dr, informants, publishing, reflection, research methods, rules of engagement, snowball sample, thesis | Tagged doctoral research, doctoral writing, Peter Matthews, reflection, thesis | 2 Comments

can you write about mess in your thesis, and if so, how? part one

Posted on July 13, 2012 by pat thomson

This post is written by Dr Peter Matthews who works in the School of the Built Environment at Herriott Watt. Peter’s blog is Urbanity…History and he tweets as @urbaneprofessor. I asked him to show and tell how he talked about … Continue reading →