Tag Archives: research question

bad research questions

Posted on March 19, 2018 by pat thomson

Writing a research question is hard. And it takes time. Often much more time that you might think. The research question is really important as it underpins your research design. And your design allows you to find an answer or … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, research design, research question | Tagged bad research questions, Pat Thomson, research question | 5 Comments

PhD stuck points

Posted on February 19, 2018 by pat thomson

There are some points in the PhD process where the going gets pretty tough. Stuck points, where it’s hard work. Where it’s difficult to move on. Now don’t get me wrong. These points don’t cause grief to everyone. I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, data analysis, PhD, research design, research question, structure, stuck points, style and structure, thesis | Tagged analysis, Pat Thomson, PhD, research design, research question, structure, thesis | 7 Comments

starting the PhD – don’t panic

Posted on October 19, 2015 by pat thomson

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 data analysis, literature review, Pat Thomson, PhD, research question, thesis text | 12 Comments

a different approach to research questions: a useful holiday read

Posted on December 30, 2013 by pat thomson

We don’t talk enough about research questions. Well, that’s according to the authors of a book I’ve just read. They are Mats Alvesson and Jorgen Sandberg, and the book is Constructing research questions: Doing interesting research (Sage 2013). Alvesson and … Continue reading →