Part time EdD student:

When contemplating applying for a PhD I was pretty set on the fact that my research would have to be quantitive in terms of data-heavy, or qualitative where I only considered interviews as a source of data. Without being either of these, how could my research possibly contribute to existing knowledge and be of any value to both the academic and wider societies? Having been on my EdD course for almost two years I have been exposed to a wide range of methods for data collection and this has really inspired my thinking as I develop my own plans for my research. I am also in a lucky position to be working at a university where I interact with academics on a regular basis and I hear a lot about their research and the methods that they use in data collection and this, combined with my studies has really opened my eyes to vast opportunities available in conducting research. My most recent study-block on the EdD course introduced a number of methods for data collection and all of these methods...

I get weirdly hung up on aspects of my experience of my PhD and one thing that continuously worries me and pops into my head making me evaluate how I am progressing is how I organise my literature and ensure that it is easily found again when it comes to writing up my thesis. Now I wouldn't say there is one key way of doing this as there isn't. It will very much depend on you as a person and your preference for your working methods. Before settling on my current method of working, I tried to find a number of options that other academics had used successfully and I found that no two people seem to do this the same way and this frustrated me as I was hoping for maybe 3 or 4 good options for doing this. In a previous post all about reference management software , I talk about Zotero  and I also give some useful tips on using this programme.  I would say it's not important what reference management software you use but it is important to learn the functions and limita...

For me, practical skills, as well as tips and techniques for succeeding, are vital for me to feel comfortable doing something properly. This is one area where I have scoured the internet looking for blog posts, articles or even Youtube videos (many of which have helped) with clear tips in progressing through a doctoral degree. I understand that a PhD journey is supposed to be experienced through being neck-deep in literature and in throwing yourself into various theoretical perspectives but I don't feel comfortable in doing that unless I have a process for achieving that successfully. I need a step 1, step 2, step 3 kind of process to follow in order for work to become habit-forming. that's what makes me comfortable and what helps me to succeed. The problem with providing this information is that everyone does things differently and depending on the focus of your research, tips and tricks may not suit every area of expertise. The first few months of my doctorate I felt re...