First keep in mind the myths and keep your eyes on the prize - a PhD is above anything else, something that is finished. Second, don’t get disheartened if it seems like it’s taking you along time to get going. This is a common feeling during the first year or so. It is better to take the time to be really clear about what you are doing and how, than to try to go and ‘collect data’ (for example) only to find it’s not relevant to your needs.
Try to keep in mind these goals.
· A title for your thesis
· Clearly formulated research questions, which are ‘good’ questions, by which I mean: practical / feasible (you can answer them), interesting (to you at the very least), will lead to a contribution and symmetrical (i.e. whatever you find out, you’ll be able to tell a story – you could come unstuck if you set out to prove or find something and you don’t)
· Being able to summarise your (expected) contribution in two sentences
If you have these things, then you have the "spine" of your dissertation and it is a good indication that you know what you are doing (which is not as simple as it may sound). It will help with overall structure.
Unless you have submitted and are waiting for a date for the viva there is never, ever any excuse for not being able to do some work that is relevant to completion. This can be reading, writing, analysis, or something that is extremely important - planning.
One of the problems with doing a PhD is it is easy to get wrapped up in the detail of what you are looking at at the moment, but forgetting the ‘big picture’. This is one of the things your supervisor should help you with, but you can help yourself by trying to think strategically about the process, and your long term goals. For example, do you need to become an expert in the literature in a field, or do you need to know one theory really well, and know the main ways it is different from ‘the others’.
Do not fall into the trap of thinking you have to wait for feedback about your latest piece of submitted work until you can progress or move to the ‘next stage’. This will slow you down.
Pretty early on (within the first year), you are likely to have an understanding of what research methods you want to use, and what type of data you can collect. It is highly likely that you are going to be using sophisticated analytical techniques (whether qualitative or quantitative or both) and even if you are familiar with the techniques, you will be using them at a more proficient level. Don’t wait until you start analysis to familiarise yourself with these techniques. This will slow you down.
Look out for courses on undergraduate programmes which may be relevant to your needs, and ask the lecturer if you can sit in. If you do things like this early on, it reduces the lead time to learn techniques prior to data analysis. Bear in mind that learning these techniques is iterative and usually a long term process.
Though you need to keep up with the literature, don’t always be swayed by the latest research, you should have an idea of what you are doing after the first year (or so). It’s important not to get sidetracked. Again, this will slow you down.
Be aware that your plans may change, in fact if you are to do well, they will probably need to change. Finally, not everything in the process is within your control, and this can be very frustrating. Remember that when you finish is not necessarily a sign of how good your work is, the important thing is to finish.
http://www.kevinmorrell.org.uk/PhDTips.htm
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