What I wish someone had told me when starting my PhD project
A finished thesis is a product of four years of intense labor. Therefore, one can easily forget that it is also, and perhaps more so, a learning process. Assessing the finished product (the thesis) is relatively straightforward, whereas measuring and validating the process can be more complex. I had the opportunity to engage in a period of deep reflection, which proved to be a valuable tool in this regard.
This fall, two new doctoral students joined or small research group in music education. While still being a PhD-student, albeit in my final year, I was asked to mentor these two new candidates with one of the other doctoral students who is about halfway through her doctoral education. As someone that have been there myself not long ago, I know the worrying feeling. So, I started to think about where I was and what I wish I had known when I started my PhD training, but also what lessons I had learnt so far and what mistakes I could help them avoid. This reflective retrospection gave me some unexpected and interesting insights and, instead of being reminded of mistakes and making a wrong turn, I was left with a feeling of accomplishment.
One of the new doctoral students said that he had been totally focused on writing an application for a PhD position and had not thought so much about what to do if admitted. I could identify with that experience and recognized the feeling. For many, it can be hard to envision and imagine what a doctoral programme actually means. So, the five points of advice that I wish I could give myself at the beginning are these:
- Allow yourself to be nerdy – The subject of your thesis must be of genuine interest to you since this will permeate your life for the next four years (and maybe after that). Find out what you are passionate about before writing your application.
- Remember why research exists (and who pays your salary) – Even though you must follow your interest, don’t forget who is paying your salary. In Sweden, studying at universities is free of charge, since it is paid by the public system through taxation. Therefore, your research should in some way contribute to a better society. The “so what” is an issue that have accompanied me through the years, and I hope that when my thesis is published, both researchers, teachers and the surrounding community will find it useful.
- Allow yourself time to find your path – It can be stressful to start a PhD-programme. I, for one, was convinced that everyone else had a perfectly sketched plan for their project and thought that I had to decide on method, theoretical framework, and formulate a final research question in the first couple of days. However, confusion and uncertainty are parts of the process. Gradually, the project took shape and as I now look back, I understand that time is necessary for the project to land.
- Listen to others – Take into account all comments you receive during seminars and written comments on your texts and be thankful for these. Someone has taken the time to thoroughly and critically read your text, and instead of feeling criticized see it for what it is – an opportunity to make the text even better. This is easier said than done, especially in the beginning.
- Do not listen to others – Do not take others’ opinions as absolute truths; they are just that – opinions. Even if you should process them and try to understand what others are trying to tell you, you must think critically. If the person giving you some advice is a senior researcher, it does not automatically mean that his or her opinions are to be regarded as facts and the best for your project. Follow your intuition and your area of research interest instead. One part of the process is to learn how to argue for your standpoints. Either the opponent backs down and admits your point of view is valid, or you may have to back down, being persuaded of the legitimacy of their argument. Either way, this is what drives the research forward. However, be careful not to try to squeeze in all different comments and feedback into your project. Otherwise, it may end up as the featured image above.
To conclude, I am happy for the opportunity to be ‘forced’ to reflect on the first weeks and months of PhD studies. I found that all the ‘mistakes’ and ‘side tracks’ have actually led me to where I am today. And I have learned a lot from them. Everyone’s PhD training is individual, hence not all good advice is applicable to every PhD project. Still, I urge everyone to stop and reflect about the process, not only the product, in this case a thesis. After all, earning a PhD is a learning process that lasts for at least four years. It can be hard to notice one’s own progress, but nevertheless, it may be rewarding to try to backtrack and see your development.
Featured image is AI-generated from DALL-E. How an article could look after trying to satisfy all peer-reviewers’ comments.
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