Devil Inside. The B side of research by a survivor of three theses crisis

Abstract

A PhD has its deadlines, rituals and formalities to which every professional must adhere a fact particularly evident to those who are dependent on funding. But at the outset of research, doctoral students are ill equipped to understand what these rituals and formalities actually consist of. While most students will consult the classic methodology manuals or attend research workshops and seminars designed to assist them in navigating their research projects, they will not necessarily understand what they have been told. This may be in part due to the fact that supervisors and trainers often use jargon to convey simple concepts (a seemingly standard procedure in academia) and/or because students have not previously ventured into the specific area of their field that they intend to investigate. Because of these obstacles, it is no surprise that many PhD students find themselves encountering a series of crises throughout their research.