A map through doctoral confusion: Strategies for the mental and emotional difficulties of doctoral work

A Map Out of Confusion Will start in just a moment

Thank You for coming

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Your “Hand” if you have

felt confused, hopeless,

lost, or maybe just got

stuck during… Designing a passable research plan

Writing your prospectus or proposal

Finishing data collection/analysis and final writing

Confusion

Mind

1. Don’t understand what is expected of me

2. Get back reviews and I don’t understand what they mean?

3. Completely stuck as to how to proceed to move me ahead.

Confusion

Feelings

• Discouraged

• Loss of confidence

• Loss of sense of self-worth

• Angry

• “Isn’t what I thought would happen – I’ve always been a good student – or I’m successful in so many other ways”

Let’s Think Out of the Box

Which stops YOU the most = Mind or Feelings or does it have to be both?

To what extent then is it helpful to pull them apart and aim solutions at each one individually

Two Possibilities Of What You are Up Against…

Educational Responsibility (Pedagogical)

1. That you weren’t told about the sequences and subtleties of this task.

2. That you were distracted when you were told – it didn’t have meaning then

Two Possibilities Of What You are Up Against…

Life Lessons You May or May Not Have

• You have never written 100 pages together before

• You have never worked completely independently before

• You supposed that there would be more guidance

• You have never faced this much adversity

FOR CONFUSION

University Help

University Options

Pedagogical

1. Dissertation Classes

2. Supervisor help

3. Access during their open hours (can vary greatly according to supervisor)

4. Assistant Provost (TC story)

Emotional

• Library help

• Speakers

• Dissertation support groups

• Stories in classes and cohorts

FOR CONFUSION

DoctoralNet.com Help

The Map & The Index

Address the Mind Issues

1. Do you understand how the parts of the research design work together?

2. Do you have a clear problem situation to study?

– What are the words used by the editor or supervisor in the confusing feedback? Trail how they are used.

– Are the models you are following “good enough” Find new ones.

Step 1: Go Back through Phase 1 Material – Use Map for Questions and - Use Index to ensure you haven’t missed any key ideas. “ I thought I was past that…. I was wrong.” Dr. C. Harper

Anyone Want to Work Through a Confusion Using

These Tools?

Step 1: What Kind of Learner are you? If Visual read, if auditory watch video, if kinesthetic turn everything into a task.

Step 2: Measure Your Confusion on both mind/emotional levels?

Reach Out Emotional Supports

• Facebook

• Twitter

• DocNet Group

• Webinar Discussions

• Hourly Support

Final Things to Keep in Mind

Educational Help

1. Clear map through the process

2. Feedback in smaller bursts

3. Access when you need it

Final Things to Keep in Mind

Help With the Personal Challenge

• Lessons from authors writing books

• Don’t work independently – just don’t expect the university to give you all you need – go to outside sources.

• Lessons from those who have thrived through extreme difficulties - the “near miss”

Upcoming

News/Events NEW SITE! Have You Seen It? www.doctoralnet.com Sign in and use the Members Menu to help find materials…. + Icons to direct your steps

Upcoming Conferences:

Saturday Sunday

Feb 8th Lecture Selecting Research Problem

Feb 9th Data Analysis – Quant Style

Feb 15th Interactive – Developing YOUR research problem

Feb 16th Setting Yourself Up 4 Success/ Organization Tools

Feb 22nd Writing Your Problem Statement

Feb 23rd A Strategic Approach to Writing Your Proposal

March 1st Chapter 1 – The Lighthouse

March 2nd Data Collection Issues: What is Enough?