Almost two months in

This posting doesn't offer any  earth shattering insights or revelations about my research. I don't seem to have mastered all the jargon and philosophical concepts that are inherent in doing a doctorate. So it's a lookback at what I've been doing over the last few weeks, since induction on 5 October.

Well, I'm almost two months into my part-time PhD and I'm not sure how much I've achieved.  I seem to be doing lots of searches for references, downloading articles to read later, making lots of notes and not getting any nearer or clearer on how I want to narrow my research field and come up with some research questions.  I've developed some aims and objectives and about 3 different ways that I could approach the broader topic/concept.  I think that this is usual at this stage.

What I am surprised about is how much I need to motivate myself, to try to find ways of developing and defining the next step or task in what I need to do.  Although I'm keeping a log of notes where I record ideas, it seems that it's all as clear as fog.

I'm going on the research methods course at Southampton on 5 December for the week.  While I'm probably doing it a year earlier than I need to, I think that it will offer me concepts and insights around research philosophy and methodology that I will need.  I also have a meeting with my supervisor and I'm relishing the prospect of being a proper student again.  Being able to say that you're a PhD student (even as a mature one) is liberating and also provides part of my identity now.  I've been warned that I'll be buzzing after the course and will need to allow time to reflect and mull over all the new ideas and material.

At the same time, there are some significant life changes happening soon after the New Year and we've been busy preparing for them.   And there'll be more to come.