Category: The Scholar’s Way Blog

Learning how academia really works: what doctoral students discover beyond the PhD handbook

Most doctoral students begin their PhD expecting to learn how to conduct research. They read the literature, design a study, collect and analyse data, and aim to contribute new knowledge to their field. On paper, the path to becoming a scholar appears relatively clear: map the literature, master the methods, produce rigorous research, publish your …

Becoming a scholar together: why doctoral writing groups matter

We often imagine doctoral writing as a solitary endeavour. The image of a PhD candidate working alone, a lone ‘genius’ wrestling with literature, writing drafts, chasing deadlines, and decoding reviewer comments, still dominates academic and public culture. When writing stalls or publications don’t succeed, we tend to blame the individual: a supposed lack of discipline, …

The questions that keep me up at night and what I plan to do about them in 2026

Hi everyone, and welcome to The Scholar’s Way for 2026! As I start the year back at work, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on what I do. A nice introduction to my new subscribers and a reminder of why you are here if you’ve subscribed for a while. So buckle …

Deadline extended – you can still submit your abstract! 🎉

Hi everyone! A quick note to let you know the deadline has been extended to submit an abstract for our upcoming research paradigms book. Final abstracts are due 28 November 2025 at 12PM AEST (Melbourne time; UTC+11). So you still have time! 🎉 We are looking for stories from all different paradigms – how did …

Call for abstracts for our research paradigms handbook!

We are seeking chapter contributions for a forthcoming edited book titled The Researcher’s Compass: Choosing Your Paradigm, Finding Your Voice. This book aims to demystify research paradigms by offering accessible, reflective, and grounded accounts of how paradigms shape research design, practice, and identity. The book will be co-edited by Dr Lynette Pretorius and Dr Basil …