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Why picking the right theoretical framework can feel difficult
“Just pick a theoretical framework” is the least helpful advice you’ll get in your dissertation At some point in every postgraduate research journey, a supervisor says some version of: “You’ll need a theoretical framework for this.” Often it’s said in passing, almost as an afterthought, as though it’s a formality to tick off rather…
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How to craft an effective literature search strategy
Why your literature search keeps returning either 4,000 papers or none at all If you’ve sat in front of a database search bar, typed in what feels like the obvious term for your topic, and then stared at either an overwhelming wall of results or a suspicious “0 results found” — you’re not doing…
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The Methodology Mistake That Costs Dissertation Students the Most Time
Of all the decisions in a dissertation, methodology is one of the few that’s genuinely difficult to undo once you’re underway. Choose the wrong approach, and you may not discover it until you’re deep into analysis, with months of data collection already behind you. That’s why the most expensive methodology mistake isn’t picking the…
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How to Scope a Research Question Down to Something Finishable
How to Scope a Research Question Down to Something Finishable One of the most common reasons students stall before they’ve even started collecting data isn’t a lack of ideas. It’s a research question that’s too broad to actually research. A topic that sounds interesting in conversation often falls apart the moment you try to…
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Is Your Literature Review Summarising Instead of Arguing? 3 Signs to Check
If you’ve spent weeks on your literature review and it still doesn’t feel right, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common sticking points I see in MBA and DBA students — not because they haven’t read enough, but because they’ve fallen into the single most common literature review mistake: summarising the existing…
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Struggling to Write Your Methodology Chapter? Here’s What Examiners Actually Look For
If you’re working on your MBA, DBA, or PhD dissertation and feeling stuck on your methodology chapter, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common points where students lose confidence. Not because the work is too difficult —but because it’s not always clear what’s expected. Why the Methodology Chapter Feels So Difficult…
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Why Your Literature Review Feels Like a Mess (And How to Create a Clear Golden Thread)
If you’re working on your MBA, DBA, or PhD dissertation and your literature review feels like a mess — you’re not alone. Many students reach this stage feeling overwhelmed, confused, and quietly frustrated. You’ve read dozens (maybe hundreds) of papers. You’ve highlighted, annotated, and taken notes. And yet… when you try to write? It…
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How to Write a Literature Review (Without Getting Lost)
Why the Literature Review Feels So Overwhelming If you’ve started your literature review and immediately felt lost—you’re not doing it wrong. The literature review is one of the most confusing parts of a dissertation because: And most advice doesn’t help—it just tells you to “critically analyse the literature” without explaining what that actually means.…
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You’re Not Behind—You’re Overwhelmed
If you keep thinking, “I need to start my dissertation”… but you’re not actually starting, this isn’t a time management issue. It’s overwhelm. And overwhelm doesn’t respond to pressure, guilt, or forcing yourself to “just get on with it.” It responds to clarity, simplicity, and safety. Why Starting Your Dissertation Feels So Hard Starting…
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You’re Not Lazy—You’re Stuck
If you’ve found yourself staring at your dissertation for hours (or avoiding it completely), you’re not alone. “I’m stuck on my dissertation” is one of the most common experiences students have—and one of the least talked about. Because here’s the truth:Being stuck isn’t about intelligence, discipline, or even time. It’s about overwhelm, uncertainty, and…