The Pocket PhD

 

The Pocket PhD: An alternative Guide to Navigating the Doctoral Journey

For anyone embarking on the challenging yet rewarding journey of pursuing a PhD. Drawing inspiration from personal experience over a long time, undertaking a practice based PhD, this blog post introduces the concept of the "Pocket PhD," a personalized and adaptable approach to managing the doctoral experience. The approach will apply equally to any major project of undertaking. 

Beyond the Traditional: Reframing the PhD Experience

The sources emphasize that a PhD is not merely an academic pursuit; it's a transformative journey of self-discovery, intellectual growth, and creative exploration. They encourage doctoral students to view themselves as both writers and researchers, embracing the iterative and often messy process of knowledge creation.

The traditional model of a PhD often emphasizes linear progression and solitary study. The Pocket PhD, however, encourages a more flexible and adaptable approach, recognizing that the doctoral journey is rarely straightforward.

Essential Elements of the Pocket PhD

1. Cultivating the Right Mindset

• Embrace the "Adjacent Possible": This concept, highlighted in the sources, encourages exploring ideas and connections that emerge unexpectedly during the research process. It's about being open to serendipitous discoveries and recognizing that seemingly unrelated areas of knowledge can often provide valuable insights.The adjacent possible is a concept that describes the range of possibilities available to a given entity at a specific time. It can be used to understand how new possibilities emerge and how they are discovered, developed, and explored.
• Master Motivation and Manage Procrastination: The sources provide a range of tools and techniques to help maintain momentum and overcome procrastination, including:
  • The Dilts Pyramid: This model helps identify potential roadblocks to progress by examining various levels of experience, from the environment to personal beliefs.
  • Time Management Strategies: Employ techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, the 80/20/80 rule (achieving 80% of the results with 20% of the effort), and David Allen's Getting Things Done (GTD) method to optimize productivity.
• Develop Self-Awareness: Understand your learning style, personality type (using tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), and preferred work environment to create a sustainable and productive routine.

2. Creating Your "Office in a Bag"

Recognizing that inspiration can strike anywhere, the sources suggest creating a portable workspace—an "Office in a Bag"—equipped with essential tools and resources:

• Analogue Tools: Notebooks, index cards (for the Zettelkasten method), and highlighters for capturing ideas, making connections, and building a personal knowledge repository.
• Digital Tools: Laptops, tablets, e-readers, and smartphones loaded with note-taking apps, reference management software (like EndNote or JabRef), and mind-mapping tools (such as Mindjet).
• Hybrid Tools: Consider devices like the Alphasmart Neo2, a digital typewriter that allows for distraction-free writing and can be integrated with other digital workflows.

3. Embracing the Power of Place

While an "Office in a Bag" provides portability, the sources also highlight the importance of having a dedicated physical space that fosters focus and creativity:

• The "Studio" or "Workshop": This could be a home office, a quiet corner in a library, or even a co-working space—the key is to find an environment that allows you to enter a state of "flow."
• Embracing the Outdoors: Nature can be a powerful source of inspiration and rejuvenation. Consider incorporating walks in nature, outdoor writing sessions, or even just taking breaks to observe your surroundings.

4. Building a Toolkit of Techniques and Resources

The sources offer a wealth of practical techniques and resources for managing the research and writing process:

• The Root Processing Method: This involves organizing research materials in a hierarchical structure, similar to a computer's file directory, using mind maps and digital tools to visualize connections.
• The Amazon Brown Paper Thinking Method: This technique uses the sheets of brown paper to you throw away in your Amazon parcels, to brainstorm ideas, outline arguments, and visually map out the structure of chapters or sections.
• Leveraging Technology: Explore AI-powered tools for thought assistance, content generation, and research analysis. However, use these tools ethically and critically, ensuring that they enhance rather than replace your own critical thinking and creativity.

The Pocket PhD is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it's about customizing the doctoral experience to your unique needs, preferences, and circumstances. By adopting a flexible mindset, creating a portable workspace, curating a supportive physical environment, and building a toolkit of effective techniques, you can navigate the challenges and embrace the transformative potential of the PhD journey. This will all be explored further in a forthcoming book of the same title......