In this latest blog Adrian Mallows, a lecturer in Physiotherapy and current PhD student, reflects on his PhD journey so far and offers some hints and tips for those of you considering this path...
Getting on with
research
Moving from a clinical role to work full time as lecturer
has provided great opportunities. It has allowed me to think again about
physiotherapy practice, go back to basics and build again by questioning what I
thought I already understood. This has inevitably meant looking at more and
more research around what we do (or don’t), and then reading research about
research to understand that. This reading about research led to ideas. Ideas
have led to me and research needing to get
on and become best pals as I work towards my PhD.
In some ways getting started was straight forward; I rang my
old MSc supervisor and great friend @jamesdebenham and chewed
over some ideas. Thankfully he didn’t think they were too outrageous and agreed
to be a supervisor. Over the next few months we chewed some more, until James
suggested I contact @PhysioChris
and see if he would be interested in co-supervising. Again, Chris was receptive
and once I had approached Professor Jo Jackson at my University I had three
supervisors in the bag and felt ready for enrolment.
Over the coming months, the outline, literature review and
undertaking an unfunded project made up the bulk of the discussions. We decided
to apply for funding from a charitable source, which was time consuming and ultimately
unsuccessful. This was by no means a waste, as out of the ashes we made another
plan. Developing skills to see opportunity in the face of defeat appears to be
a must to getting on with research. Eighteen months or so later, and in
collaboration with @tom_walker2000
(a clinician who got involved by reaching
out) we were fortunate to have the
review published. To get to publication took several edits of the manuscript.
All in all, from first draft to last took seven months. Tenacity appears to be
a must to getting on with research.
As ideas developed, I too have reached out to others for
guidance. I am not sure if I have just been fortunate, but when I have asked
for help I have found people accessible, interested and willing to offer advice.
@DrPeteMalliaras and @painphysio have provided
support, encouragement and reassurance at times when I am uncertain that my
ideas have enough sustenance. My supervisors provide guidance and understanding
to my novice ways. Without doubt, putting your work out there is scary; you are
opening yourself up to criticism. Feeling supported appears to be a must to
getting on with research.
If feeling supported in your work is a must to getting on
with research, feeling supported by your nearest and dearest is imperative. Full
time employment and part time PhD can all too often tip your work-life balance
in only one direction. Finding ways to be research productive (which can often
mean simply reading, thinking or writing) and minimising the impact on family
life has been of paramount importance. This
book by Tim Albert has been most helpful. Ring-fencing time, even just
10-15 minutes can be enough to be productive and dissolve any feelings
frustration. I work this into my early morning or evening routine to minimise
disruption and maximise output. Finding how to balance work and life appears a
must to getting on with research.
In summary, getting on
with research appears to need lateral thinking, tenacity, support and finding a
way to balance productivity with everything else in life. I am quite sure these
factors are not unique to getting on with research, in fact I see these
credentials in many clinicians. As such, I hope this blog might encourage
others to give some form of research a go.
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