How do you do a PhD in an area of research with very little published work?

My thesis for my undergrad and masters by research was all in the same area which is the same I want to do for my PhD. But there's very very little research in this area yet. How would I approach this?

Reply 1

-AlphaOmega-

Hi, I have a PhD in chemistry (but a background in medical biology). I also studied in art school for a year doing Fashion Design and I am now studying part-time for an undergraduate diploma in creativity theory, history, and philosophy. I'm giving you this info just to show you my frame of reference.

What is the topic you want to study? What kind of doctorate is it: is it an academic PhD, or a professional doctorate? They are two different things.

It sounds like maybe you have already exhausted this (what sounds like super niche) area of interest with your undergraduate and Master's thesis. Why do you want to continue with that topic for your doctorate? Because it's easy? Is this the only thing you are interested in researching? Have you thought about what you want to do with your doctorate, as in: do you want to have an academic career researching in this field? Is this more for personal development and after obtaining the doctorate, you want to work as an (independent) artist?

Is it possible for your doctorate to consider (many) more/different angles and related topics to the topic/field you want to study? If you could be more specific about what your research interest is, I can perhaps help to think about what could relate to this enough to bulk out the work so it is justified spending 3-4 years on.

Have you talked to people you would consider as your academic advisor if you were to do this doctorate? You could ask for some casual chats about your research interest, what you want to research, and ask if they think this is suitable for a doctorate.

Reply 2

michaelhw

Original post by natho490

I had this problem myself at Uni. Make sure your method is sound. You must use a model that fits. Methological clarity is crucial. Also, even if you have a local supervisor, you can contact the few specalists that do exist online and ask for advice. But you must realise that one of them may be called upon evaluate your product at one point. But you can ask for pointers. A polite email never hurt anyone. If the indivdual does not want contact, he or she will not reply. It is not like specialists on jane austen are overrun with questions from hords of groupies, stalkers and fans. They are not movie stars. The subject of most phds is almost always what outsiders might term: "BORING AS HELL, AND DRIER THAN THE SAHARA". It will give you few advantages in dating. Just ask any fat balding professor. In my view, it is part of the job description of professors to answer questions about the subjects they are paid by the state to study. Especially from students and journalists,

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 3

boakster

Original post by natho490

I think the question depends on what subject, what the related areas are, and whether you're looking at a lot of primary sources. I did a PhD in popular music from the 1990s so relatively speaking the literature specifically about that music was limited, but there was plenty of literature in terms of the concepts I was looking at (e.g. gender, voice, embodiment) and especially as I made sure to stray out of disciplinary boundaries (which are fairly arbitrary anyway) and read more broadly. Then I really also just honed in on the primary sources and focused on my analytical method.