Perspectives on well-being, expectations, motivation, and support in PhD trajectories: A double-edged sword
Type of research: qualitative or mixed-methods
Description:
Have you ever wondered what it is really like to do a PhD? Or how PhD supervisors experience their role in guiding PhD candidates through this demanding trajectory?
PhD trajectories are widely recognised as both intellectually rewarding and personally demanding. Today, increasing attention is being paid to the well-being, motivation, and support of PhD candidates, and the role supervisors play in shaping doctoral experiences. Research suggests that mismatches in expectations, unclear support structures, and differing perceptions of responsibility can influence both PhD progress and satisfaction from both sides (Cardilini et al., 2022; Promovendi Netwerk Nederland, 2025).
This bachelor thesis assignment focuses on exploring perspectives related to PhD trajectories using a qualitative or mixed-methods approach. You will conduct interviews with PhD candidates and PhD supervisors, investigating experiences and perceptions related to themes such as well-being, motivation, expectation management, and the overall support structure within doctoral education (though creativity is encouraged here!). As this study is part of a bigger project, investigating additional quantitative measures is also possible, depending on your interests.
Your research question could, for example, examine how well-being and motivation are experienced during the PhD, how expectations are communicated and managed, or how existing support structures are perceived. Quantitative methods (i.e. cross-sectional survey) may be used to investigate general patterns, while semi-structured interviews will provide deeper insights into individual experiences.
Cardilini, A. P., Risely, A., & Richardson, M. F. (2022). Supervising the PhD: Identifying common mismatches in expectations between candidate and supervisor to improve research training outcomes. Higher Education Research & Development, 41(3), 613-627. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2021.1874887
Promovendi Netwerk Nederland. (2025). Four years of contract, five+ years of work: Factors hindering and supporting a timely PhD completion. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14946489