How much of your first year work will impinge in your final thesis? I'm 4 months into a chemistry PhD and all the work I've done so far, experiments, don't seem to have a common thread. I don't seem to have a direction, just a very broad area to investigate. Is this normal?

I think you should sit down and discuss this with your supervisors. Concentrate on the projects that will help you obtain the PhD. Most courses require a theme and link between the projects - so its best to sort this out now and build on this over the next 2 years.

Don't be too concerned - talk to your supervisors, as suggested. It's not uncommon for students to find that litle of their first year of research ends up in the final thesis.

Very often nothing you do in your first year goes into the PhD- so don't worry. Look at the broad area you are investigating and then narrow it down by choosing one or two things that seem most promising to give you interesting results. Ask your supervisor what he/she thinks will be worth while and then concentrate on those things.

FIrst have you any idea how hard it can be?
Do you really think that every supervisor really think about the PhD of their student?

For John, do not worry, 4 months is nothing some people try all their PhD to set up an experiment and had very very few data!

Also "Don't be too concerned" is also a great answer!
You are not alone in PhD and if you are is not your fault anyway, you are supose to be supervised, but also independent and pro active.

good luck, PhD will teach you to be patient