I have had two PhD supervisors so far! I changed the first supervisor after 3 months since she intervened in the topic and did not want me to work on the proposal she accepted indicating that "it is too easy and anyone can do it" ! The new supervisor, the one I currently have, has been completely hands off for four months to the extent that she refused many times to give me advice even when I asked her for it many times insisting on how much I need to know her opinion! After seven months in the PhD programme I am now wondering what are supervisors for? What are they supposed to do?! Why do we need them?! Why do we have them??? Thank you all!

So... first supervisor offered advice which you didn't like so rejected them. Second supervisor seems unwilling to offer advice!

The first supervisor did not not only offer advice! They wanted me to work on specific things which at that time I was unwilling to work on and I did not want to change my whole proposal! Yes, the second supervisor is unwilling to offer advice!

They can be crap to be honest. I know someone who has changed supervisor three times. She now has a decent one (and one where there is a mutual respect between them) and things are much better. Have you asked your new supervisor why she doesn't give advice when you ask for it? It does sound a pretty ridic situation. You're only 7 months in... if you need to make more changes with supervision, make them now. But also consider whether it is you who is being awkward here (I am not suggesting that it is - but it is always good to look in the mirror as well).

Good luck!

I think she is quite cautious based on the fact that I changed my first supervisor because she intervened in the project. I think the second supervisor is trying to be cautious. That is why she even refuses to give advice and says that I should find how to do things myself! Cannot we have someone in the middle???! It is either that they intervene in the project or refuse to give advice at all??!

What sort of thing are you asking for advice on?

I can say that I asked her for her opinion on almost everything I have said/suggested/ recommended so far. Knowing what others think just helps me look at things differently.

I can say that I asked her for her opinion on almost everything I have said/suggested/ recommended so far. Knowing what others think just helps me look at things differently.

If I remember your previous posts, your first supervisor raised doubts about the original proposal and suggested alternatives so you changed supervisor, only to discover that someone had indeed already done your project and you are now struggling to come up with a new project? Is that right? If so, might it be worth swallowing your pride and thinking again about the alternatives the first supervisor suggested? I assume you are nearing the point where upgrade starts to become a problem, so maybe going with one of her ideas would at least mean it's likely to be a viable project and give you a decent chance of progression.

Yeah there's your problem right there. You need to stop looking for reassurance on everything you are doing and start taking ownership.
This is the hardest thing for people to understand about a PhD.

Your supervisor needs to be taking you to one side and being frank with you about what is expected of you. Just like I have done here. I suspect she wants to avoid conflict but this is just cowardice. She has a responsibility to give you a nudge over the edge of the cliff and tell tou to get on with things without pestering her. It's hard, it's brutal and it's terrifying but it is absolutely necessary. Tough love I'm afraid.