Hi All,

This is my first post here and let me introduce myself. I am a new PhD student less than 2 months into my enrolment. I am planning to undertake a mixed methods study on adherence to treatment recommendations. Since I started, it feels as if I have been walking in fog. Trying to read anything and everything that comes my way, but generally not getting anywhere as I seem to get side tracked and move on to the next topic before I have finished one. I have to submit my first proposal on 4th January which is almost ready, having got the feedback from my supervisory team etc. Just some minor corrections needed before submission.

The next step is starting with the literature review and I am planning to conduct a mixed methods synthesis for that as well. Struggled to find literature on mixing qual and quant and having trouble deciding on the methods to combine these two paradigms. Well, that will get sorted hopefully with time and bit more effort..

But the point of my post here is that will this dense fog be lifted??? At the moment, though I have an idea of where I want to go, but even though I am walking, it seems as if I am wandering aimlessly and have lost track of where I want to go? Is this normal at the start of PhD?? Any suggestions??:-)