Thoughts and Ideas
This section is a space for me to consider issues within society and contemporary culture.
Here, I’ll introduce and further develop ideas I like to work with, explain and expand on issues that stem from previous projects, as well as consider immersive research and developing practices.
Study a PhD with Dr. Christopher R. Matthews
I specialise in conducting and supervising immersive research, but I’m keen to discuss various projects and research methods with prospective students as well.
Managing your PhD supervisor
Academic success as a post-graduate researcher is often premised on having an effective relationship with your supervisors. Here are some broad ways of working towards making that happen.
Becoming an everyday writer
How do you become an everyday writer? Working on my writing daily is one reason I’ve had some success with my academic publications. This video lays out some ways to work towards becoming an everyday writer.
Academic Chatter with Dr. James Steele
James is an Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at Solent University. In this video, we talk about teaching research methods, learning to teach using minimal preparation and what it means to try to take control of your career.
Answering questions in your Viva
Answering questions about your work can be hard, especially when you feel under pressure. In this video, I talk through a basic framework that can help you quickly grasp how to handle being in the hot seat.
What makes a bad supervisor?
If you’re a supervisor, it's more than likely that you’ll benefit from getting better in various ways. Some of these ideas might help you reflect on the process of becoming a better supervisor.
The rollercoaster of writing
I write for a living and find it really challenging. Hopefully hearing about my writing process will help you make sense of yours.
Work–life balance and finding what matters
In this video, I talk about work–life balance and make the argument that most people are thinking about it in the wrong way. I want us to shift our focus away from details to tackling bigger issues. I propose a couple of ways of doing this and provide a few examples from my experience of gaining a great work–life balance.
Academic reading: Part three
Here I discuss some of the key ways you can tell if you’ve gone deep enough with your academic reading. The main goal here is to develop a confidence in your knowledge which I described as ‘unshakable’. This means knowing what you know and also knowing what you don’t yet know.
Academic reading: Part two
In this video I discuss the need for planning and strategy when you approach academic reading. While you might enjoy reading, academic reading is not reading for pleasure. You’re reading with a job in mind – you’re trying to get shit done.
Academic reading: Part one
In this video I discuss the type of deep or ‘proper’ reading which is necessary to develop academic thinking. I discuss how such reading is the basis for good academic writing and outline how challenging and draining it can be when done properly.
Academic writing: Part six
How much reading is enough? When’s best to start writing? Getting the practice in is important. Good writing requires practice and repetition.
Academic writing: Part five
I’ve spent many years developing my own academic writing. This series of videos aims to help students better convey their ideas in a written format.
I’ve talked about ‘meaningful coherence’ a few times in this series. In this video, I outline some practical ways you can start developing it in your own work.
Academic writing: Part four
I’ve spent many years developing my own academic writing. This series of videos aims to help students better convey their ideas in a written format.
In part four of this series, we look at how a good way of approaching academic writing is to stop thinking that it's actually about writing.
Academic writing: Part three
I’ve spent many years developing my own academic writing. This series of videos aims to help students better convey their ideas in a written format.
In this third video I discuss the notion of ‘proper’ editing, which is something I’ve taken years to develop myself – and is something I still have to work on.
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