Boshi Liu, PhD 2025

'Remember that everyone’s project and journey are different, so there isn’t one single way to do a PhD.'

Boshi’s research

My thesis is about how Chinese children and their family members experience and understand children’s participation in decisions about their hobbies.

I worked with children and their families to explore what hobbies mean to them, how choices are made and how factors such as academic expectations, emotional connections and social relationships shape these decisions.

The study shows that existing “serious leisure” frameworks do not fully reflect how children in this context describe their hobbies. Instead of focusing mainly on productivity or skill development, many children talked about enjoyment and social connection.

The thesis also highlights that children’s participation is deeply relational and shaped by family interactions, offering a more culturally grounded picture of decision-making in everyday family life.

Boshi Liu

A meaningful and challenging experience

I found the research process both meaningful and challenging in different ways.

When I first designed the study, COVID-19 restrictions in China were still strict, so accessing the school and starting fieldwork was difficult. Fortunately, by the time data collection began, the restrictions had eased, which allowed the research to go ahead.

A highlight of the process was talking with the children. Their openness, humour and thoughtful reflections were memorable and reminded me why the topic matters.

I also appreciated working closely with families and listening to how everyday interactions reflected wider cultural expectations.

A challenge was navigating my role as both an insider and outsider. I share a cultural background with the families, but I also had to stay reflexive about how my own assumptions might shape the analysis. Finding this balance became an important part of the research journey.

My supervisors were Professor Kay Tisdall and Dr Jennifer Lavoie. Working with them was a very positive and supportive experience.

Kay offered warm and steady guidance, and she always encouraged me to develop my own voice as a researcher while reminding me to look after myself during the PhD process.

Jennifer provided inspiring feedback that often helped me see my work from different perspectives and strengthened both my methodology and analysis. Their complementary approaches created an encouraging environment that made the whole PhD journey feel supported and manageable.

The warm research community

I found my time at Moray House and the University of Edinburgh very meaningful and transformative. I felt part of the warm research community especially within the Children and Young People Hub. The Hub created a supportive space where staff and PGR students were well connected, and the leadership team and members were always generous and encouraging. They were truly some of the kindest people I met at the university.

I was also fortunate to find a tutoring opportunity in SPS, which helped me develop my confidence and skills as an educator. Being involved in seminars, events and collaborative activities with peers allowed me to grow not only as a researcher but also professionally and personally.

If there is one thing I would hope for in the future, it would be for more students to have similar opportunities such as tutoring or taking part in different projects because these experiences were very valuable for the career development.

‘There isn’t a single way to do a PhD’

My advice for future PhD students is to remember that everyone’s project and journey are different, so there isn’t one single way to do a PhD.

One thing that helped me was not being afraid to ask questions whether it was something I didn’t understand or something I felt unsure about. Your supervisors are there to support you, and it’s completely okay to reach out for clarification or guidance.

Talking to peers and friends is also important. They understand the ups and downs, and those conversations can make you feel much less alone in the process.

And finally, try to make time for hobbies or activities you enjoy 😊. They really help with stress and are important for your overall wellbeing throughout the PhD.

 

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