Is It Possible to Complete a PhD Without Motivation?

Your use of the phrase 'need to get done' implicitly evokes a certain kind of motivation, and yes, that can be enough. I’d wager that the majority of Ph.D. candidates feel flagging motivation at some point. At those moments, putting one foot in front of the other until the finish line may suffice.

Examples of Motivation Variation in PhD Completion

It is indeed hard, but I have seen people do it. One did it because the parents wanted him to get a PhD. He was miserable all the time but managed to get the degree. Another had to do it because he wanted to stay in the US – that was the only reason. So, yes, you can complete a PhD without much motivation, but you will likely be quite miserable.

My Personal Experience

I did it too – and not just without motivation, but with negative motivation. For me, it was a sensible thing to do. Though it didn’t lead to any significant career advancement, it didn’t hinder my journey either. The professorship was not what I desired, and that was the only career path a Ph.D. could open that my MSc couldn’t. Not writing that book would have been simply stupid. All I had to do was select the subject, gather all the reports and papers I had written about it during the past decade, and compile a book out of those. It was a relatively quick and simple task, even counting in all the fuss with the public defense. In fact, I actually enjoyed the public defense.

Advice for Younger Aspiring PhDs

I know for you younger readers, this is a bigger deal. Things related to pursuing a PhD may seem complicated and terrifying. People with titles such as Doctor and Professor seem to know all the secrets of the universe, while you yourself seem to know nothing. That’s totally understandable, and while that’s not the case, here are some facts not often told to doctoral students:

PhD Success: Fact vs. Fiction

There are only two kinds of dissertations: finished ones and unfinished ones. No one will likely ever ask you how your doctoral studies went once you get your papers out. Exceptionally good bachelor theses equal mediocre master theses, and exceptionally good master theses can potentially equal a doctoral dissertation. However, what does an exceptionally good dissertation equal to? It’s not any more valuable than the mediocre one unless your final goal is a Nobel laureate. In academia, your value will be measured by publications, and in industry by your proven skills, not by your grades.

The Role of Titles in Academia

In academia, we tend to think a title is a proof of something… we have to do that as titles are our main product, besides research. In practice, they very seldom are. Without a suitable title, one has a harder time proving one’s knowledge and value. This can significantly affect one's academic and professional prospects.

In conclusion, while it might be incredibly challenging to maintain motivation throughout the entire process, it is indeed possible to complete a PhD without much intrinsic motivation. However, this often comes with a high price in terms of personal well-being and satisfaction. This path may be suitable for those with external motivating factors or practical goals but not advisable for those seeking personal fulfillment or profound academic achievements.