Life as a PhD student
How much guidance you get depends on your advisor. Some give a lot, some give none at all. The latter is not the ideal. Some will give you a problem to work on (or several) and others expect you can come up with your own. The latter is not the ideal. 

Part of your experience is due to the fact that PhD students have little experience as yet in advising. 

Most advisors, I think and hope, and closer to the ideal, will assist you in coming up with a suitable problem and with help along the way. But they will also expect a lot of initiative on your part. 

Becoming a good researcher isn't something you necessarily learn how to do on your first outing. You should get pretty far along on the learning curve while doing a doctorate, but there will still be things to learn and refinements you can make. 

But, if you are getting in to the process at the beginning, look for an advisor who suits you and your ability. Some people will actually want no assistance, but most will want at least some guidance throughout. Don't choose an advisor randomly or for the wrong reasons. It is an important first step.