What Pakistani doctoral students want? A qualitative exploration of their research experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syeda Hina Batool ◽  
Amna Farzand Ali ◽  
Muhammad Safdar
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Purpose This study aims to investigate social sciences PhD scholars’ research experiences through a qualitative lens. Researchers explored the doctoral students’ research conceptions, supervision-related expectations, reasons to join PhD, key learning areas and advantages of PhD in this study. Education sector is rigorously seeking PhD faculty and simultaneously offering a number of research degree programs and scholarships to boom the research culture. The amount of time, energy, finance and dedication involved in it urges researchers to investigate this phenomenon holistically. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research approach, phenomenology (semi-structured interviews) is used to conduct this research, and interpretative phenomenological analysis technique is used to analyze the collected data. Findings Findings have been reported comprehensively through interpretative phenomenological analysis. Respondents had a number of expectations from supervisors and viewed this journey as challenging and at the same time beneficial for their professional and personal life. Originality/value This study is unique in nature, as it depicts research conceptions of doctoral students, benefits of PhD, challenges in pursuing PhD and supervision expectations from a developing country perspective. This study’s outcomes have impressions for policymakers, researchers and supervisors. The findings have insights for educators to produce more constructive researchers and scholars.

The experiences leading to resignation of female audit managers: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurika Groenewald ◽  
Elza Odendaal
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Homogeneous Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firms

Purpose Considering the benefits that gender diversity could bring to audit firms, especially in a time when the audit profession faces criticism and the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gender inequality gap, this study aims to explore the lived experiences of female former audit managers from a social role theory and role congruity theory perspective, to understand the factors that contributed towards their resignations. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory qualitative research approach and an interpretative phenomenological analysis design were used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior female audit managers who had resigned from Johannesburg Stock Exchange-accredited audit firms. Findings The female former audit managers reported their unique experiences in terms of a lack of transparent career progression discussions, audit firms being run by “old boys’ clubs” and unfair treatment linked to bias, job overload and indistinct ambitions to become audit partners. Research limitations/implications The homogeneous sample included a small number of female participants from a limited number of audit firms. Originality/value The findings could inform audit firms how to address the factors contributing to female audit managers’ resignations and to challenge stereotypes to retain more women for promotion to audit partner-level, thereby capitalising on the benefits of a diversified management structure that could lead to higher quality audits and address gender inequality.

Exploring the student perspectives on the barriers of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shikha Rana
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Student Perspective ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Student Teacher Relationship ◽  
Academic Courses ◽  
The Government

PurposeThe present study aims to gauge the perspectives of students on the difficulties they faced during online learning during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) technique.Design/methodology/approachThe current study employed IPA, and it was conducted among the students enrolled for professional courses in the government, private and deemed-to-be universities in Uttarakhand, India, using semi-structured interviews for the purpose of data collection.FindingsThe findings have been grouped under five parts referred to as “superordinate themes” or “barriers” which comprises learning in an online class environment, online learning in the home environment, student–teacher relationship in online learning, technical hindrances in online learning and health issues in online learning. These superordinate themes were further grouped under sub-themes.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study focused on the students of various private, public and deemed-to-be universities of the Uttarakhand region and represents the higher education sector only and did not tap the primary, secondary and vocational education. The students of academic courses or degree courses like arts, commerce, basic sciences and humanities, etc. were not included in the research study. Hence, the study lacks generalizability.Practical implicationsThe research findings of the present study have implications for higher education institutions (HEIs), teachers, students and policymakers.Originality/valueThe present study addresses the methodological gap by offering a new line of research where IPA has been used as the methodology to determine the barriers of online learning in the COVID-19 situation, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, none of the studies have used it so far to ascertain the barriers to online learning from the student perspective.

Exploring job crafting as a response to abusive supervision

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huda Masood ◽  
Len Karakowsky ◽  
Mark Podolsky
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Abusive Supervision ◽  
Job Crafting ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

PurposeThe purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to investigate the capacity of job crafting to serve as a viable response to abusive supervision. Although considerable literature has emerged on employee reactions to abusive supervision, the role of job crafting as a coping mechanism has received relatively little attention.Design/methodology/approachUsing qualitative exploration, we conducted semi-structured interviews to examine how individuals engage in job crafting as a means to respond to or cope with abusive supervision. Critical Incident Interview Technique (CIIT) was used to obtain in-depth details of this topic. We analyzed the interview-based data using the thematic analysis (TA) technique. We also integrated topic modeling to cluster the identified categories of job crafting behaviors within our TA. The cultural context of our findings was further analyzed using interpretive phenological analysis (IPA).FindingsThe results of our thematic analysis led to four recurring themes in the interview-data: (1) Job crafting as a viable coping response to abusive supervision; (2) The type of coping relates to the type of crafting: Approach and Avoidance; (3) The role of perceived control; (4) Emotions play a role in the type of crafting employed. Findings from our IPA generated the following super-ordinate themes. (1) Job crafting fluidity, (2) effectiveness of job crafting, (3) resilience and (4) cultural dynamics.Research limitations/implicationsThis research reveals the ways in which individuals may turn to job crafting behaviors as a means to cope following instances of abusive supervision. Given the qualitative exploration of our research approach, we identify generalizability to be an issue.Practical implicationsJob crafting is a proactive phenomenon that equips employees with coping abilities in the workplace. While Wrzesniewski and Dutton (2001) suggested that job crafting behaviors tend to be hidden from management, there may be merit in organizations explicitly acknowledging the benefits of allowing employees to be active agents in their work, capable of using multiple domains of job crafting to improve their personal and professional lives (Petrou et al., 2017).Originality/valueThe current research reveals the ways in which individuals may turn to job crafting behaviors as a means to cope, following instances of abusive supervision. We further fine-grained our analysis to explicate employee job crafting behaviors in response to abusive supervision within a cross-cultural domain.

scholarly journals How do doctoral students interpret the idea of being part of a doctoral community at an English business school?

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
David William Stoten
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Business School ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interview Method ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Business Administration Students ◽  
Shed Light

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elicit the views of students on their experiences of being part of a doctoral community. In doing so, this paper will shed light on the success of doctoral schools and the degree to which students identify with the wider community of postgraduate researchers. Design/methodology/approach This research adopted an in-depth interview method based on interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings The findings indicate that Higher Education still has some way to go before all students identify as being part of a doctoral school. The data suggest that significant differences exist between PhD and Doctor of Business Administration students on their perceptions of being part of a doctoral community. Originality/value This paper contributes to the growing corpus of work produced through IPA, and also provides insights into the development of a doctoral school.

scholarly journals What does well-being mean to mental health peer workers?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Edge ◽  
Susan Wheatley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Occupational Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Design ◽  
Science Framework

Purpose This paper aims to gain a detailed understanding of their experience of well-being from the perspective of mental health peer workers. Design/methodology/approach An interpretative phenomenological analysis design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with four peer workers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Participants described their experience of well-being in terms of a journey over time that followed an unpredictable course. They understood their well-being in terms of their engagement in occupations. An occupational science framework was used to understand the participants’ experience of their well-being in terms of doing, being and becoming. Originality/value This paper is among the first to approach the exploration of the experience of well-being for peer workers using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design.

scholarly journals The anatomy of business failure

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Dias ◽  
Aurora A.C. Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Business Failure ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The North ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
The Individual

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the aftermath of business failure (BF) by addressing: how the individual progressed and developed new ventures, how individuals changed business behaviors and practices in light of a failure, and what was the effect of previous failure on the individual’s decisions to embark on subsequent ventures. Design/methodology/approach The authors resort to qualitative methods to understand the aftermath of BF from a retrospective point of a successful entrepreneur. Specifically, the authors undertook semi-structured interviews to six entrepreneurs, three from the north of Europe and three from the south and use interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings The authors found that previous failure impacted individuals strongly, being shaped by the individual’s experience and age, and their perception of blame for the failure. An array of moderator costs was identified, ranging from antecedents to institutions that were present in the individual’s lives. The outcomes are directly relatable to the failed experience by the individual. The authors also found that the failure had a significant effect on the individual’s career path. Originality/value While predicting the failure of healthy firms or the discovery of the main determinants that lead to such an event have received increasingly more attention in the last two decades, the focus on the consequences of BF is still lagging behind. The present study fills this gap by analyzing the aftermath of BF.

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of prisoners’ experience of riotous behaviour in an adult male prison

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niamh Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Motivational Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Prison Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – Prison violence generates much public interest with concerns for the financial costs, staff safety and public safety. The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of riotous behaviour from the perspective of prisoners in a maximum secure adult prison. It also seeks gather information and to generate discussion on areas for future research. Design/methodology/approach – A purposive sampling method and in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified super ordinate themes and related sub-themes within the participants’ narratives. Emergent themes were then considered in relation to the theories and concepts that underpinned and connected them. Findings – Super ordinate themes emerged centred around the subject of social processing and relationships. Prisoners emphasised the role of prisoner-staff relationships in feeling valued as part of the social structure and considered riotous behaviour the best method of communication at that time. Social comparison highlighted the value they placed in being part of the prisoner culture and the nostalgic nature of the riotous behaviour for them. It lends support to earlier theory on prison adjustment and social psychological explanations for rioting. Research limitations/implications – It is not assumed that the findings of this study can be universally applied given the sample size and the idiosyncratic nature of participants’ experiences. This research may provide greater insight into the motivational factors related to individuals involved in riotous behaviour. With such insight prison staff may be more able to consider whether prisoners’ needs are being sufficiently met to help prevent such behaviour in the future. Practical implications – This research may help inform training on the identification and management of potential riots. With insight into the individual motivational factors prison staff may be more able to consider whether prisoners’ needs are being sufficiently met to help prevent such behaviour in the future. Originality/value – This paper reports on the prisoners’ individual experience of being involved in riotous behaviour. Due to the paucity of literature on this behaviour, this exploratory study is intended to add to existing knowledge.

scholarly journals Mental illness and recovery: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of Black African service users in England

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 104-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Tuffour ◽  
Alan Simpson ◽  
Lisa Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Black African

Background Research conceptualising recovery is predominantly Eurocentric. This paper develops the conceptualisation of recovery by Black African service users. Aims Our aim was to explore Black African service users’ experiences of recovery from mental illness and to understand how they conceptualise recovery. Methods Using a qualitative research approach and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Black African service users recovering from mental illness in England. Results Participants conceptualised recovery as a pragmatic and subjective concept distributed across a continuum of clinical, functional and spiritual dimensions, resilience, identity and their social and cultural backgrounds. Conclusions It seems critical for all stakeholders to ensure that these components are embedded in recovery-oriented services for Black African service users.

The experiences of perpetrators of filicide participating in treatment within a prison therapeutic community

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-76
Author(s):  
Laura Jacobs ◽  
Richard Shuker
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Therapeutic Process ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Therapeutic Communities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Treatment Interventions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Male Perpetrators

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the treatment experiences of adult male perpetrators of filicide within prison therapeutic communities (TCs). Design/methodology/approach Participants took part in semi-structured interviews in order to capture their treatment experiences. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Five superordinate themes (therapeutic process; acceptance; insight; relationships; and barriers) and ten subordinate themes were identified. All themes were pertinent to understanding the participants’ experiences of TC treatment. The discussion provides reflections about the findings, contrasts them to psychological literature, along with suggestions for clinical practice and future research. Originality/value This research addressed a dearth of published literature within the area of male filicide and available treatment interventions.

Adolescent adjustment to maternal cancer: an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonor Rodriguez ◽  
Ann Marie Groarke ◽  
Pat Dolan ◽  
Padraig MacNeela
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ecological Perspective ◽  
Adolescent Adjustment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose As an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth understanding of adolescent experiences of maternal cancer to identify the individual and contextual factors that shape adolescent experiences and evaluates the potential applicability of the Family Ecology Model to the illness context. Design/methodology/approach This analysis is focussed on three female adolescents who completed semi-structured interviews, which were subjected to IPA. Maternal illness is a challenge for adolescents, which can be improved or undermined by their contexts. The analysis yielded three sub-themes: family structure, social supports, experiencing maternal cancer at a time of transition and the lasting impact of cancer. Findings This study found that adolescent experiences of maternal cancer depend on their contexts from an ecological perspective the type and quality of adolescent interactions determine coping and adjustment. Maternal cancer can be difficult as adolescents are already facing specific developmental challenges. Future research can benefit from adopting an ecological perspective to further understand adolescent experiences to support adolescent that may be more vulnerable and benefit from additional supports. This is not a generalisable piece of research but it provides a very deep and detailed understanding of the impact of maternal cancer on adolescents’ developmental course and determines how the complexity of their contexts can serve as a risk or a protective factor at this challenging time. Originality/value This paper contributes to the body of research by providing a comprehensive understanding of adolescents facing maternal cancer. The Ecological Model supports the findings of this research and proves to be a good model to understand the complex interplay between adolescents and their environments when facing a difficult challenge like maternal cancer is.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document