Leveraging critical friendship to navigate doctoral student role transitions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Howell Gregory ◽  
Amanda Kate Burbage
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Academic Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Role Transitions ◽  
Student Role ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Constant Comparative Analysis ◽  
Journal Entries

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of critical friendship on a first- and last-year doctoral student’s novice and expert mindsets during role transitions. Doctoral students are challenged to navigate role transitions during their academic programs. Experiences in research expectations, academy acculturation and work-life balance, may impact doctoral students’ novice-expert mindsets and contribute to the costly problem of attrition. Universities offer generic doctoral support, but few support sources address the long-term self-directed nature of self-study. Design/methodology/approach The authors participated in a collaborative self-study over a 30-month period. The authors collected 35 personal shared journal entries and 12 recorded and transcribed discussions. The authors conducted a constant comparative analysis of the data, and individually and collaboratively coded the data for initial and focused codes to construct themes. Findings The critical friendship provided a safe space to explore the doctoral experiences and novice-expert mindsets, which the authors were not fully able to do with programmatic support alone. The authors identified nine specific strategies that positively impacted the novice-expert mindsets during the following role transitions: professional to student, student to graduate and graduate to professional. Originality/value While researchers have identified strategies and models for doctoral student support targeting specific milestones, this study identified strategies to support doctoral students’ novice-expert mindsets during role transitions. These strategies may benefit other graduate students, as well as faculty and program directors, as they work to support student completion.

The role of conferences in doctoral student socialization

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliya Kuzhabekova ◽  
Aizhan Temerbayeva
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Professional Socialization ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Conference Attendance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Student Socialization ◽  
Doctoral Student Socialization

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the role scholarly conferences play in professional socialization of doctoral students.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from 20 interviews on conference experiences of student attendees of a North American conference in social sciences, as well as on the conference experiences of students from various disciplines at a private research intensive university in the USA, the authors explored how research identity of doctoral students change over time as result of participation in conferences, how the process of socialization is shaped by advisers and peers and how the experiences vary depending on the characteristics of the participants.FindingsThe authors found that conferences play an important role in socialization, and the effect from conference attendance increases with the number of conferences attended. The study also showed that students undergo several stages in the process of their socialization, throughout which they develop greater agency and independence as scholars, as well as a more positive image of themselves as researchers, and become more strategic in their behavior. The results also point to the key role of adviser and peers in the process of socialization, whereby the former can provide direction and orientation, while the latter may offer support and opportunities for mutual learning or future collaboration. The authors also found a notable difference in the support provided by advisers between teaching and research-oriented universities.Originality/valueThe paper applies doctoral student socialization theory to the analysis of informal doctoral experiences outside the program of study.

scholarly journals Transforming doctoral education: preparing multidimensional and adaptive scholars

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-34
Author(s):  
Clinton A. Patterson ◽  
Chi-Ning Chang ◽  
Courtney N. Lavadia ◽  
Marta L. Pardo ◽  
Debra A. Fowler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Doctoral Education ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Career Adaptability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transferable Skills ◽  
Curricular Design

Purpose Concerning trends in graduate education, such as high attrition and underdeveloped skills, drive toward a new doctoral education approach. This paper aims to describe and propose a transformative doctoral education model (TDEM), incorporating elements that potentially address these challenges and expand the current practice. The model envisions discipline-specific knowledge coupled with a broader interdisciplinary perspective and addresses the transferable skills necessary to successfully navigate an ever-changing workforce and global landscape. The overarching goal of TDEM is to transform the doctoral student into a multi-dimensional and adaptive scholar, so the students of today can effectively and meaningfully solve the problems of tomorrow. Design/methodology/approach The foundation of TDEM is transformative learning theory, supporting the notion learner transformation occurs throughout the doctoral educational experience. Findings Current global doctoral education models and literature were reviewed. These findings informed the new TDEM. Practical implications Designed as a customizable framework for learner-centered doctoral education, TDEM promotes a mentor network on and off-campus, interdisciplinarity and agile career scope preparedness. Social implications Within the TDEM framework, doctoral students develop valuable knowledge and transferable skills. These developments increase doctoral student career adaptability and preparedness, as well as enables graduates to appropriately respond to global and societal complex problems. Originality/value This proposed doctoral education framework was formulated through a review of the literature and experiences with curricular design and pedagogical practices at a research-intensive university’s teaching and learning center. TDEM answers the call to develop frameworks that address issues in doctoral education and present a flexible and more personalized training. TDEM encourages doctoral student transformation into adaptive, forward-thinking scholars and thriving in an ever-changing workforce.

Applying cultural capital and field to doctoral student socialization

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Gopaul
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Doctoral Education ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Student Socialization ◽  
Doctoral Student Socialization

Purpose Although the production of a dissertation and the transition to an independent researcher undergird the outcomes of doctoral education, this study aims to emphasize issues of inequality in doctoral study through the use of Bourdieu’s (1977, 1986) concepts of cultural capital and field. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study with 15 doctoral students in Engineering and in Philosophy revealed that activities in doctoral study that tend to socialize students possess value, given the conventions of various contexts or social spaces related to academe. Findings Doctoral students who attain particular accomplishments experience doctoral study in ways that suggest that doctoral study is a system of conventions and norms that imbue particular activities with value, which then impact students’ doctoral education experiences. Originality/value Inequality is tied to students’ portfolio of achievements, as the value of these achievements suggests differential socialization experiences, such that different students learn about the norms and practices within doctoral study in different ways.

scholarly journals The Lived Experience of a Doctoral Student: The Process of Learning and Becoming

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betina Callary ◽  
Penny Werthner ◽  
Pierre Trudel
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Member ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Reflective Journal ◽  
Self Study ◽  
New Mother ◽  
Journal Entries

The PhD experience is often a transition from student to future faculty member, which involves considerable learning and development (Glaze, 2002; Hockey, 2004). Using a lifelong learning perspective (Jarvis, 2009), the purpose of this article is to explore, through a reflective self-study, my process of learning throughout the PhD degree. In this qualitative self-study, I kept a detailed personal, professional, and academic reflective journal over four years and used the journal entries as data to explore the process of learning. The results reveal my ‘process of becoming’, moving from a beginner PhD student to an aspiring professor and new mother. The results are discussed in light of how I learned during the four years of the PhD, and how my lifetime of previous experiences influenced the learning that occurred.

Intercultural competency among engineering doctoral students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce B. Main ◽  
Yanbing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Research Partnerships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Intercultural Competency ◽  
Opportunities For Learning ◽  
Multiple Languages

Purpose Although engineering doctoral students are at the forefront of discovery and innovation and have great potential for establishing partnerships to address engineering challenges crossing national borders, there are few studies of their intercultural competency. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that are associated with intercultural competency – the ability to work effectively in multicultural environments. Design/methodology/approach The intercultural competency levels of 390 engineering doctoral students were measured by using the Miville–Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale-Short Form (MGUDS-S). Data were analyzed using ordinary linear squares regression. Results are considered descriptive, rather than causal. Findings Results show that female engineering doctoral students are more likely to score higher on the MGUDS-S than male engineering doctoral students. Proficiency in multiple languages and previous work- or volunteer-related travel experiences are positively associated with doctoral students’ intercultural competency. Originality/value As internationalization of engineering research and innovation continues to expand, findings suggest that providing students with more opportunities and support for work- or volunteer-related travel and opportunities for learning new languages may help facilitate the development of intercultural competency and students’ willingness to engage in long-term international professional opportunities and research partnerships.

Doctoral student persistence and progression: a program assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 753-765
Author(s):  
Shawn C. Boone ◽  
Linda De Charon ◽  
Marcia (Marty) Hill ◽  
Amy Preiss ◽  
Debbie Ritter-Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Student Persistence ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Doctoral Program ◽  
Program Assessment ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
First Year ◽  
Content Type

PurposeGlobally, traditional and online doctoral programs face difficulties with student persistence and progression. An online doctoral school implemented a first-year program sequence taught by a cadre of 20 specialized faculty members who engage in best practices to assist students in persisting and progressing toward program completion.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative program assessment using content analysis examined the program effectiveness of one online doctoral program's first-year program sequence. Two research questions guided this program assessment, they were: RQ1. Based on online doctoral students' perspectives, what motivators contribute to online doctoral student persistence and progression in an online doctoral program? RQ2. How do online faculty contribute to online doctoral student persistence and progression? Data collection included myriad of program metrics: content area meetings (CAMs); closing the loop assessment data; faculty and student end of course survey data; and faculty and student semistructured interviews.FindingsThe resultant themes indicated that students are motivated by support from family, friends and religious beliefs; and students persist based on support from fellow doctoral students and faculty members. Additional themes revealed that faculty members motivate students through building faculty–student relationships, individual coaching, providing university resources and through clarification of program requirements; and faculty members perceive that face-to-face doctoral residencies greatly contribute to student persistence and progression through interpersonal interaction and through improved clarity.Originality/valueImplications of this program assessment have far-reaching impact on how doctoral granting institutions can structure small cadres of faculty to develop interpersonal relationships with doctoral students with focus on support and development.

Strategies for developing a writing community for doctoral students

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Roulston ◽  
Deborah Teitelbaum ◽  
Bo Chang ◽  
Ronald Butchart
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Discussion Board ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Discussion Board ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Writing Community ◽  
Writing Instructors ◽  
Doctoral Writing ◽  
Writing Communities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present considerations for developing a writing community for doctoral students. Design/methodology/approach The paper reflects on data from a self-study of a writing seminar in which the authors were involved. The authors examined students’ writing samples and peer-review comments, email correspondence, online discussion board postings, meeting minutes and participants’ reflections on their participation in the seminar. Findings While doctoral students described benefits from their participation in the writing seminar, the paper provides a cautionary tale concerning the challenges that can arise in the development and delivery of interventions that focus on developing writing communities involving doctoral students. Research limitations/implications This article draws on findings from an examination of a writing intervention to consider potential challenges that faculty and students face in developing writing communities. Findings may not apply to other kinds of settings, and they are limited by the small number of participants involved. Practical implications The paper discusses strategies that might be used to inform faculty in the development of writing communities for doctoral students. Social implications The authors’ experiences in developing and delivering a writing seminar highlight the importance of the process of trust-building for students to perceive the value of feedback from others so that they can respond to the technical demands of doctoral writing. Originality/value There is a growing body of work on the value of writing interventions for doctoral students such as retreats and writing groups. These are frequently facilitated by faculty whose area of expertise is in teaching writing. This paper contributes understanding to what is needed for faculty who are not writing instructors to facilitate groups of this sort. Participants must demonstrate a sufficient level of competence as writers to review others’ work; develop trusting, collegial relationships with one another; and be willing to contribute to others’ development and make a commitment to accomplishing the required tasks.

scholarly journals Becoming an Intercultural Doctoral Student

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-265
Author(s):  
Tram Anh Bui
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Intercultural Learning ◽  
Making Meaning ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Canadian Culture ◽  
Transnational Space ◽  
Self Formation ◽  
Journal Entries

International students experience both challenges and possibilities when they situate themselves in new sociocultural environments. The process of intercultural learning affects their self-formation and construction of their multiple identities. This self-reflective paper examines my experience as an international doctoral student transitioning from a Vietnamese cultural background to Canadian culture. By using concentric storying to deconstruct my journal entries, I found recurrent themes of conflicts and tensions emerging through different dialectical processes in my journey of becoming an intercultural doctoral student. My intercultural learning exposed my vulnerable self while I searched for my core values and beliefs. This journey has brought profound changes in making meaning of my adventure in transnational space. My story may shed light on the understanding of life in transition and provide direction for other international doctoral students seeking to enhance their intercultural competence in a similar educational landscape.

The case for partnering doctoral students with librarians: a synthesis of the literatures

2011 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 599-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen S. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Student Retention ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doctoral Student Retention ◽  
Research Students ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to ask how the academic library may better position itself to assist with the demonstrated need for improved research ability in doctoral students. The paper examines the literature on doctoral student retention, which demonstrates problems with research self‐efficacy in students, and connects this issue to the library literature demonstrating the impact of library instruction.Design/methodology/approachThe main approach is the review of the literatures in library science on the impact of instruction, and in the wider education literature on student retention and doctoral student attrition.FindingsIt was found that library instruction does demonstrably improve student research skills, and that doctoral students are generally underprepared to conduct dissertation level research. There is a case for partnering doctoral students with academic librarians to improve dissertation completion rates and lower attrition due to lack of research skill.Practical implicationsThe paper demonstrates an obvious need for focus of library instruction on graduate students, and doctoral students in particular. The paper poses a number of research agendas that can be taken up by practitioners in the field, including various models for implementing instruction for doctoral students.Social implicationsAttrition from doctoral programs has a burdensome impact on academic institutions, and has been demonstrated to have adverse social, psychological and financial impacts on the doctoral students themselves. The ability of library intervention to alleviate the problem has wide‐ranging implications.Originality/valueThe paper brings a wider literature base to bear on the practice of library instruction, and raises important questions relevant to librarians and graduate faculty about the value of the library to more advanced research students and the current focus of most library instruction programs at the undergraduate levels.

scholarly journals Filling the gaps: how the non-faculty mentor role contributes to the doctoral program support structure

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kat R. McConnell ◽  
Rachel Louise Geesa
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Doctoral Program ◽  
Program Improvement ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virtual Mentoring ◽  
Faculty Mentor ◽  
Program Support

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate mentors' and mentees' perspectives of the mentor role within an education doctoral mentoring program at a mid-sized public institution.Design/methodology/approachData from individual interviews with mentors and mentees were collected as part of a larger case study of a doctoral mentoring program. Mentees were doctor of education (EdD) students in their first and second years of the program. Mentors were identified as individuals who graduated from or are further along in the doctoral program. Five (N = 5) mentees and seven (N = 7) mentors participated in interviews, which were then transcribed and coded to identify emergent themes, along with transcripts of presentations given by the mentors.FindingsFour themes emerged within the data: differentiating support roles, mentoring as a way to identify gaps in doctoral student needs, mentoring as support for doctoral student success and ways to provide suggestions for mentoring program improvement. Results indicated that mentors and mentees viewed the mentor role as being unique from the roles of faculty advisor and dissertation chair. Mentors and mentees alike responded positively to virtual mentoring.Research limitations/implicationsParticipation by mentors and mentees was limited to first- and second-year doctoral students; thus, dissertation-stage students' perceptions of mentoring could not be determined. Implications include the value of mentoring in filling the gaps of support for doctoral students and the capability of mentoring programs to be adapted to unexpected circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueThis study targets scholar-practitioner students in an EdD program, who are often overlooked by mentoring literature, and distinguishes research between faculty mentoring and mentoring performed by other students/recent graduates. Additionally, the pandemic gave the authors an opportunity to explore adapting mentoring to virtual formats.

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