The HDR Process: Reflection on the Motivational Factors, Academic Model, Influences and Challenges That Enabled an Academic to Complete Her Thesis Part-Time

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between motivational factors in continuing education and academic achievement of adult learners. The study is conducted due to a lack of research pertaining to academic achievement among adult learners particularly in Malaysia. Methodology – A random sample of 150 part-time adult learners from a public university in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, represented 202 part-time adult learners in the areas of social sciences and humanities at the university. A thirty-item questionnaire, adapted from Boshier’s Education Participation Scale(EPS) (1991) and Neill’s The University Students Motivation and Satisfaction Questionnaire 2 (TUSMSQ2) (2004) was used to examine their motivational factors i.e. personal development, career advancement, social pressure, social and communication improvement, and escapism. Self-reported cumulative grade point average (CGPA) was utilized as the measurement of academic achievement. Rasch analysis reaffirmed the content validity of items in the questionnaire. Findings – The findings indicate that personal development and social pressure are the best predictors of academic achievement among adult learners. The motivational factors that are not significant as predictors are career advancement, social and communication improvement, and escapism. Adult learners with higher motivation for personal development (intrinsic motivation) perform better academically. Conversely, adult learners with higher motivation based on social pressure (extrinsic motivation) perform lower academically. Intrinsic motivation seems to be more powerful in enhancing academic achievement of adult learners as compared to extrinsic motivation. Significance – This finding is crucial for program planners and adult educators. They will be able to lead adult learners to be more intrinsically motivated in continuing education. In this way, they will optimize their learning outcomes and develop quality human capital in Malaysia.

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Examination of Clusters for Better Understanding Commuter Cyclists’ Travel Behavior: Insights from a Longitudinal Panel Survey

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.3141/2665-05 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2665 (1) ◽

pp. 40-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Farhana Ahmed ◽

Geoff Rose ◽

Christian Jakob ◽

Md. Rashedul Hoque

Keyword(s):

Travel Behavior ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Motivational Factors ◽

Situational Factors ◽

Parameter Estimates ◽

Work Characteristics ◽

Panel Survey ◽

Long Distance ◽

Adverse Weather ◽

Part Time

This study examined commuter cyclists’ travel behavior, particularly in response to changes in weather conditions and situational factors. The motivators, deterrents, and preferences of commuter cycling were also examined. To reach greater understanding of commuter cyclists’ decision making, cyclists were clustered. Disaggregated travel data were collected from a longitudinal panel survey (sample size: 355) and analyzed to identify the influence of weather conditions and situational factors on commuters’ day-to-day cycling decisions. The baseline survey (a one-off survey) provided information about the work characteristics, travel characteristics, motivational factors, and sociodemographics of the participants. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the responses between groups on the day-to-day influences of weather conditions and situational factors. Binary logistic regression was used to predict commuters’ cycling decisions (whether or not to cycle). Commuter cyclists’ average decision (over the longitudinal survey period) was modeled with work characteristics, travel characteristics, motivational factors, and sociodemographics as explanatory variables. The results indicate that parameter estimates vary significantly between groups. Part-time commuter cyclists and commuter cyclists who do not plan their travel behavior in advance were more affected by adverse weather conditions than were the comparison groups. Situational factors were larger deterrents for part-time commuter cyclists and cyclists who traveled longer distances to work. However, off-road paths encouraged long-distance commuters to cycle more often. The paper includes a discussion on how the implications of these results can influence government policies and strategies in an effort to increase commuter cycling.

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Inservice training for part-time dental faculty

Journal of Dental Education ◽

10.1002/j.0022-0337.1981.45.2.tb01431.x ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 68-70

Author(s):

GL Powell ◽

JE Barrett

Keyword(s):

Inservice Training ◽

Part Time

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Exploring Barriers to Doctoral Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Insights From Practicing Professionals

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-20-00019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. 1552-1563

Author(s):

Denise A. Tucker ◽

Mary V. Compton ◽

Sarah J. Allen ◽

Robert Mayo ◽

Celia Hooper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Doctoral Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Academic Research ◽

Doctoral Degree ◽

Full Time ◽

Doctoral Study ◽

Doctoral Research ◽

Part Time ◽

Advance Research ◽

Doctor Of Philosophy

Purpose The intended purpose of this research note is to share the findings of a needs assessment online survey of speech and hearing professionals practicing in North Carolina to explore their interest in pursuing a research-focused PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and to document their perceptions of barriers to pursing a PhD in CSD. In view of the well-documented shortage of doctor of philosophy (PhD) faculty to attract, retain, and mentor doctoral students to advance research and to prepare future speech and hearing professionals, CSD faculty must assess the needs, perceptions, and barriers prospective students encounter when considering pursuing a doctoral research degree in CSD. Method The article describes the results of a survey of 242 speech and hearing professionals to investigate their interest in obtaining an academic research-focused PhD in CSD and to solicit their perceived barriers to pursuing a research doctoral degree in CSD. Results Two thirds of the respondents (63.6%) reported that they had considered pursuing a PhD in CSD. Desire for knowledge, desire to teach, and work advancement were the top reasons given for pursuing a PhD in CSD. Eighty-two percent of respondents had no interest in traditional full-time study. Forty-two percent of respondents indicated that they would be interested in part-time and distance doctoral study. The barriers of time, distance, and money emerged as those most frequently identified barriers by respondents. Conclusion The implications inform higher education faculty on how they can best address the needs of an untapped pool of prospective doctoral students in CSD.

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