scholarly journals Adapting to the Transitional Stage of the Doctoral Environment: An Autoethnography of Socialization

10.28945/4685 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 071-087
Author(s):  
Angela Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Social Experiences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Community Contribution

Aim/Purpose: Adapting to the doctoral environment can be a difficult transition. This article emphasizes the importance of academic socialization as a means of integrating into the doctoral culture and persisting during the initial transition to doctoral study. Background: To address the problem of doctoral attrition, I share a personal narrative of problems and persistence during the first year of doctoral coursework. By sharing my initial resistance to social learning and eventual appreciation of merging the social into the academic, this narrative demonstrates the positive impact of socialization on my first year, thus promoting socialization as a means of acclimating to the doctoral environment. Methodology: This project utilizes the qualitative research method of autoethnography to examine my personal experiences adapting to the doctoral environment and connects those experiences to the larger higher education community. Contribution: Since people often connect more with stories than with numbers, my narrative offers struggling doctoral students an opportunity to see possible aspects of themselves in the lived experiences of someone who persisted, to see that they are not alone with their struggles and understand that supplementing their independent studies with social experiences could be a good way for them to persist in their own doctoral studies. Findings: Although I preferred independent work and significantly underestimated the value of social experiences when entering my first year of doctoral study, peer-to-peer interaction quickly became an essential element in my adaptation to the doctoral environment. Recommendations for Practitioners: Results of this study suggest that even when new doctoral students typically prefer solitary work, they should still seek out social learning experiences as a means of acclimating to the doctoral environment. University faculty and staff should incorporate social learning activities into the first year of their programs to promote socialization of their first-year doctoral students and increase their chances of persistence. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should use a variety of methods to examine the experiences of doctoral students and look at the data in new ways to better understand doctoral student needs and uncover new ideas to assist them. Impact on Society: By sharing storied experiences of struggles and success, I hope to inspire doctoral students to work with their peers and support one another as they try to persist. Future Research: More personal experiences of doctoral students are needed to give us a better understanding of the obstacles they encounter, so we can uncover additional strategies to combat those issues and improve persistence.

scholarly journals Developing Care and Socio-Emotional Learning in First Year Doctoral Students: Building Capacity for Success

10.28945/4064 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 233-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A Rogers-Shaw ◽  
Davin J Carr-Chellman
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Programs ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Emotional Learning ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Caring Relationships

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore and describe the role of care and socio-emotional learning in the first year of doctoral study. In particular, understanding the nature of the caring relationships doctoral students experience and their development of effective socio-emotional capacity are the primary foci of this study. It may provide institutions with data necessary to add specific supports to graduate orientation programs and/or introductory doctoral courses that will mitigate problems these beginning students face and lead to greater success and quality of life. Background: This study examines the caring relationships of students in two education doctoral programs using the features of socio-emotional learning (SEL), the ethics of care, and learning care to understand the effects of caring relationships on first year doctoral students and to explore how their subsequent use of socio-emotional skills impacts success and quality of life. Methodology: The study used a phenomenological methodology focusing on the initial experiences of returning adult doctoral students in the field of education during the first semester of their studies. A total of seven students from two different cohorts of Ph. D. and Ed. D. programs were interviewed. A deductive process was subsequently pursued, applying the central concepts of care and socio-emotional learning to the data as categories, resulting in the findings of this study. Contribution: As the importance of care is often trivialized, particularly in the most advanced levels of education, it is important for doctoral programs to examine what can be done to enhance relationship-building in order to increase student success and quality of life. This study calls for more attention to care in doctoral study. Findings: Participant responses identified self-awareness as key to how they managed stress, maintained motivation and academic discipline, organized their time in order to accomplish tasks and meet responsibilities, and set goals. Participants attributed their academic discipline and ability to handle stress to perseverance, drive, and work ethic. These doctoral students were very conscious of the decisions they made and the reasons behind these decisions. In their discussion of the relationships that supported them throughout their study, they clearly identified emotions triggered by these relationships, and they discussed how those who cared for them helped them to recognize their own strengths and gain more self-confidence. The presence of caring was clear as participants’ reasons for engaging in doctoral study were often rooted in their care for others in their family and their caring about marginalized populations in society. Recommendations for Practitioners: Examining the nature of the care doctoral students receive and their development of effective socio-emotional abilities may provide institutions with data necessary to add specific supports to graduate orientation programs and/or introductory doctoral courses that will mitigate problems these beginning students face, leading to future success. Recommendation for Researchers: While most research and instruction involving socio-emotional learning has focused on K-12 learners, this study investigates how the experiences of doctoral students reflect the importance of addressing the emotional side of learning at all levels of education. Despite the plethora of extant literature concerning doctoral student experiences related to socialization, the significance of socio-emotional learning, and the importance of care as a facilitator of learning, there are gaps in the literature connecting doctoral students in the first stages of their studies to affective learning. This study will fill that gap and opens the door to future qualitative studies, elaborating the lived experiences of caring relationships and socio-emotional learning. Additionally, these initial qualitative studies provide direction to quantitative researchers looking for ways to measure these concepts. Impact on Society: Elements of care, especially as they relate to socio-emotional learning correlate strongly with successful outcomes in educational contexts. To the extent that doctoral students and doctoral programs experience greater success and increased satisfaction and quality of life, this research will have significant societal impact. Future Research: As a qualitative study using inductive and deductive approaches, it is important for future research to translate the themes and concepts of this study into measurable, quantifiable, and replicable units. This translation will facilitate the generalizability of our findings. The application of the concepts of care and socio-emotional learning to first year doctoral students opens the door to additional qualitative approaches as well, which will greatly increase our understanding of what these concepts mean as they are lived-out.

scholarly journals Mentee Perspectives of a First-Year Peer Mentoring Program for Education Doctoral (EdD) Students

10.28945/4148 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 471-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L Geesa ◽  
Kendra Lowery ◽  
Kat McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Degree Completion ◽  
Peer Mentoring ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Degree Program ◽  
Mentoring Programs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Program Support

Aim/Purpose: In this paper, we examine how first-year education doctoral (EdD) students in a peer mentoring program may be supported in the academic and psychosocial domains to increase timely degree completion, decrease attrition, and improve the EdD program for students and faculty. Background: EdD students often face unique trials based on academic, social, professional, and personal challenges that arise during their degree program. The paper addresses how peer mentoring programs may help students overcome these challenges while completing their EdD program. Methodology: To investigate the effectiveness of a peer mentoring program for students, we focused on a single case study of an EdD peer mentoring program with 11 first-year EdD students who participated in the program. Using mixed methods, we collected and analyzed data from pre- and post-surveys, individual interviews, and a focus group. Contribution: Few studies about peer mentoring programs for EdD students exist. This study is unique because it focuses on first-year EdD students’ perspectives and, unlike other studies on peer mentoring programs, peer mentors are defined as graduates of the EdD program or current EdD students who are further along in the program. Whilst many studies of peer mentoring recommend peer mentoring for new students, our findings suggest that in the case of EdD students, extended or later peer mentoring may be more beneficial. Findings: From the quantitative and qualitative data results, five themes related to mentee perspectives of the benefits of EdD peer mentoring program emerged: 1) receiving academic advice and program support; 2) focusing on the future; 3) receiving emotional support and work-life balance advice; 4) having an experienced and relatable mentor; and 5) needing more mentoring to derive benefits. While mentees reported positive feelings about the mentoring program, many expressed that they did not yet have a need for mentoring. Considering that most mentoring studies focus on early program mentees, these results present the possibility of a need for extended or later-program mentoring. Based on the data, we identified a need for additional research which focuses on determining the correct timing for EdD students to begin peer mentoring program since students take coursework during their first year and have not begun work in the dissertation phase of the program. Recommendations for Practitioners: Sustainability of peer mentoring programs can present challenges based on the time and needs of mentees, mentors, and faculty. Doctoral faculty should evaluate the benefits of an EdD peer mentoring program for mentees on a regular basis to ensure that the program effectively supports and guides mentees to degree completion. Recommendation for Researchers: Literature and research on the evaluation, impact, and value of peer mentoring programs for EdD students and first-year doctoral students are limited. Researchers could study further the perspectives of mentees in an EdD peer mentoring program throughout their degree program from taking coursework to writing a dissertation. The benefits of early-program mentoring in comparison to later-program mentoring could be investigated further. Impact on Society: Providing mentoring opportunities to EdD students may help them overcome academic, social, and emotional challenges, and in turn, allow more education leaders to successfully complete their EdD and use their education to improve their school communities. Future Research: Future studies should examine other options of mentoring programs for first-year EdD students and EdD students who completed their EdD coursework and are working on their dissertation. Longitudinal studies are also needed to track mentees’ progression throughout the program.

scholarly journals The PhD by Publication

10.28945/3781 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 123-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susi Peacock
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Critical Research ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Student Cohorts ◽  
Alternative Routes ◽  
Doctoral Candidates

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this work is to develop more nuanced understandings of the PhD by publication, particularly raising awareness of the retrospective PhD by publication. The article aims to contribute to contemporary debates about the differing pathways to the attainment of doctoral study completion and the artifacts submitted for that purpose. It also seeks to support prospective graduate students and supervisors who are embarking upon alternative routes to doctoral accreditation. Background: The PhD is considered the pinnacle of academic study – highly cherished, and replete with deeply held beliefs. In response to changes in job markets, developments in the disciplines, and more varied student cohorts, diverse pathways to completion of this award have emerged, such as the PhD by publication (PhDP). A PhDP may either be prospective or retrospective. For the former, publications are planned and created with their contributions to the PhDP in mind. The retrospective PhD is assembled after some, or most, of the publications have been completed. The artifact submitted for examination in this case consists of a series of peer-reviewed academic papers, books, chapters, or equivalents that have been published or accepted for publication, accompanied by an over-arching narrative. The retrospective route is particularly attractive for professionals who are research-active but lack formal academic accreditation at the highest level. Methodology: This article calls upon a literature review pertaining to the award of PhDP combined with the work of authors who offer their personal experiences of the award. The author also refers to her candidature as a Scottish doctoral student whilst studying for the award of PhD by publication. Contribution: This work raises awareness of the PhDP as a credible and comparable pathway for graduate students. The article focuses upon the retrospective PhDP which, as with all routes to doctoral accreditation, has both benefits and issues for the candidate, discipline, and institution. Findings: The literature review identifies a lack of critical research into the PhDP, which mirrors the embryonic stage of the award’s development. Two specific anxieties are noted throughout the literature pertaining to the retrospective PhDP: first, issues for the candidate when creating and presenting an artifact submitted for examination; and, second, the diverse, and sometimes conflicting, advantages and challenges for the candidate, the subject specialism, and the institution of this pathway to doctoral accreditation. Recommendations for Practitioners: The advantages and challenges of the retrospective PhDP, for candidates, disciplines, and institutions are summarized especially pertaining to the artifact for submission, to guide conversations between supervisors and potential doctoral candidates. Impact on Society: It is hoped that this work will inform on-going conversations about pathways to PhD accreditation. Future Research: The article closes by proposing an emergent typology of the PhDP and by posing questions for those working in the area of doctoral study. Both seek to progress conversations about routes to doctoral accreditation.

scholarly journals The Effect of Sleepaway Camp Attendance on College Homesickness

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liora Tuchman ◽  
Ida Williams
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
College Experience ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Minimal Effect ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
The University

The purpose of this study was to examine if going to sleepaway camp before the age of 16 was a factor that reduced levels of homesickness in first-year students at the University of Florida. In this study, the researcher sent out an online survey to first-year students at the University of Florida through social media, email, and text message. The questions asked the participants about both college and camp experience and asked the participants if they attended sleepaway camp before the age of 16. The results show going to sleepaway camp had a minimal effect on homesickness levels in first-year students at the University of Florida, but attending sleepaway camp had a positive impact on “college experience.” These findings provide implications for future research by showing factors of the camp experience that help in the college experience. Ultimately, discovering if there is a connection in attending sleepaway camp and a positive camp experience will not only help the students themselves but also the camp community and parents of children who attend sleepaway camp.

Socially creative activities in Psychologically Informed Planned Environments: engaging and relating in the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Ryan ◽  
Nick Benefield ◽  
Vikki Baker
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Major developments in the management of and intervention for people with significant personality difficulties who have offended are continuing, most recently with the implementation of the Offender Personality Disorder (Department of Health/National Offender Management Service (DoH/NOMS), 2011) Pathway. Included in this, is the Psychologically Informed Planned Environment model, currently being implemented in Prisons and Probation Approved Premises. This model includes the provision of “socially creative activities” (Benefield et al., 2018), opportunities for social learning and relationship building. The purpose of this paper is to explore the rationale for and examples of the implementation of these. Design/methodology/approach The paper offers a narrative review of research around child development, personality, social learning and the policy context around the OPD Pathway. An overview of the socially creative sessions and a rationale for them is provided. Findings A conceptual understanding of the rationale for socially creative sessions is provided with a description of the sessions that focussed upon development of imagination, narrative/story making, social expression and relational experiences, i.e. singing, drama and reading with others. It is argued that the activities offered opportunities to engage in a different medium for expression, learning and relating, that may provide a catalyst for change in individuals with entrenched motivational and interpersonal difficulties. Research limitations/implications This is a conceptual paper that provides a rationale for socially creative sessions and describes the sessions. This paper does not feature outcome data which are outside the remit of this paper; however, future research into the impact of this approach to aid relational development and assist in emotional and behavioural stability is essential. Practical implications The complex needs of this client group emphasise the need for services to offer holistic ways to engage people who can have a positive impact upon relationships. Originality/value The work presented in this paper is valuable for professionals working within the personality disorder and criminal justice field, also for policy makers and commissioners.

El modelo de Educación Deportiva en España: una revisión sistemática (Sport Education Model in Spain: a systematic review)

Retos ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 886-894
Author(s):  
Eva Guijarro ◽  
Irene Rocamora ◽  
Carlos Evangelio ◽  
Sixto González Víllora
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Primary Education ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Sport Education ◽  
Revisión Sistemática ◽  
Educación Primaria

La investigación en relación al modelo de Educación Deportiva (ED) ha mostrado un impacto positivo en los estudiantes. Sin embargo, se encuentran resultados contradictorios y escasos en algunos campos o dominios. El objetivo de esta revisión fue ofrecer una visión de las implementaciones más recientes de la ED, desde primer curso de Educación Primaria hasta el segundo curso de Bachillerato (6-18 años) en el contexto español, así como las prospectivas para futuras investigaciones. Para ello, se realizó una revisión sistemática desde 2015 hasta 2018, buscando el término ‘sport education’ o ‘educación deportiva en las principales bases de datos (Web of Science, EBSCO, ERIC, Medline, Scopus y Scielo), permitiendo seleccionar los artículos originales que incluían información sobre las implementaciones de la ED en Educación Primaria, Secundaria y Bachillerato, ya sea en el ámbito curricular o extracurricular. Los resultados mostraron que la implementación de la ED se ha expandido en los últimos años incluyendo todos los dominios de aprendizaje: físico, social, cognitivo y afectivo. Como conclusión, se puede afirmar que el modelo de ED es un modelo pedagógico adecuado para llevar a la práctica tanto en el ámbito curricular como extracurricular, con mejoras significativas para los estudiantes en los dominios social, afectivo, físico y cognitivo.Abstract. Research in relation to the Sport Education (SE) model has shown a positive impact on students. However, contradictory and scarce results are found in some fields or domains. The objective of this review was to offer a vision of the most recent implementations of SE, from the first year in Primary Education to the second year in Baccalaureate (6-18 years) in the Spanish context, as well as perspectives for future research. To do so, a systematic review was carried out from 2015 to 2018, looking for the term ‘sport education’ or ‘educación deportiva’ in the main databases (Web of Science, EBSCO, ERIC, Medline, Scopus, and Scielo), allowing to select the originals articles that included information about the implementations of SE in Primary Education, Secondary School, and Baccalaureate, either in the curricular or extracurricular context. The results showed that SE implementations has been expanded in recent years, including all learning domains: physical, social, cognitive, and affective. As a conclusion, it can be affirmed that SE is an adequate pedagogical model to be carried out both in the curricular and extracurricular fields, with significant improvements for students in the social, affective, physical, and cognitive domains.

scholarly journals A tale of two doctoral students: social media tools and hybridised identities

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Bennett ◽  
Sue Folley
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Learning Technology ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Web 2.0 Tools ◽  
Digital Scholarship ◽  
Online Tools ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Social Media Tools

This paper explores the experiences of two doctoral students who embraced Web 2.0 tools in their digital scholarship practices. The paper gives an insider perspective of the challenges and potential of working with online tools, such as blogs, and participating in online communities, such as Twitter’s #phdchat. We explore by drawing on our personal experiences as to how this participation was affected by our hybridised identity as both members of staff at a UK university and as PhD students. We argue that social media tools provide access to a community of doctoral students and knowledgeable others that reduce isolation and provide challenge and support along the challenging journey of undertaking a doctoral study. Whilst the tools involved exposure and risk in relation to managing our hybridised identities, our experience of their use was one we would recommend to others.Keywords: doctoral students; liminality; blogging; Web 2.0; Twitter(Published: 26 May 2014)Citation: Research in Learning Technology 2014, 22: 23791 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v22.23791

Freshman Orientation, Persistence, and Achievement: A Longitudinal Analysis

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Burgette ◽  
Susan Magun-Jackson
Keyword(s):  
White Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Freshman Orientation ◽  
Orientation Course ◽  
High School Gpa ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The Impact

This longitudinal study (2001–2005) considers the impact of a freshman orientation course on the persistence of black and white students at a mid-southern university, as well its relationship with college achievement (GPA). Controlling for gender, race, high school GPA, and decided on major, logistic regression was used to assess persistence; multiple regression for evaluating college GPA. Though the orientation course had a positive impact on persistence to the second year and first year GPA (particularly for black students), it failed to have impact beyond the second year. Topical gaps in the course's content are considered as a possible influence in the lack of long-term persistence. Possible future research is discussed.

Pedagogy and Agency in Postgraduate Student Supervision in a Rural South African University

2020 ◽  
pp. 296-316
Author(s):  
Phefumula N. Nyoni
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
South African ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Student Interactions ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Graduate Research ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Postgraduate Studies ◽  
Important Position ◽  
High Level

Postgraduate studies in South Africa's higher education and the world have come to occupy an important position not only due to the high level of professional development attached to it but also due to the significance of post-graduate research towards the university's research output. This chapter is based on a combination of informal interviews with supervisors and doctoral students, observing student supervisor interactions as well as personal experiences within the doctoral study trail. The notions of agency and pedagogy related to the complexities surrounding how supervisor-student interactions could shape various forms of agency that may act as enabling or constraining within the doctoral study route are explored. This is particularly with respect to poorly resourced universities, particularly those often referred to as the historically disadvantaged universities (HDUs) in South Africa.

scholarly journals Advising Experiences Among First-year International Doctoral Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (Winter) ◽  
pp. 155-157
Author(s):  
Nina Marijanovic ◽  
Jungmin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
First Year ◽  
Graduate Studies ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Faculty Advisor ◽  
Faculty Advisors ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
International Doctoral Students

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how international graduate students in their first-year of doctoral study selected their faculty advisor and how this selection process influenced their advising relationship. Our results found that a majority of students in our sample were assigned to an interim advisor and most reported a positive advising experience. However, disquieting patterns emerged from the data: low frequency of advisor-advisee interaction, occurrences of mismatching between advisor-advisee, and an unknowingness of how to engage with one’s faculty advisor. Our study adds to the literature focusing on international students by shedding a light on nuanced advising experiences of first-year international doctoral students and by providing recommendations for faculty advisors and directors of graduate studies on ways to improve and systematize their advising practices so as to encourage retention and success among international doctoral students. 

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