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Doctoral Students' Experiences Leading to Completion or Attrition: A Matter of Sense, Progress and Distress

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Title: Doctoral Students' Experiences Leading to Completion or Attrition: A Matter of Sense, Progress and Distress
Language: English
Authors: Devos, Christelle, Boudrenghien, Gentiane, Van der Linden, Nicolas, Azzi, Assaad, Frenay, Mariane, Galand, Benoit, Klein, Olivier
Source: European Journal of Psychology of Education. Jan 2017 32(1):61-77.
Availability: Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2017
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Doctoral Programs, Graduate Students, Student Experience, Qualitative Research, Student Attrition, Dropouts, Work Environment, Interviews, Research Projects, Doctoral Dissertations, Academic Persistence, College Graduates, Doctoral Degrees
DOI: 10.1007/s10212-016-0290-0
ISSN: 0256-2928
Abstract: A central trend in qualitative studies investigating doctoral students' dropout is to stress the importance of students' integration and socialisation in their working environment. Yet, few of these studies actually compared the experiences of doctoral students who completed or quit their PhD. In order to overcome this limitation and identify the factors that differentiate these two groups, the present study interviewed 21 former doctoral students: 8 completers and 13 non-completers. The results show that what best differentiates these two groups of participants is the extent to which they feel that they are moving forward, without experiencing too much distress, on a research project that makes sense to them. We assume that this set of factors is central in the dropout process. Support from doctoral peers was found to play a positive role overall but did not contribute to differentiating the two groups, presumably because peers have a limited impact on dissertation progress. Supervisors' support was central to the participants' stories; it is thus assumed to play a role in the process, but this role is complex and needs further investigation. These results call for a stronger consideration of the doctoral task itself when investigating the process of persistence and attrition and for a more integrated framework that considers jointly both task- and environment-related aspects.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 72
Entry Date: 2016
Accession Number: EJ1123711
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Doctoral Students' Experiences Leading to Completion or Attrition: A Matter of Sense, Progress and Distress
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Devos%2C+Christelle%22">Devos, Christelle</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Boudrenghien%2C+Gentiane%22">Boudrenghien, Gentiane</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Van+der+Linden%2C+Nicolas%22">Van der Linden, Nicolas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Azzi%2C+Assaad%22">Azzi, Assaad</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Frenay%2C+Mariane%22">Frenay, Mariane</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Galand%2C+Benoit%22">Galand, Benoit</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Klein%2C+Olivier%22">Klein, Olivier</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22European+Journal+of+Psychology+of+Education%22"><i>European Journal of Psychology of Education</i></searchLink>. Jan 2017 32(1):61-77.
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  Data: Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
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  Data: 10.1007/s10212-016-0290-0
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  Data: 0256-2928
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A central trend in qualitative studies investigating doctoral students' dropout is to stress the importance of students' integration and socialisation in their working environment. Yet, few of these studies actually compared the experiences of doctoral students who completed or quit their PhD. In order to overcome this limitation and identify the factors that differentiate these two groups, the present study interviewed 21 former doctoral students: 8 completers and 13 non-completers. The results show that what best differentiates these two groups of participants is the extent to which they feel that they are moving forward, without experiencing too much distress, on a research project that makes sense to them. We assume that this set of factors is central in the dropout process. Support from doctoral peers was found to play a positive role overall but did not contribute to differentiating the two groups, presumably because peers have a limited impact on dissertation progress. Supervisors' support was central to the participants' stories; it is thus assumed to play a role in the process, but this role is complex and needs further investigation. These results call for a stronger consideration of the doctoral task itself when investigating the process of persistence and attrition and for a more integrated framework that considers jointly both task- and environment-related aspects.
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  Data: 2016
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  Data: EJ1123711
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      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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