Seeds for Doctoral Student Success: Cultivating Identity as Writers and Researchers

• In Event: Roundtable Session 29
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding and Facilitating Doctoral Student Persistence

Abstract

Many institutions have initiated efforts to transform their educational doctorate into a more robust professional doctorate—one focused specifically on the issues and concerns of practice without losing sight of the research and writing skills inherent in any doctoral program. The study’s purpose was to examine the first year experiences of doctoral students in a newly-designed program leadership seminar that supported student development as writers and researchers. Analysis of three data sources (open-ended surveys administered over 6 months) for the 13 students in the seminar indicated that students found the writing and research scaffolds presented within a learning community were engaging and instructive and deemed the most positive part of the program.

Authors

• Micki M. Caskey, Portland State University

• Dannelle D. Stevens, Portland State University