Educational Learners, Leaders, and Researchers: Identity Development of Ed.D. Students in a Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate Program

• In Event: Professional Identity Formation and Development — Paper Session

Abstract

In this paper, we describe how an innovative EdD program has fostered development of leadership and research skills and strong identities as learners, leaders, and researchers among its graduates. In doing so, we (a) explore students’ identities as learners, leaders, and action researchers and (b) examine the development of those identities across time, a three-year period.
Quantitative and qualitative results showed students developed these identities over time. In particular, there was very substantial growth in the “researcher” identity and substantial changes in this identity as compared to development of the “learner” and “leader” identities. Possible-selves theory (Markus & Nurius, 1986; Oyserman & James, 2010) and the provisional-selves framework (Ibarra, 1999) were helpful in accounting for these changes.

Author

• Ray R. Buss, Arizona State University