Becoming a Researcher: A Critical Multiphase Mixed Methods Study of Identity and Efficacy among Graduate Students of Color

• In Event: Critical Analyses of Identity, Belonging, and Racialized Educational Outcomes

Abstract

This study explores how graduate students of color define and develop researcher identity and how this development relates to research self-efficacy. Guided by Critical Mixed Methods Research (CMMR), this work used a multiphase design to examine how students conceptualize identity across dimensions such as recognition, belonging, and interest. Drawing on qualitative narratives and quantitative measures, this study offers a culturally responsive model of researcher identity development. It provides practical implications for faculty and institutions seeking to support equity in research training environments. Findings underscore the importance of community, reflexivity, and critical mentorship in preparing justice-minded scholars.

Author

• Monica Hernandez-Johnson, University of Nevada - Las Vegas