Research Becomes You: Cultivating Ed.D. Students' Identities as Educational Researchers in a Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate–Affiliated Program

• In Event: Roundtable Session 29
  In Roundtable Session: Socialization and Identity: Who Do They Say We Are?

Abstract

During doctoral programs, participants have been expected to and have been shown to develop various professional identities (Jaczac-Martek, 2009). We examined how end-of-first-year students in a CPED-affiliated EdD program were developing professional identities as educational leaders and educational researchers. Quantitative and qualitative data revealed substantial development of leadership skills, but even greater growth in perceptions of research skills. Qualitative data indicated students ‘tried out’ leadership and research skills in their workplaces and worked to develop these skills. These provisional efforts in leadership and research areas were consistent with the notion of possible selves or provisional selves in which individuals try on identities, which they practice on a trial basis and reformulate over time as they become more accomplished (Ibarra, 1999).

Authors

• Ray R. Buss, Arizona State University

• Andrea Avery, Phoenix Country Day School