A Study of Doctoral Students' Perceptions of the Doctoral Support and Services Offered by Their Academic Institution

Autor/in	Boulder, James
Titel	A Study of Doctoral Students' Perceptions of the Doctoral Support and Services Offered by Their Academic Institution
Quelle	(2010), (154 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, Mississippi State University
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-1241-1588-7
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Expertise; Research Design; Student Attitudes; Supervision; Doctoral Programs; Predictor Variables; Alumni; Doctoral Degrees; Financial Support; Universities; Validity; Factor Analysis; Reliability; Graduate Students; Multiple Regression Analysis; Race; Whites; African Americans; Educational Technology; Mississippi + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Expert appraisal; Forschungsdesign; Schülerverhalten; Doktorandenprogramm; Prädiktor; Doctoral degree; Doktorgrad; Finanzielle Förderung; University; Universität; Gültigkeit; Faktorenanalyse; Reliabilität; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Rasse; Abstammung; White; Weißer; Afroamerikaner; Unterrichtsmedien
Abstract	The study examined doctoral students. perceptions of the doctoral support and services offered by Mississippi State University (MSU). The research design used was descriptive, non-experimental design. Validity of the online survey instrument was established by a panel of experts. Internal consistency and reliability was determined using factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and test/retest reliability which revealed that the instrument was consistent and reliable. Participants included 172 doctoral students in the seven colleges which offer doctoral programs and 172 doctoral alumni who had graduated within the last 5 years. Data was collected in fall 2009. Responding participants equaled 142 (41% return rate). The results of this study revealed that both current and alumni doctoral students had a moderately positive perception of the doctoral support and services offered by Mississippi State University. The doctoral program of study was considered to be effective and suitable; support and services were considered sufficient and appropriate; doctoral supervision was considered to be sufficient and appropriate by participants. The study showed that doctoral student's utilization of external sources of support and services was low, but was perceived as beneficial. The financial support provided was adequate to complete their degrees. Doctoral students funded their degrees primarily through employment. Participants considered that the perceived benefits of obtaining a doctoral degree outweighed the financial cost of its completion. Multiple regression analyses revealed that predictor variables of academic status, race, and college had significant effects on doctoral student's perceptions. Alumni had a significantly higher perception of the doctoral support and services than current doctoral students. Speculation as to possible causes of the difference included the psychological phenomenon of memory bias. In addition, Black/African American doctoral students provided a significantly less positive endorsement of doctoral supervision than their white counterparts. Furthermore, doctoral students from the College of Education provided a significantly less positive endorsement of doctoral support and services. This sentiment was supported by the narrative responses. Avenues of future research and recommendation for the university are discussed and presented. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10