Abstract
A doctoral degree is perceived as a milestone in one’s expedition of educational advancement; however, studies show that 40% to 60% doctoral candidates do not possess persistence to complete their degree. The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry is to explore the factors that contribute toward increasing the persistence level among the doctoral students. Semi structured in-person interviews of eight participants (four male and four female) selected through snowball sampling were conducted in a university setting. The thematic analysis identified certain motivational factors including career progression, gaining subject command, and the desire to achieve self-actualization. Autonomy, sense of purpose, self-determination, and problem-solving skills were found to be the most effective factors that promote resiliency in the students to help complete their degrees.
Highlights
Receiving a doctoral degree is one of the most esteemed achievements in one’s expedition of educational advancement; yet, few candidates can attain this rank (Mujtaba et al, 2008)
Thematic Analysis Several themes emerged while collecting responses from participants regarding the motivation to embark upon this challenging environment, the perceived hurdles of the doctorate program, the personality traits which contribute towards persistence, and the suggestions for the educators
This article aimed to discover the factors that contribute to increasing the persistence level among doctoral students, which leads them to complete their degrees in light of the perceived challenges of the doctoral program
Summary
Receiving a doctoral degree is one of the most esteemed achievements in one’s expedition of educational advancement; yet, few candidates can attain this rank (Mujtaba et al, 2008). Earning this revered degree is difficult because doctoral students have to strive very hard to complete their dissertations. The question arises: Why would an individual choose to pursue a doctorate? There is ample research demonstrating that pursuing a doctorate is a high-risk strategy (Golde, 2005). What motivates a person to commit a significant segment of one’s life to struggle for a degree with minimal chances of attainment at the end (Powell & Green, 2007)
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