Faculty Mentor(s)

EdD Adviser: Dr. Kelly S. Brown

Reader: Dr. Brent Moore

Project Type

Student Scholarship

Scholarship Domain(s)

Scholarship of Discovery, Scholarship of Community Application, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Presentation Type

Presentation

Abstract

There is a recognized shortage of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) professionals who hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the field of CSD. The investigation into CSD students' views about pursuing a PhD is important to better understand and generate solutions to the PhD shortage. The purpose of this study was to explore CSD students' views in regards to pursuing a PhD and also investigate the relationship between CSD students' exposure to research and their views regarding the pursuit of a PhD. The quantitative study included undergraduate (n = 49) and graduate (n = 51) CSD students from 12 Midwestern CSD institutions. A survey was administered via an online survey tool. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and the nonparametric Friedman’s test with a series of post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Participants most frequently ranked research interest, desire for knowledge, and making a contribution to the discipline as the most important reasons why one would pursue a CSD PhD. Participants most frequently ranked lack of research interest, satisfaction with current degree and position, and cost of doctoral program as the most important reasons why one would not pursue a PhD. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between CSD students' interest in research and their views about pursuing a PhD. The implications of this study support the need to further investigate the relationship between students' exposure and interest in research and their views about pursuing a PhD in order to optimize PhD recruitment efforts.

Also see EdD Colloquium presentation, http://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/scholar_week_events/2018/april21/1/

Permission Type

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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Apr 20th, 2:40 PM Apr 20th, 3:00 PM

Undergraduate and Graduate Communication Sciences and Disorders Students’ Views: The Doctoral Pursuit

Fishbowl

There is a recognized shortage of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) professionals who hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the field of CSD. The investigation into CSD students' views about pursuing a PhD is important to better understand and generate solutions to the PhD shortage. The purpose of this study was to explore CSD students' views in regards to pursuing a PhD and also investigate the relationship between CSD students' exposure to research and their views regarding the pursuit of a PhD. The quantitative study included undergraduate (n = 49) and graduate (n = 51) CSD students from 12 Midwestern CSD institutions. A survey was administered via an online survey tool. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and the nonparametric Friedman’s test with a series of post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Participants most frequently ranked research interest, desire for knowledge, and making a contribution to the discipline as the most important reasons why one would pursue a CSD PhD. Participants most frequently ranked lack of research interest, satisfaction with current degree and position, and cost of doctoral program as the most important reasons why one would not pursue a PhD. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between CSD students' interest in research and their views about pursuing a PhD. The implications of this study support the need to further investigate the relationship between students' exposure and interest in research and their views about pursuing a PhD in order to optimize PhD recruitment efforts.

Also see EdD Colloquium presentation, http://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/scholar_week_events/2018/april21/1/