The Dissertation Institute : Evaluation of a Doctoral Student Writing Workshop
The Dissertation Institute : Evaluation of a Doctoral Student Writing Workshop
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论文研究所：博士生写作研讨会的评估
DOI：
10.1109/fie.2018.8658664
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发表时间：
2018
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
S. Adams
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
J. M. Cruz;Mayra S. Artiles;Gwen Lee;H. Matusovich;S. Adams
这篇研究论文描述了一个问题的答案，这个问题是由研究生院委员会完成的一项研究中描述的，该研究的数据显示，美国的博士生正以很高的比例放弃攻读博士学位。此外，研究表明，未被充分代表的少数民族（即非裔美国人、美国原住民、太平洋岛民和西班牙裔美国人）的离职率更高，因为他们完成博士学位的比例低于多数同龄人。以前的研究表明，在论文阶段缺乏动力是学生决定离开的主要因素之一。这一阶段的博士追求通常是孤独的，充满了对学位完成过程的不确定性。为了解决这个问题，我们创建了论文研究所。这个由美国国家科学基金会资助的研究项目包括一个为期一周的研讨会，为那些在工程博士学位的最后阶段未被充分代表的少数民族提供服务。研讨会的目标是为博士生提供一个实用和及时的经验，以帮助他们完成学位。这个工作坊的设计是基于研究来解决博士学位最后阶段的典型问题，帮助缩短学生获得学位的时间，提高URM的博士完成率。虽然类似的项目已经存在，但研究所的不同之处在于，它同时收集研究数据，这将进一步了解参与者的成功和价值信念，并有助于发展未来的研讨会。本出版物的目的是介绍论文研究所的描述以及2017年夏季首次实施的评估结果。评估计划包括参与者前后调查、观察和个别会议评估。初步结果表明，论文研究所提高了学生的成功信念和效用和成本效益价值的学术写作。结果还显示，学生们很感激有一个安全的空间来与会议主持人和博士生同事交流他们的学术问题。学生们还表达了讲习班主持人对他们的个性化关注，帮助他们将在多次会议中收到的建议转移到他们的具体追求中。这次评价的结果将为研究所今后的发展和实施提供信息，并有助于为类似讲习班的设计提供信息。
This research to practice full paper describes an answer to a problem described in a study completed by the Council of Graduate Schools, where data showed that doctoral students in the United States are departing from their pursuit of the Ph.D. at high rates. Additionally, the study showed that the departure rates for underrepresented minorities (URM) (i.e., African-American, Native American, Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American) are higher, as they complete their Ph.D. at lesser rates than their majority peers. Previous research has suggested that lack of motivation during the dissertation phase is one of the leading factors for students’ decision to depart. This phase of the doctoral pursuit is often characterized as lonely and filled with uncertainty about the process towards degree completion.To address this problem, we have created the Dissertation Institute. This NSF-funded research project consists of a one-week workshop for underrepresented minorities in the final phases of their Ph.D. in engineering. The goal of the workshop is to offer a practical and timely experience for doctoral students to help them progress through degree completion. The design of this workshop is grounded in research to address issues typical of the final phases of the Ph.D., help shorten students’ time-to-degree and increase doctoral completion rates for URM. While similar programs already exist, the Institute differs by simultaneously collecting research data that will further the understanding of the success and value beliefs of its participants and help develop future workshops.The purpose of this publication is to present a description of the Dissertation Institute as well as the evaluation results for its first implementation which took place in the summer of 2017. The evaluation plan consists of participant pre and post surveys, observations, and individual session assessments. Preliminary results show that the Dissertation Institute increased students’ success beliefs and utility and cost-benefit value in academic writing. Results also showed that students appreciated having a safe space to communicate their academic concerns with session facilitators and fellow doctoral students. Students also expressed the individualized attention from the workshop facilitators aided in the transfer of the advice received throughout the multiple sessions to their specific pursuits. Findings from this evaluation will inform future development and implementations of the Institute and help inform the design of similar workshops.