How the doctorate contributes to the formation of active researchers: what the research tells us

Abstract

While much research focuses on factors contributing to doctoral completion, few studies explore the role of the doctorate in forming active researchers with the skills, knowhow and appetite to pursue research post-completion. This article investigates fifteen existing studies for evidence of what factors in the doctoral experience may contribute to the formation of an active researcher with a capacity for later research productivity. The analysis reveals a productive advisor may be key to forming an active researcher and, although inconclusive, productivity post-completion. Further detailed research is required, however, into how the advisor influences candidates' productivity. The article also points to other potentially influential factors requiring further investigation, such as: developing collaborative capacities, conceptualising the purpose of the doctorate as forming an active researcher, advisor mentoring and fostering emotional engagement with research.

The Impact of Publishing During PhD Studies on Career Research Publication, Visibility, and Collaborations

“…This was reinforced by Brew et al (2011) empirical findings regarding the absence of a relation between high productivity levels and the amount of research development training performed after the PhD. These findings highlight that the dearth of research training opportunities during doctoral studies may not be easily recovered after the completion of the degree (Sinclair et al 2014).…”

How does prolific professors influence on the citation impact of their university departments?

“…Thus, the citation indexes of the two groups may converge (Long and McGinnis 1981). Sinclair et al (2014) suggested that the productivity of a doctoral candidate's supervisor will influence the productivity of the candidate, and some evidence suggest that the productivity pattern developed at this stage by the candidate will follow him or her later in the academic career.…”

Research into Doctoral Education: A Survey of Institutional Research Projects in Southern Africa

“…Some researchers have argued for increased nuances in the way we consider the impact of doctoral education on different levels of knowledge production (Halse and Mowbray 2011). Others have explored the impact of joint university-industry research on doctoral education (Malfroy 2011) and the role of doctoral education as contributing to the formation of active researchers (Sinclair, Barnacle and Cuthbert 2014).…”