Date of Award
10-2012
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Higher Education Administration: M.S.
Department
Educational Administration and Higher Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Christine Imbra
Second Advisor
Steven McCullar
Third Advisor
Melanie Guentzel
Fourth Advisor
John Eller and Hsuehi Martin Lo
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
doctoral student, retention, persistence, degree completion, attrition, doctor of education
Abstract
The purpose of this research study was to examine factors that influence doctoral students’ persistence and retention during various phases of professional development in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program. This study used a quantitative approach and a quasi-experimental methodology to explore doctoral students’ needs and experiences from the students’ viewpoint as they were matriculating through their Ed.D. program. The factors explored included competencies, cultural adjustment, student transition to/through doctoral education, professional role identification and commitment, doctoral program environment, academic integration, social integration, SCSU campus environment, advising, research experiences, financial resources, and orientation.
Four assessment surveys (Admissions, Membership, Candidacy, and Dissertation) were created for this study. Each survey was administered during a specific phase of doctoral students’ professional development in the Ed.D. program at SCSU. Each survey was administered to students based on the students’ transitional phase in their program.
Research findings indicated that social integration factors had a significant positive impact on doctoral students’ persistence and retention. It also indicated that financial resource factors had a significant negative impact on doctoral students’ persistence and retention. Other factors examined in this study are also facilitating or hindering doctoral student’s program progression despite no statistical significance. Thus, no one factor will result in doctoral students staying in or leaving.
Recommended Citation
Braun, Michele L., "Factors that Influence Students' Persistence and Degree Attainment while Matriculating through a Doctor of Education Program" (2012). Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration. 73.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/hied_etds/73
