To read this content please select one of the options below:

What Pakistani doctoral students want? A qualitative exploration of their research experiences

Syeda Hina Batool ( Institute of Information Management, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan)
Amna Farzand Ali ( Institute of Information Management, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan)
Muhammad Safdar (National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan)

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication

ISSN: 2514-9342

Article publication date: 20 August 2021

Issue publication date: 12 May 2022

197

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate social sciences PhD scholars’ research experiences through a qualitative lens. Researchers explored the doctoral students’ research conceptions, supervision-related expectations, reasons to join PhD, key learning areas and advantages of PhD in this study. Education sector is rigorously seeking PhD faculty and simultaneously offering a number of research degree programs and scholarships to boom the research culture. The amount of time, energy, finance and dedication involved in it urges researchers to investigate this phenomenon holistically.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research approach, phenomenology (semi-structured interviews) is used to conduct this research, and interpretative phenomenological analysis technique is used to analyze the collected data.

Findings

Findings have been reported comprehensively through interpretative phenomenological analysis. Respondents had a number of expectations from supervisors and viewed this journey as challenging and at the same time beneficial for their professional and personal life.

Originality/value

This study is unique in nature, as it depicts research conceptions of doctoral students, benefits of PhD, challenges in pursuing PhD and supervision expectations from a developing country perspective. This study’s outcomes have impressions for policymakers, researchers and supervisors. The findings have insights for educators to produce more constructive researchers and scholars.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This project is funded by University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Conflict of Interest/Competing Interests: Not applicable.

Citation

Hina Batool, S., Ali, A.F. and Safdar, M. (2022), "What Pakistani doctoral students want? A qualitative exploration of their research experiences", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 71 No. 4/5, pp. 355-369. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-04-2021-0074

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles