Dissertation Institute

论文学院

• 批准号: 1723314
• 负责人: Stephanie Adams
• 金额: $ 121.83万
• 依托单位: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2020-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1723314&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Institute

ABSTRACTDissertation InstituteThe lack of diversification of engineering faculty poses serious threats to the replacement of an aging engineering faculty, the retention of underrepresented minority students, the development of a diverse workforce, and the well-being of the nation. While there have been many initiatives to increase the representation of underrepresented minority faculty, systematic efforts have not been designed to address the completion of doctoral degrees amongst this population. Data show that students, particularly underrepresented students, are leaving before obtaining a degree because of the long, arduous, and uncertain road to graduation. These data also suggest that individuals, graduate schools, and society would benefit from efforts to reduce time-to-degree and degree completion rates. Therefore, the primary goal of this project is to offer a practical and timely experience particularly for underrepresented doctoral students in engineering (African American, Native American, Pacific Island and Hispanic American) to address issues germane to shortening time-to-degree and degree completion rates. The specific aims are to: 1) conduct research to understand the motivational factors that promote and detract from degree progress and 2) to develop and offer the Dissertation Institute (Institute) to provide underrepresented doctoral students in engineering with motivating, helpful strategies for avoiding pitfalls that prolong completion times, particularly those at the dissertation proposal preparation and dissertation completion stages. Current efforts to support underrepresented doctoral students have tended to be local opportunities within specific programs or universities. This project is different from existing efforts because it will systematically examine and positively impact the motivational factors that promote dissertation completion across multiple sites to consider and incorporate contextually relevant factors such that the Institute is transferable across contexts and not limited to local implementation. This transferability is critical to developing a sustainable future program to support underrepresented students. This project addresses strategic goals of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and critical needs of the nation related to enhanced global competitiveness and an improved national economy.This project is grounded in the expectancy-value theory of motivation and will result in two sets of outcomes: research outcomes and direct benefits to participants. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods, the research outcomes will include: 1) contextually relevant and nationally representative research-based data we can use to inform the Institute's design regarding the success beliefs and values that contribute to and detract from students' dissertation success, 2) measures of Institute effectiveness in terms of participant's increased beliefs about succeeding in and the value of completing a dissertation, and 3) a list of variables to which academics should pay attention when designing transferable versions of the Institute. To achieve the outcomes of our study, we have designed a multi-method, multi-phased study. We will examine and draw on stakeholder needs to develop an Institute that is consistent with literature suggestions and effective practices but also contextually relevant for participants. Finally, we will comparatively analyze the data across sites to allow us to identify the key elements on which we should focus in considering transferability of the Institute to additional sites and/or through online means. The research will directly impact approximately 170 underrepresented doctoral students and will contribute to the long-term sustainability of other Institute models. In addition to improving basic writing habits and skills, Institute participants will gain practical strategies for: 1) distinguishing between behaviors that foster or hinder success, 2) increasing engagement in positive behaviors and eliminating destructive behaviors, 3) developing plans to maneuver through the dissertation phase from selecting a topic to completing the dissertation, and 4) establishing realistic program completion goals and plans for implementing those goals. As a result of participation, students will gain specific skills in synthesizing and evaluating findings from the literature to aid in developing a dissertation proposal or for writing a dissertation. They will learn how to identify helpful, credible resources (people, physical and online) and how to use them effectively. Participants will also learn about developing and writing conference papers and publishable manuscripts from the dissertation, an important part of being ready for future employment. In combination, the project outcomes will have immediate impacts on participants while setting the stage for longer-term benefits.

工程学院缺乏多元化的摘要迪斯特化研究所对更换老化的工程教师的替代，保留人数不足的少数族裔学生的保留，多元化劳动力的发展以及国家的福祉给予严重威胁。尽管已经有许多举措来增加代表人数不足的少数族裔教师的代表，但系统的努力并未旨在解决该人群中博士学位的完成。数据表明，由于长期，艰巨而不确定的毕业道路，学生，尤其是代表性不足的学生，在获得学位之前就离开了。这些数据还表明，个人，研究生院和社会将受益于减少时间学位和学位完成率的努力。因此，该项目的主要目标是提供实用和及时的经验，特别是对于代表性不足的工程学专业学生（非裔美国人，美洲原住民，太平洋岛和西班牙裔美国人），以解决问题，以缩短缩短的时间和学位完成时间。费率。具体目的是：1）进行研究以了解促进和损害学位进步的动机因素，以及2）开发和提供论文研究所（Institute）（研究所），以提供代表性不足的工程专业学生，以避免陷入陷阱的策略延长完成时间，特别是在论文提案准备和论文完成阶段的时间。当前支持代表性不足的博士生的努力倾向于成为特定课程或大学中的本地机会。该项目与现有的努力不同，因为它将系统地检查和积极影响促进多个站点的论文完成的动机因素，以考虑和纳入上下文相关的因素，以便该研究所可以在上下文中转移，而不仅限于本地实施。这种可转移性对于制定可持续的未来计划至关重要，以支持代表性不足的学生。该项目解决了国家科学基金会（NSF）的战略目标，以及与全球竞争力和改善的国民经济相关的国家的关键需求。该项目基于预期的动机理论，并将导致两组成果：研究成果和直接利益对参与者。使用定量和定性研究方法，研究成果将包括：1）我们可以使用上下文相关和国家代表性的基于研究的数据，以告知研究所的设计有关成功信念和价值观的设计，这些信念和价值观有助于和有助于学生的论文成功，2 ）根据参与者对成功的信念的增加和完成论文的价值的衡量标准，以及3）在设计研究所的可转让版本时，学者应注意的变量列表。为了实现我们的研究结果，我们设计了一项多方法，多个研究的研究。我们将研究并利用利益相关者需要开发与文献建议和有效实践相一致但与参与者相关的研究所。最后，我们将比较分析跨站点的数据，以使我们能够确定我们应该关注的关键要素，以考虑将研究所转移到其他站点和/或通过在线方式。这项研究将直接影响约170名代表性不足的博士生，并将为其他研究所模型的长期可持续性做出贡献。除了提高基本写作习惯和技能外，学院参与者还将获得实际策略：1）区分促进或阻碍成功的行为，2）增加参与积极行为并消除破坏性行为，3）3））从选择主题到完成论文的阶段，以及4）建立现实的计划完成目标和实施这些目标的计划。参与的结果是，学生将获得特定的技能，以综合和评估文献中的发现，以帮助制定论文建议或撰写论文。他们将学习如何确定有用的，可信的资源（人，在线和在线）以及如何有效使用它们。参与者还将学习开发和撰写论文中的会议论文和可发表手稿，这是准备将来就业的重要组成部分。结合起来，项目成果将对参与者产生直接影响，同时为长期福利奠定基础。