scholarly journals Problems of Practice: A Document Analysis of Education Doctorate Dissertations

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Gillham ◽  
Nicole V. Williams ◽  
Gwynne Rife ◽  
Kara K. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Professional Roles ◽  
Education Doctorate ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Problems Of Practice

The purpose of this study was to learn how education doctorate students create the problems of practice researched in their dissertations, and the potential impact of their research on their local contexts to enhance the generation of knowledge.  Three research questions guided this study: 1) How do education doctorate students derive their problems of practice?, 2) What is the nature of the problems of practice that the students have studied?, and 3) What are the reported impacts the study of problems of practice has on doctoral students’ local contexts?  To answer these questions, the researchers conducted a document analysis of 19 dissertations.  Student dissertations included a diverse set of problems of practice largely determined by their professional roles.  The findings indicate a need for further refinement of the concept of a problem of practice and how the education doctorate program and their candidates employ the concept of a problem of practice in their dissertations and how this impacts local contexts. Furthermore, the nature of their problems of practice researched through the dissertation contributed to the perceived impact on the local context of the author.

scholarly journals Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Wei Ma ◽  
Nancy Fichtman Dana ◽  
Alyson Adams ◽  
Brianna L. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Real World ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
Problems Of Practice ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Large Research

Investigating a “problem of practice” is a signature feature of the EdD dissertation. Yet, little is known about how doctoral students derive their problems, the nature of the problems they study, and the impact studying problems of practice has on students’ local contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate EdD students’ problems of practice through document analysis of 28 dissertations completed in one EdD program at a large, research-intensive university. Findings revealed that problems are derived from doctoral students’ felt difficulties and real-world dilemmas in three main categories: supporting marginalized students, increasing the quality of educator professional development, and supporting novices’ entry into the profession. Furthermore, five generic themes that describe the types of impact dissertation studies had on students’ local contexts are reported. Based on findings, four guidelines to assist EdD students in deriving problems of practice are offered.

scholarly journals Community-Engaged Faculty: A Must for Preparing Impactful Ed.D. Graduates

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Peterson ◽  
Jill Alexa Perry ◽  
Lina Dostilio ◽  
Debby Zambo
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Institutional Policies ◽  
Education Doctorate ◽  
Academic Environments ◽  
Problems Of Practice ◽  
Practice Doctorate ◽  
Traditional Roles

Since its inception nine years ago, CPED members have re-envisioned and implemented a new purpose for the professional practice doctorate in education, or Ed.D. This new purpose is grounded in the goal of preparing doctoral students to serve as scholarly practitioners, those who engage community as stakeholders in the process of improving problems of practice. Forming practitioners to be leaders in their communities under the CPED framework requires faculty who look beyond traditional roles by embEd.D.ing themselves in communities to work alongside practitioners working to transform their communities. Unfortunately, at many institutions, community-engagement is considered counter-normative to the traditional interpretation of research, teaching, and service, though it need not be. This paper will discuss the implications of CPED's community-engagement principle for Ed.D. programs, institutional policies, and academic environments in which community-engaged faculty do their work and the importance of these faculty members in the design of the Education Doctorate.

scholarly journals Doctoral Dissertation Supervision: Identification and Evaluation of Models

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngozi Agu ◽  
Christy O. Odimegwu
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Interactive Model ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Research Supervision ◽  
Supervision Models ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Students Satisfaction

Doctoral research supervision is one of the major avenues for sustaining students’ satisfaction with the programme, preparing students to be independent researchers and effectively initiating students into the academic community. This work reports doctoral students’ evaluation of their various supervision models, their satisfaction with these supervision models, and development of research-related skills. The study used a descriptive research design and was guided by three research questions and two hypotheses. A sample of 310 Ph.D. candidates drawn from a federal university in Eastern part of Nigeria was used for this study. The data generated through the questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive statistics andt-tests. Results show that face-to-face interactive model was not only the most frequently used, but also the most widely adopted in doctoral thesis supervision while ICT-based models were rarely used. Students supervised under face-to-face interactive model reported being more satisfied with dissertation supervision than those operating under face-to-face noninteractive model. However, students supervised under these two models did not differ significantly in their perceived development in research-related skills.

Infusing value for money (VfM) into the public procurement system in botswana

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-341
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Botlhale
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Public Budget ◽  
Value For Money ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Procurement System

Public procurement accounts for a big proportion of public budget outlays, hence, it is important that there be demonstrated Value for Money (VfM) in public purchases. To ensure VfM in public procurement, Botswana introduced a modern public procurement system in early 2001. The system is yet to be subjected to VfM analysis. Using document analysis, this paper explores two main research questions: (i) what are key public procurement challenges in Botswana?; and (ii) how can public procurement in Botswana be improved? It is concluded that the public procurement system in Botswana is not constructed on a VfM basis. It is consequently suggested that there is a need for public procurement reforms and the adoption of various private sector continuous improvement tools such as Lean, Kaizen and Six Sigma.

Local and Non-local Doctoral Students in Hong Kong: Do Stressors Differ with Students’ Origins?

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-185
Author(s):  
Jisun Jung
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
International Students ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Supervisory Style ◽  
Flagship Universities ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Local Students

Abstract The aim of this study is to explore whether local and non-local doctoral students in Hong Kong perceive their competency, supervisory style and institutional environment differently, and how these perceptions influence their stress levels. Two research questions are identified: Are there differences in the perceived competency and learning experiences of local and non-local doctoral students in Hong Kong? What are the factors resulting in doctoral students’ stress, and how do these differ with students’ origins? This study used survey data from the Comparative Study of Doctoral Education in Asian Flagship Universities. An analysis of 482 responses was conducted and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regressions were applied. The results show that non-local students (international students and those from the mainland) had higher levels of confidence in their competency and were more satisfied with their supervisors and institutional environments than local students. The regression analysis showed that factors influencing stress were different for local and non-local students. For example, perceived competency and an authoritarian supervisory style led to stress in Hong Kong local students, while they were less stressed in a supportive institutional environment. Perceived competency and a research- and resource-oriented culture led to stress in doctoral students from the mainland, but this was reduced when they felt that their relationship with their supervisor was more professional. International students were stressed due to the dissertation requirements and collegial supervisory style, but they felt less stressed if the culture was more autonomous. This study reveals implications for how the demands and expectations of local and non-local doctoral students should be considered differently, and it highlights the importance of encouraging mutually engaging learning experiences across students’ origins and making their learning communities meaningful.

Between world culture and local context

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-388
Author(s):  
Jelena Brankovic
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Explanation ◽  
Higher Education Governance ◽  
Local Context ◽  
World Culture ◽  
Theoretical Interest ◽  
Education Governance ◽  
World Society Theory ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
The World

World society theory argues that actor empowerment in local contexts is driven primarily by the expanding world culture, rendering alternative explanations weaker in comparison. This article explores one such alternative explanation and offers an account of actor empowerment which highlights the role of identity constructed in local interaction. The article imports insights from identity theory to show how identities constructed in interaction may complement those derived from the world culture. To explore the phenomenon of theoretical interest, the case of a historical empowerment of Serbian universities in the post-2000 period, as an actor in the national higher education governance, is considered.

scholarly journals Climate, environmental and socio-economic change: weighing up the balance in vector-borne disease transmission

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1665) ◽  
pp. 20130551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Parham ◽  
Joanna Waldock ◽  
George K. Christophides ◽  
Deborah Hemming ◽  
Folashade Agusto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Arguably one of the most important effects of climate change is the potential impact on human health. While this is likely to take many forms, the implications for future transmission of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), given their ongoing contribution to global disease burden, are both extremely important and highly uncertain. In part, this is owing not only to data limitations and methodological challenges when integrating climate-driven VBD models and climate change projections, but also, perhaps most crucially, to the multitude of epidemiological, ecological and socio-economic factors that drive VBD transmission, and this complexity has generated considerable debate over the past 10–15 years. In this review, we seek to elucidate current knowledge around this topic, identify key themes and uncertainties, evaluate ongoing challenges and open research questions and, crucially, offer some solutions for the field. Although many of these challenges are ubiquitous across multiple VBDs, more specific issues also arise in different vector–pathogen systems.

A Letter from the NCTM President: Linking Research and Practice: The Research Agenda Project

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-215
Author(s):  
J. Michael Shaughnessy
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Conference Report ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Critical Problems ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Problems Of Practice ◽  
Share Information

About the same time that this issue of JRME arrives at your doorstep or in your computer, NCTM will release the report Linking Research and Practice: The NCTM Research Agenda Report. This publication summarizes the work and recommendations from a conference of practitioners and researchers that was held in summer 2008. The conference was charged with identifying and prioritizing a set of guiding research questions that could help to focus researchers' attention on critical problems of practice. With this letter I have an opportunity to share information and recommendations from the Research Agenda Conference Report, and point to some next steps for NCTM to implement the vision shared in the Report.

Anti-Immigrant Ordinances and Discrimination in New and Established Destinations

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (13) ◽  
pp. 1784-1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Ebert ◽  
Sarah M. Ovink
Keyword(s):  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Upward Mobility ◽  
Local Context ◽  
New Immigrant Destinations ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
Economic Analyses ◽  
Immigrant Destinations ◽  
Subjective Outcomes ◽  
The U.S ◽  
New Immigrant

Immigrants and their children come to the U.S. in search of upward mobility, but in many contexts they experience discrimination and restrictive political climates. Contexts vary widely, however, given the growing number of new immigrant destinations. Past studies tend to focus on what immigrants and their children are (or are not) doing to adapt to local contexts, a focus that strengthens the perception that immigrants are a “problem” group. In this article, we move the debate away from more familiar economic analyses to assess how destination type and exclusionary ordinances, defined as laws that restrict the rights of and services accorded to immigrant groups, influence “subjective” outcomes, including reports of discrimination among Mexican Americans. Our results reveal three main findings that illustrate the importance of local context. First, individuals living in a county with a greater share of co-ethnics report fewer experiences with discrimination. Second, in counties with an exclusionary ordinance, share of co-ethnics increases reports of discrimination. Finally, being born in the U.S. and speaking English do not provide protection from discrimination; rather, such characteristics shield Mexican Americans from discrimination only in contexts with larger shares of co-ethnics.

scholarly journals Uma história ambiental rio-grandina: o projeto “Adeus aos Lixões” e seus resultados

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-168
Author(s):  
Hardalla Santos do Valle ◽  
Daniel Porciuncula Prado ◽  
Mário Fernando Carvalho Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Environmental History ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Environmental Intervention ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
History Of ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The City

Resumo: Muito se discute sobre o que realmente deve ser feito para gerar um amanhã mais digno e igualitário, principalmente, dentro das universidades. Com efeito, o que estamos propondo neste trabalho é a análise sobre o projeto “Adeus aos lixões”, que colocou em prática a teoria adquirida na academia, construindo dessa forma uma intervenção socioambiental na comunidade rio-grandina. São questões de pesquisa deste artigo: Quais os resultados do projeto “Adeus aos lixões”? Essa intervenção teve resultados permanentes? Na busca pela aproximação desse cenário, foram escolhidas as metodologias da pesquisa bibliográfica e análise documental. Assim sendo o objetivo disseminar e fomentar novos conhecimentos acerca da História Ambiental da cidade do Rio Grande. Palavras-Chave: História Ambiental; Resíduos Sólidos; Meio Ambiente. Abstract There is debate about what should actually be done to generate a more worthy and equal tomorrow, mainly within universities. Indeed, what we are proposing in this paper is the analysis of the "Farewell to the dumps" project, which put into practice the theory gained in the gym, building that forms an environmental intervention in the River grandina community. Are research questions of this article: What are the results of the Project Goodbye to landfills? This intervention had permanent results? In the search for approximation of this scenario were chosen methodologies of literature review and document analysis. Therefore the objective to disseminate and promote new knowledge about the environmental history of the city of Rio Grande. Key-words: Environmental History; SolidWaste; Environment.

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