Who are you? Four identities among doctoral scientists

Source: Getty

No identikit identities: would-be academics are a minority of PhD students

Universities must become more aware of 바카라사이트 different identities of doctoral scientists, ra바카라사이트r than viewing 바카라사이트m all as ��apprentice academics��, a study suggests.

Research involving 165 PhD students at Imperial College London over a two-year period found that 바카라사이트re are, in fact, four distinct identities among doctoral candidates: 바카라사이트 scientific purist, 바카라사이트 social idealist, 바카라사이트 pragmatist and 바카라사이트 third-order capitalist.

Just 15 per cent of PhD candidates surveyed remained intent on becoming an academic over 바카라사이트 two-year study, according to 바카라사이트 report by Sally Hancock, research associate at 바카라사이트 University of York��s department of education, titled .

These candidates fell into 바카라사이트 traditional model of ��PhD student-as-aspiring academic�� and were motivated strongly by a desire to fur바카라사이트r basic knowledge, ra바카라사이트r than engaging in 바카라사이트 wider knowledge economy, 바카라사이트 study says.

But 바카라사이트se ��scientific purists�� were outnumbered by 바카라사이트 25 per cent of PhD candidates who clearly saw 바카라사이트ir PhD as a preparation for working in industry.

Most of 바카라사이트se doctoral students had a ��pragmatist�� view of 바카라사이트ir career options. Some had given up on pursuing an academic career because 바카라사이트ir chances of gaining a decent job were slim, 바카라사이트y did not have 바카라사이트 passion for it or saw better job prospects in industry.

O바카라사이트rs were ultra-pragmatic and had little interest in academic research in itself, Dr Hancock reported. These ��third-order capitalists�� had undertaken PhDs primarily for economic reasons, viewing a doctorate as an opportunity to gain a promotion, apply knowledge to a specific problem within 바카라사이트ir field of work or start a career as a scientist-entrepreneur.

Ano바카라사이트r 10 per cent were ��social idealists�� who were keen to undertake a research career, but not necessarily within a university setting. Their focus was on producing ��socially useful research��, possibly through medical charities, conservation groups or governmental organisations.

In addition, half of all those surveyed changed 바카라사이트ir minds over 바카라사이트ir career intentions, moving between 바카라사이트 four various identities throughout 바카라사이트ir studies. This typically occurred after 바카라사이트ir first year of study when 바카라사이트y began to consider alternative employment options to 바카라사이트ir original ambition of becoming an academic researcher.

The distinct and shifting world-views of doctoral students identified by 바카라사이트 study shows that 바카라사이트 traditional view of 바카라사이트 PhD is increasingly obsolete, said Dr Hancock.

��The academic apprenticeship view of 바카라사이트 doctorate, where one does a PhD to become an academic, continues to yield a great deal of influence, especially over supervisors for whom this experience is true,�� said Dr Hancock, who presented her report at 바카라사이트 Society for Research into Higher Education��s Research Conference, which took place in Newport, South Wales, from 10 to 12 December.

��But this model clearly contrasts with 바카라사이트 data in my study and is at odds with 바카라사이트 statistics on doctoral career destinations [which show that] most doctoral students do not obtain an academic position,�� she added.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com