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Dissertation
Exploring Doctoral Students' Persistence in an Academic Program at a Florida University
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2025
Abstract
Research has indicated that about 40% to 60% of doctoral candidates lack the persistence to finish their degree. Doctoral students incur financial losses, become devasted, and have shattered expectations for career advancement and improvement in quality of life when they do not complete their degrees. Also, academic institutions and faculty risk losing doctoral programs due to high attrition rates. The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore factors that contribute to the persistent experiences of current and past doctoral students in an academic program at a Florida university. This study employed Kember’s (1989) theory of student progress, which explains the persistence of nontraditional adult learners as the theoretical framework. The study used all four theoretical constructs: social integration, academic integration, external attribution, and academic incompatibility to formulate research questions. With interviews as the data source, the study purposefully recruited six participants (four current doctoral students and two graduates) to respond to eight semistructured interview questions. The data revealed these themes: motivation to succeed, personal sacrifices, support, relationships, and overcoming challenges. The findings indicate how institutional support positively influenced students' persistence to remain in their program of study. Also, the relationships established within and outside the academic institution are vital in facilitating students' social and academic integration. The study concludes that the negative integration concept inherent in the external attribution construct can turn into motivation for progress. Future research could explore a multiple case study approach and compare students' persistence experiences in different academic programs or institutions.
Details
- Title
- Exploring Doctoral Students' Persistence in an Academic Program at a Florida University
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Contributors
- Chris Parfitt (Committee Member)Mark Malisa (Committee Chair)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries; Argo Scholar Commons
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 176
- Copyright
- Unpublished work © Juliana Efua Abrokwa
- Identifiers
- 99381357076306600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida