On the Motivations to Enroll in Doctoral Studies in Computer Science - A Comparison of PhD Program Models

Authors: 
Maria del Carmen Calatrava Moreno
Sami Kollanus
Type: 
Speech with CD or web proceedings
Proceedings: 
Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training
Publisher: 
IEEE Inc.
Pages: 
ISBN: 
ISBN: 978-1-4799-0086-2
Year: 
2013
Abstract: 
While student motivation has been intensively researched, only a few studies cover motivation at doctoral level and even less focus on doctoral education in Computer Science. In this paper we investigate the motivation of graduate students to pursue doctoral studies specifically in Computer Science. We interviewed 63 doctoral students, from two different doctoral models (traditional and structured) in Finland and Austria, on their initial reasons and experiences that led them to enroll in doctoral studies. We identified five disjoint main motivational drivers that relate with different aspects of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Together with a measure of the strength of their initial motivation, we develop clear motivation profiles of different doctoral program models. We observed that students in structured programs were mainly driven by extrinsic motivation while participants in traditional European doctoral studies were mainly influenced by intrinsic factors. Our results give a practical overview of student motivation for the enhancement of student selection, support, and supervision processes in doctoral programs.
TU Focus: 
Information and Communication Technology
Reference: 

M. Calatrava Moreno, S. Kollanus:
"On the Motivations to Enroll in Doctoral Studies in Computer Science - A Comparison of PhD Program Models";
Vortrag: The 11th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training, Antalya; 10.10.2013 - 13.10.2013; in: "Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training", IEEE Inc., CFP13578-ART (2013), ISBN: 978-1-4799-0086-2; 8 S.

Zusätzliche Informationen

Last changed: 
04.12.2013 00:10:23
TU Id: 
220391
Accepted: 
Accepted
Invited: 
Department Focus: 
Business Informatics
Abstract German: 
Author List: 
M. Calatrava Moreno, S. Kollanus