Factors affecting timely completion of a PhD: a complex systems approach

Article

Pitchforth, Jegar, Beames, Stephanie, Thomas, Aleysha, Falk, Matthew, Farr, Charisse, Gasson, Susan, Thamrin, Sri Astuti and Mengersen, Kerrie. 2012. "Factors affecting timely completion of a PhD: a complex systems approach." Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. 12 (4), pp. 124-135.
Article Title

Factors affecting timely completion of a PhD: a complex
systems approach

ERA Journal ID20371
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsPitchforth, Jegar (Author), Beames, Stephanie (Author), Thomas, Aleysha (Author), Falk, Matthew (Author), Farr, Charisse (Author), Gasson, Susan (Author), Thamrin, Sri Astuti (Author) and Mengersen, Kerrie (Author)
Journal TitleJournal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Journal Citation12 (4), pp. 124-135
Number of Pages12
Year2012
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISSN1527-9316
Web Address (URL)https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/josotl/article/view/3144
Abstract

Completing a PhD on time is a complex process, influenced by many interacting factors. In this paper we take a Bayesian Network approach to analyzing the factors perceived to be important in achieving this aim. Focusing on a single research group in Mathematical Sciences, we develop a conceptual model to describe the factors considered to be important to students and then quantify the network based on five individual perspectives: the students, a supervisor and a university research students centre manager. The resultant network comprised 37 factors and 40 connections, with an overall probability of timely completion of between 0.6 and 0.8. Across all participants, the four factors that were considered to most directly influence timely completion were personal aspects, the research environment, the research project, and incoming skills.

Keywordsbayesian network, graduation, skills, environment, personal, project
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020490599. Statistics not elsewhere classified
Byline AffiliationsQueensland University of Technology
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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