Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

6039

Date

2017

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major

Higher and Adult Education

Concentration

Higher Education

Committee Member

Jeffery Wilson

Committee Member

Donna Menke

Committee Member

Justin Lawhead

Abstract

Students are motivated to pursue education for various reasons and understanding those motivations can help administrators and faculty better serve graduate students who choose to participate in doctoral studies. This study analyzed qualitative data in an effor to better understand how student affairs administrators percieved thier motivations while discerning doctoral study in the field of Higher Education Administration (HEA). This study used Self Determination Theory as a framework for understanding how motivational factors influence students to participate in doctoral education. The results showed that there existed four major themes that described the particpants experience with considering purusing a doctorate in HEA; Professional, Personal and Dual Role Motivaitons, and Environmental Factors. As a result, the findings suggest that changes in how doctoral education is promoted and encouraged, the importance of the doctorate as a credential as well as creating communities of support can help to increase doctorate representation in the area of Higher Education Administration.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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