Exploring the Role of PhD Scholars’ Pre-entry Attributes in PhD Study: PhD Scholars’ Perspective

Abstract

PhD scholars' pre-entry attributes can play an important role in the quality of the doctoral experience, persistence, and timely PhD completion. This article explores how Pakistani PhD scholars perceive the role of pre-entry attributes, personal and familial, and previous academic experiences in influencing their PhD completion. 16 PhD candidates from four Pakistani universities across different academic fields were recruited through personal networks and interviewed using semi-structure schedule. Participants’ experiences were captured using a constructivist approach and evaluated thematically using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step framework. The findings show three main themes. The first theme is the motivation to pursue a PhD as motivation is not only significant for enrollment but also for continuing during a PhD.   The second theme is the intersection of gender, marital status, and familial obligations, as gendered roles have different effects: male breadwinners are strained, while females need in-laws' support during a PhD, and family obligations increase the propensity for delayed graduation. The third theme is the influence of prior learning experiences and anticipatory socialization, as good learning facilitates the progression of PhD studies, research skills, and research quality. The findings contribute to doctoral research in Pakistan and demonstrate the need to tailor institutional rules and practices enabling PhD candidates with these attributes to graduate on time.