Qualitative Meta-Data Analysis: Perceptions and Experiences of Online Doctoral Students

Abstract

The profiles of online and traditional doctoral students contrast sharply. A traditional doctoral student lives on-campus and pursues the degree in a face to face environment. This meta-data analysis peruses the research findings from primary research studies on online doctoral students. A systematic search of qualitative research articles, that presented the personal perspectives of online doctoral students, was examined to identify common properties in isolated studies. Factors that directly impact the ability of doctoral candidates to be successful in their online doctoral degree program were identified. Positive factors included cohort groups, supportive mentors, and the ability to pursue a doctoral degree. Obstacles faced by doctoral online students included balancing work, family, school, and a sense of isolation. The results of this meta-data analysis will provide higher education with insights into the online doctoral students' perceptions and experiences.

Online Doctoral Cohort Mentors: Model Implementation and Evaluation

“…A great body of research elucidates a multitude of complex needs which may be experienced by online doctoral students (e.g., Akojie, Entrekin, Bacon, & Kanai, 2019;Gibson Fields, Wladkowski, Kusmaul, Greenfield, & Mauldin, 2019;Kumar, & Coe, 2017). Online doctoral student needs can be categorized as internal or external.…”

The solo pantomime in the pandemic: Distance postgraduate education in the department of mathematics education during COVID-19

“…Although at first glance this result contradicts the fact that it is independent of time and place, which is one of the most important advantages of distance education, it is obvious that the problems in planning and practice caused this experience due to the rapid transition to distance education during the pandemic process. In the literature, there are studies supporting this situation that distance education doctoral students have difficulty in keeping a balance between their jobs, families, and schools (Akojie et al, 2019). Also, it is clear that online courses have shorter course hours than face-to-face courses, which is another important reason for these negative experiences.…”

“…It is seen that the source of this experience is that, thanks to distance education, they can attend classes independently of the place, without traffic and road problems, without wasting time during transportation and in a more economical way. Likewise, it is seen in the literature that one of the most important advantages of distance education is that it can be carried out independently of the location (Akgun et al, 2010;Akojie et al, 2019;Amaro & Mason, 2019;Ardic, 2021), without transportation problems and loss of time in transportation (Izmirli et al, 2019), and in a more economically advantageous way (Amaro & Mason, 2019;Piskin Tunc & Akinci, 2020). It is known that this situation is one of the important reasons for the popularity of distance education in the pre-pandemic period.…”

“…It is known that this situation is one of the important reasons for the popularity of distance education in the pre-pandemic period. The social isolation, which was considered negative under normal circumstances (Akgun et al, 2010;Akojie et al, 2019;Amaro & Mason, 2019;Izmirli et al, 2019), is perceived as a positive experience by the participants due to health concerns in the current pandemic situation.…”

A Meta-study of an Ethnographic Research in a Multicultural and Multilingual Community: Negotiations, Resources, and Dilemmas

“…Our data analysis shows that doing ethnographic research in a multicultural and multilingual community is a complex task. It takes much more than negotiations for initial entry as suggested by the literature on qualitative research methodology (Akojie et al, 2019;Maxwell, 2013;Raza, 2018). Also, in doing ethnographic research in a multicultural and multilingual community, the researchers may face unexpected problems as they need to juggle different, possibly conflicting beliefs and values of multiple Discourses, and therefore requires support from a "village" or the multiple parties involved, for successful completion of data collection.…”