Doctoral Support Networks : characteristics and associations with research conditions and identity development

Abstract

Doctoral candidates rely on diverse individuals to cope with the challenges of their doctoral trajectory. In this article we define Doctoral Support Networks (DSNs) as the group of individuals with whom the doctoral candidate intentionally collaborates in order to deal with the problems and difficulties of the doctorate. We aim to explore the characteristics of this type of networks and their relationships with doctoral program conditions and researcher identity development. Results from a cluster analysis identified two groups of doctoral candidates based on the characteristics of their network: those with Distributed and Active DSNs (56.8%) and those with Reduced and Passive DSNs (43.2%). The first group reported more frequent interactions with a wider range of individuals from both academic and extra-academic contexts, higher levels of emotional support and direct advice to cope with doctoral challenges and difficulties, and a higher level of identification with the researcher position.

Los estudiantes de doctorado colaboran con múltiples personas para afrontar los retos de la trayectoria. En este artículo definimos las Redes de Apoyo Doctoral (RAD) como el grupo de individuos que colabora con el doctorando para superar los problemas y dificultades del doctorado. Nuestro objetivo es explorar las características de este tipo de redes y sus relaciones con las condiciones del programa de doctorado y el desarrollo de la identidad como investigador. Los resultados de nuestro estudio identifican dos tipos de RAD ("distribuidas y activas" versus "reducidas y pasivas") que manifiestan relaciones significativas con las demás variables de análisis.