What is it about?
The doctoral student experience is a personal one that functions in a rather public setting. This chapter introduces readers to an edited volume of narratives written by doctoral students in varied educational contexts. Drawing inspiration from self-determination theory, the chapter emphasizes students' experiences of competence, relatedness, and autonomy as they make their way through the rigors of doctoral study.
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Why is it important?
Pursuing a doctoral degree requires not only technical and research skills but also satisfaction of basic psychological needs including competence, autonomy, and relatedness as described in this volume's narratives. This volume is a resource for faculty supervisors, program administrators, and prospective and current doctoral students.
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This page is a summary of: Introduction: Owning Our Journeys, September 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004744431_001.
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