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Doctoral students’ satisfaction in a research-focused Korean university: socio-environmental and motivational factors

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Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between students’ satisfaction with their doctoral program and motivational and socio-environmental factors. In this study, doctoral students’ satisfaction with their program is measured by their learning experiences such as quality of theoretical knowledge, research methodology, and competency. The survey data for this study were collected at a comprehensive and research-focused university in South Korea. Findings indicate that socialization and motivational factors are associated with doctoral students’ satisfaction with their program. Additionally, this study suggests that academic advisors should pay more attention to the changing job markets for PhD students because students’ satisfaction with their doctoral program is strongly related to their future job prospects.

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Acknowledgement

This study is supported from National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2014028698).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, Seoul National University, Kwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea

    Jung Cheol Shin, Seung Jung Kim & Heejin Lim

  2. Department of Education Leadership Management and Policy, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA

    Eunyoung Kim

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  1. Jung Cheol Shin
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Correspondence to Seung Jung Kim.

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Shin, J.C., Kim, S.J., Kim, E. et al. Doctoral students’ satisfaction in a research-focused Korean university: socio-environmental and motivational factors. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 19, 159–168 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-018-9528-7

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