Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations
Investigating a “problem of practice” is a signature feature of the EdD dissertation. Yet, little is known about how doctoral students derive their problems, the nature of the problems they study, and the impact studying problems of practice has on students’ local contexts. The purpose of this study...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Impacting Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://impactinged.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/ImpactingEd/article/view/50 |
| _version_ | 1828369197444366336 |
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| author | Vera Wei Ma Nancy Fichtman Dana Alyson Adams Brianna L. Kennedy |
| author_facet | Vera Wei Ma Nancy Fichtman Dana Alyson Adams Brianna L. Kennedy |
| author_sort | Vera Wei Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Investigating a “problem of practice” is a signature feature of the EdD dissertation. Yet, little is known about how doctoral students derive their problems, the nature of the problems they study, and the impact studying problems of practice has on students’ local contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate EdD students’ problems of practice through document analysis of 28 dissertations completed in one EdD program at a large, research-intensive university. Findings revealed that problems are derived from doctoral students’ felt difficulties and real-world dilemmas in three main categories: supporting marginalized students, increasing the quality of educator professional development, and supporting novices’ entry into the profession. Furthermore, five generic themes that describe the types of impact dissertation studies had on students’ local contexts are reported. Based on findings, four guidelines to assist EdD students in deriving problems of practice are offered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:20:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b09f1e8044949398f6eaa6557a8b035 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2472-5889 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:20:27Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Impacting Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b09f1e8044949398f6eaa6557a8b0352022-12-22T02:08:03ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghImpacting Education2472-58892018-03-013110.5195/ie.2018.5021Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD DissertationsVera Wei Ma0Nancy Fichtman Dana1Alyson Adams2Brianna L. Kennedy3University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaUniversity of FloridaUtrecht UniversityInvestigating a “problem of practice” is a signature feature of the EdD dissertation. Yet, little is known about how doctoral students derive their problems, the nature of the problems they study, and the impact studying problems of practice has on students’ local contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate EdD students’ problems of practice through document analysis of 28 dissertations completed in one EdD program at a large, research-intensive university. Findings revealed that problems are derived from doctoral students’ felt difficulties and real-world dilemmas in three main categories: supporting marginalized students, increasing the quality of educator professional development, and supporting novices’ entry into the profession. Furthermore, five generic themes that describe the types of impact dissertation studies had on students’ local contexts are reported. Based on findings, four guidelines to assist EdD students in deriving problems of practice are offered.http://impactinged.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/ImpactingEd/article/view/50professional practice doctoratedissertation experienceproblem of practicedoctoral education |
| spellingShingle | Vera Wei Ma Nancy Fichtman Dana Alyson Adams Brianna L. Kennedy Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations Impacting Education professional practice doctorate dissertation experience problem of practice doctoral education |
| title | Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations |
| title_full | Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations |
| title_short | Understanding the Problem of Practice: An Analysis of Professional Practice EdD Dissertations |
| title_sort | understanding the problem of practice an analysis of professional practice edd dissertations |
| topic | professional practice doctorate dissertation experience problem of practice doctoral education |
| url | http://impactinged.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/ImpactingEd/article/view/50 |
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