Product or Process? A pilot study into the perceptions of research training by PhD students in GEES subjects at three universities

Figures & data

Table 1 Summary Group Data

University	Group Size	No. of responses generated to…
		Q1	Q2	Q3
1	12	19	13	7
2	4	14	8	21
3	8	17	13	11
Totals	24	50	34	39

Table 2 Categories assigned for Question 1 (What do you consider to be the main reasons for embarking on your research degree?) with examples of student responses assigned to those categories

Data-Derived Category	Example student response assigned to this category
1. Professional and Personal (skills focussed)	“to develop specialist skills in research methods”
2. Personal and Professional (knowledge-focussed)	“expand knowledge base in general”
3. Personal (e.g. satisfaction, motivation)	“self-affirmation”
4. Employability (e.g. career / earning potential)	“forwarding your career”
5. Other (e.g. lifestyle, philanthropy, social)	“continuing student lifestyle and making friends”

Table 3 Categories assigned for Question 2, (In what ways, if any, has your research degree experience been helped by personal and professional development opportunities by your university?) with examples of student responses assigned to those categories

Data-Derived Category	Example student response assigned to this category
Confidence / Motivation	“more confidence”
Networking / Peer support & learning	“comradeship”
Other specific skills	“better presentation skills”

Table 4 Categories assigned for Question 3, (How might future personal and professional development opportunities at your university assist you in completing your research degree and prepare for the world of work?) with examples of student responses assigned to those categories

Data-Derived Category	Example student response assigned to this category
General career management	“more general career development opportunities”
Specific career management	“more info on what specific options are available to PhDs”
Other specific skills	“ability to self-evaluate skills more effectively”

Figure 1 Votes for each category across all 3 universities expressed as a percentage of the weighted total available number of votes (%WTAV) for Question 1 (What do you consider to be the main reasons for embarking on your research degree?)

Figure 2 Votes for each category across all 3 universities expressed as a percentage of the weighted total available number of votes (%WTAV) for Question 2 (In what ways, if any, has your research degree experience been helped by personal and professional development opportunities provided by your university?)

Figure 3 Votes for each category across all 3 universities expressed as a percentage of the weighted total available number of votes (%WTAV) for Question 3 (How might future personal and professional development opportunities at your university assist you in completing your research degree and in preparing you for the world of work?)