Obstacles to success – doctoral student attrition in South Africa
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Date
2011
Authors
Herman, Chaya
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Education, University of the Free State
Abstract
The article explores doctoral attrition in South Africa, investigating and comparing the attributions of attrition of doctoral students and PhD programme leaders. The article is based on secondary data analysis of two large studies on doctoral education in South Africa. The main point of the article is that the different understandings of the students and the PhD programme leaders, as well as the gaps in the narratives of both groups, are an indication of a lack of in-depth understanding of the actual causes of doctoral attrition. Using attribution theory, the article suggests that this lack of understanding may contribute to further attrition and calls for further research on the topic.
Description
Keywords
Doctoral student attrition, Attribution theory, Doctoral education in South Africa
Citation
Herman, C. (2011). Obstacles to success–doctoral student attrition in South Africa. Perspectives in Education, 29(3), 40-52.