Fitting in or burning out? : Doctoral students' motivations, resources and the demands of academic work

Abstract

<p>This chapter explores why doctoral students pursue their studies, how these motivations are linked to their organisational and personal resources and the expected duration of their studies. The study utilised a large sample of doctoral students (n = 1,694) from Finnish universities, and the statistical results revealed three distinct motivation profiles: dedicated scholars, academic labourers and status seekers. Dedicated scholars were motivated by intrinsic factors and performed well in academic settings. On the other hand, academic labourers were driven by external motivations and were concerned about their doctoral studies’ progress and academic careers. Finally, status seekers were motivated to attain higher social status but faced dissatisfaction with funding, supervision and prospects, which could lead to burnout. The study showed significant differences in motivations and resources among these groups, which could impact their overall well-being, study progress, career prospects and integration into the academic world. Additionally, the study found that status seekers and dedicated scholars had shorter estimated durations for their doctoral studies than academic labourers. The study’s conclusions suggest that it is crucial to consider study motivations during the recruitment process and provide applicants with a realistic overview of the challenges associated with the dissertation process and university work.<br></p>