Academic Conferences as Learning Sites: A Multinational Comparison of Doctoral Students’ Perspectives and Institutional Policy

May combine two claims.

Networking at academic conferences provides opportunities for learning, collaboration, and support from/with colleagues and mentors.

“Networking at academic conferences provides opportunities for learning, collaboration, and support from/with colleagues and mentors (Carroll et al., 2010).”

• cites Carroll et al., 2010 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

At both the individual (doctoral students) and institutional level, there is an implicit understanding of the importance of networking, yet programs rarely formally require conference attendance.

“Our findings show that a) at both the individual (doctoral students) and institutional level, there is an implicit understanding of the importance of networking and yet programs rarely formally require conference attendance;”

May combine two claims.

Conferences support doctoral students' learning and confidence in future networking.

“c) conferences support doctoral students' learning and confidence in future networking.”

May combine two claims.

34% of doctoral students ranked feedback on their presentation style as highly important, and 42% denoted it as somewhat important.

“Also, in direct relation to their research, the findings show that doctoral students valued 'feedback on their presentation style', with over a third (34%) ranking this factor as highly important (an additional 42% denoted this as somewhat important).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Students could observe presentation styles, approaches towards networking, and various research methods they previously may not have been familiar with.

“For example, students could observe presentation styles, approaches towards networking, and various research methods they previously may not have been familiar with.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The School of Education in Institution 1 set aside about USD $655 for each student's participation in conferences for the entire duration of their doctorate.

“Unlike the other three institutions, the School of Education in Institution 1 set aside about USD$655 for each student's participation in conferences for the entire duration of their doctorate”

May combine two claims.

In institutions 1 and 3, first-year doctoral students cannot access funding for conference attendance.

“Ironically, the quotes from the students seem far removed from the policy at institutions 1 and 3, as earlier mentioned first year doctoral students cannot access funding for conference attendance.”

May combine two claims.

The majority of participants had attended a domestic conference (86%) or international conference (80%) within three years of their doctoral study.

“Unsurprisingly, the majority of the participants had attended a domestic (86%) (see Table 3) or international conference (80%) (see Table 4) within three years of their doctoral study.”

May combine two claims.

Most students attended conferences to network with academics, gain ideas for new areas of research, and seek new academic research collaborations.

“Our second research question investigated the motivations for doctoral students' participation in conferences and found that most students attended conferences to network with academics, gain ideas for new areas of research, and seek new academic research collaborations.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

There were opportunities to participate in special interest groups (SIGs) with an international perspective.

“Within this space, there were opportunities to participate in special interest groups (SIGs) with an international perspective.”

May combine two claims.

42% of doctoral students rated conference networking as highly important for employment opportunities, and 33% rated it as somewhat important.

“A high percentage of doctoral students also indicated that conference networking is significant for employment opportunities (42% rated this as highly important and 33% rated this as somewhat important).”

May combine two claims.

Some funding was available at institutions, but for all the students, these funds do not cover the high cost associated with conference attendance, especially international conferences.

“Interestingly, as already mentioned, some funding was available at institutions, but for all the students, these funds do not cover the high cost associated with conference attendance, especially international conferences.”

May combine two claims.

47% of participants said the opportunity to make new academic research collaborations was important, and 38% said it was somewhat important, as a rationale for attending conferences.

“Additionally, the third highest ranked item revealed participants' perceived opportunity to make new academic research collaborations as a rationale for attending conferences (47% of participants said it was important, while 38% said it was somewhat important).”

May combine two claims.

Some students did not feel they were supported by academics (i.e., supervisors) to attend conferences, while others felt supported.

“Yet while some students did not feel they were supported by academics (i.e., supervisors) to attend conferences, other felt supported.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

One student (Institution 4) noted that networking doesn't help you find a job after graduation without articles and being very good in your research area.

“Despite the general positive perception of the benefit of networking for career advancement, a student noted: Without articles networking doesn't work, I mean networking doesn't help you to find a job after graduation.You have to be good at, very good in your research area, and you have to publish articles.Networking is a kind of…facilitator but it is not the only reason that you get hired.(Doctor”

May combine two claims.

10% of survey participants ranked employment opportunities as not important, and a further 15% cited it as neither important nor unimportant.

“However, it was not clear why employment opportunities were ranked as not important by a tenth of the survey participants (with a further 15% citing that it was neither important nor unimportant).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Students found observation to be useful in the initial doctoral period as it helped them to develop their presentation skills by directly observing others' presentations at conferences.

“For example, students found observation to be useful in the initial doctoral period as it helped them to develop their presentation skills by directly observing others' presentations at conferences.”

May combine two claims.

In our study some participants mentioned receiving this kind of support, however, this support was reported unevenly across universities.

“In fact, in our study some of our participants mentioned receiving this kind of support, however, this support was reported unevenly across universities.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Students in Institution 3 could receive up to USD $750 in an academic year for conference participation.

“Also, students in Institution 3 could receive up to USD$750 in an academic year.”

May combine two claims.

Those who reported it being mandatory mentioned they had external financial support to participate in conferences, whereas many others did not have financial support amidst the strong normative expectation.

“Those who reported it being mandatory mentioned they had external financial support to participate in conferences, whereas many others did not have financial support amidst the strong normative expectation.”

May combine two claims.

The findings indicate three overarching themes in doctoral education across all four institutions in three global contexts: variations in conference attendance over the duration of the PhD, doctoral students' rationales for attending conferences, and how networking is embedded within the doctorate in an education program.

“Our findings indicate three overarching themes in doctoral education across all four institutions in three global contexts.These include a) variations in conference attendance over the duration of the PhD, b) doctoral students' rationales for attending conferences, and c) how networking is embedded within the doctorate in an education program.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

For others, the observation process enabled them to generate ideas.

“For others, the observation process enabled them to generate ideas.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Input from outside the field could be an important learning experience.

“However, as one interviewee pointed out, input from outside the field could be an important learning experience.”

May combine two claims.

Students' attendance at conferences was high also in the third year, for similar reasons related to second year attendance, and there was relatively less attendance at conferences in the fourth and fifth year.

“Students' attendance at conferences was high also in the third year, for similar reasons related to second year attendance.There was relatively less attendance at conferences in the fourth and fifth year.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In Institution 4, each student regardless of doctoral program and funder is entitled to a maximum of USD $524 for presenting in a conference and USD $196 for attending a conference in an academic year.

“At the time of conducting our research in 2018, in Institution 4, each student regardless of the doctoral program and funder(s) is entitled to a maximum of USD $524 for presenting in a conference and USD$196 for attending a conference in an academic year.”

May combine two claims.

30% of participants indicated that networking with doctoral students is highly important, and 42% rated it as somewhat important.

“Interestingly, 30% of the participants indicated that networking with doctoral students is highly important (and 42% rated this as somewhat important).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Funding was obtained from internal (within Schools of Education) and external sources.

“Funding was obtained from internal (within Schools of Education) and external sources.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

During the focus group interview at Institution 1, one student stated that his PhD is giving him the opportunity to identify peers he would like to work with in the future.

“In fact, during the focus group interview at Institution 1, one student stated that his PhD is giving him the opportunity to identify peers he would like to work with in the future.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In 2017, 57,689 respondents from 117 institutions took part in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES).

“In 2017, 57,689 respondents from 117 institutions took part in PRES.”

• cites Slight, 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

A conference is an example of a nontraditional site where doctoral students can interact, learn, and network with the wider global research community.

“It is our view, therefore, that a conference is an example of a nontraditional site (i.e., outside a formal classroom/ explicit curriculum) where doctoral students can interact, learn, and network with the wider global research community.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Empirical studies on the experiences of doctoral students and how they are supported to participate in conferences are under-researched.

“Yet very little is known or understood about doctoral students' participation and motivations for participating in conferences.”

• Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain

  “Empirical studies on the experiences of doctoral students and how they are supported to participate in conferences is under-researched.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

There is a need to address doctoral students' dissatisfaction with networking opportunities limited to their department.

“This suggests there is a need to address doctoral students' dissatisfaction with networking opportunities limited to their department.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Sociocultural theories posit learning at conferences as a social process.

“In addition, our study draws on insights from sociocultural theories, which posit learning at conferences as a social process (e.g., Wenger, 2000).”

• cites Wenger, 2000Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Doctoral students need support to develop their scholarly identity through access to both traditional and non-traditional sites of learning.

“Furthermore, scholars have argued that doctoral students need support to develop their scholarly identity through access to both traditional and non-traditional sites of learning (Barnacle & Mewburn, 2010).”

• cites Barnacle & Mewburn, 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Networking is a key aspect of the doctoral student experience.

“networking is considered (i) a key aspect of the doctoral student experience (McAlpine, 2012)”

• cites McAlpine, 2012Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

These opportunities enable students to take advantage of the benefits that are associated with participating in conferences.

“These opportunities enable students to take advantage of the benefits that is associated with participating in conferences.”

May combine two claims.

Conferences are important learning sites outside the structured doctoral program and provide an environment for students' learning and academic development.

“Our findings showed that conferences are important learning sites outside the structured doctoral program and provide an environment for students' learning and academic development.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Conference attendance, observation, presentations, feedback, and social engagement enable doctoral students to develop their academic skills and engagement with a range of audiences within and beyond their immediate study environment.

“Together, these experiences enable doctoral students to develop their academic skills and engagement with a range of audiences, within and beyond their immediate study environment.”

May combine two claims.

At the fourth and fifth year stage, many students seemed to want to focus on finishing their PhD, and a few students said they had run out of money to attend conferences.

“The findings suggest that at this stage many students seemed to want to focus on finishing their PhD.Additionally, a few students said they had 'run out of money' to attend conferences.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

This finding concurs with Hopwood's (2010) and Barnacle and Mewburn's (2010) findings about the importance of non-formal learning spaces.

“This finding concurs with Hopwood's (2010) and Barnacle and Mewburn's (2010) findings about the importance of non-formal learning spaces.”

• cites Hopwood's (2010) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Barnacle and Mewburn's (2010) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A total of 23 doctoral students were selected to participate in the four focus group interviews, one at each institution.

“A total of 23 doctoral students were selected to participate in the four focus group interviews, one at each institution.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Ethics approval was obtained from all four participating institutions.

“As a cross-national study, ethics approval was obtained from all four participating institutions.”

The quote only partly states this claim.

The main motivation for conference networking is directly linked to researcher development.

“However, it seemed apparent that their main motivation for conference networking is directly linked to their researcher development.”

The quote only partly states this claim.

Institutional policy at institutions 1 and 3, which prevents first-year doctoral students from accessing conference funding, could be in direct contrast to students' expectation of attending conferences at the early stage of their candidature.

“This suggests that institutional policy could be in direct contrast to students' expectation in terms of the timing of attending conferences at the early stage of their candidature.”

May combine two claims.

Conferences offered students the opportunity to learn through sharing their research, getting feedback from academics, and networking.

“Conferences offered students the opportunity to learn through sharing their research, getting feedback from academics, and networking.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The focus group participants represented a broad range of demographics in terms of gender, age, year of study, and student status and study status.

“The participants represented a broad range of demographics in terms of gender, age, year of study (less than one year to 3-4 years), and student status (domestic or international student) and study status (full-time or part-time) (see Table 1).”

May combine two claims.

Even though conference participation is not mandatory for many students in doctorate in education programs, there are norms indicating the importance of conferences within doctoral programs.

“These findings signify that even though conference participation is not mandatory for many students in doctorate in education programs, there are norms, indicating the importance of conferences within doctoral programs.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

There were 214 responses with 187 completed surveys from the four institutions.

“Altogether, there were 214 responses with 187 completed surveys from the four institutions (please note, total number of participants varied between institutions).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

The survey questionnaire went through two rounds of piloting to ensure consistent interpretation and alignment with research questions.

“The survey questionnaire went through two rounds of piloting.”

• Also stated in: § METHODOLOGY · plain

  “Second, initial survey piloting (n=14) at all four institutions ensured that survey items aligned with our research questions and allowed for useful variation of results to analyze findings.”

May combine two claims.

Doctoral students seem to have clear perceptions of the value of attending conferences at different stages of their study, and this impacted their conference attendance.

“The findings suggest that doctoral students seem to have clear perceptions of the value of attending conferences at different stages of their study, and this impacted their conference attendance.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Our findings may not be generalizable across other student cohorts (e.g., Bachelors, Masters, or disciplinary differences, for example, science) or in other world regions.

“As such, our findings may not be generalizable across other student cohorts (e.g., Bachelors, Masters, or disciplinary differences, for example, science) or in other world regions.”