Grit and Spirituality’s Influence on Doctoral Success – To “Mixed” or not: Qualitative Approaches, Quantitative Researchers

Location

1049

Format Type

Event

Format Type

Paper

Start Date

January 2019

End Date

January 2019

Abstract

In an era of global, economic instability, accountability for doctoral student success remains an institutional concern. Institutional-level factors for doctoral student success are well-documented in the literature; individual-level factors are investigated to a lesser degree. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the positive psychology trait of “grit” and a spiritual orientation, and how these two orientations contribute to successful completion of a doctoral program. The positive psychology trait of grit—persistence to persevere despite failure—and a spiritual orientation not necessarily tied to religion are the study foci. Specifically, the study findings of non-traditional doctoral graduates who completed a distance learning or hybrid program will be presented. The qualitative aspect of the study seeks to explore the grit-spirituality relationship and shed light on the directionality of this relationship. Study authors will tell the “To Mixed or not to Mixed” tale of their dilemma, as quantitative researchers, of the best methodological approach and best approach to data analysis. Researcher quandaries regarding study methods (mixed-methods vs. quantitative study supplemented with qualitative questions), qualitative data analysis tool (manual vs. software) will be discussed. Finally, the way the qualitative perspective enhanced the quantitative findings will be presented.

Keywords

Doctoral success, Grit, Sprituality, Distance Learning

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Grit and Spirituality’s Influence on Doctoral Success – To “Mixed” or not: Qualitative Approaches, Quantitative Researchers

1049

In an era of global, economic instability, accountability for doctoral student success remains an institutional concern. Institutional-level factors for doctoral student success are well-documented in the literature; individual-level factors are investigated to a lesser degree. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the positive psychology trait of “grit” and a spiritual orientation, and how these two orientations contribute to successful completion of a doctoral program. The positive psychology trait of grit—persistence to persevere despite failure—and a spiritual orientation not necessarily tied to religion are the study foci. Specifically, the study findings of non-traditional doctoral graduates who completed a distance learning or hybrid program will be presented. The qualitative aspect of the study seeks to explore the grit-spirituality relationship and shed light on the directionality of this relationship. Study authors will tell the “To Mixed or not to Mixed” tale of their dilemma, as quantitative researchers, of the best methodological approach and best approach to data analysis. Researcher quandaries regarding study methods (mixed-methods vs. quantitative study supplemented with qualitative questions), qualitative data analysis tool (manual vs. software) will be discussed. Finally, the way the qualitative perspective enhanced the quantitative findings will be presented.