The views of faculty members and phd students on the processes of doctoral education in turkey

The aim of this study is to evaluate the process of doctoral education from the viewpoints of faculty members and doctoral students. ‘Case study’ method was employed for a detailed understanding of the participants’ views on the current postgraduate education processes. The participants of the study were composed of doctoral students and faculty members offering doctoral courses and supervising dissertations. Criterion sampling, which is a type of ‘purposeful sampling,’ was used as the sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured interview protocols prepared by the researchers. In the processes of data collection, one- on- one interviews were made with the faculty members whereas focus group interviews were conducted with doctoral students. The findings of the study and the suggestions made for future were presented from the viewpoints of the faculty members and doctoral students. They included the aim of doctoral education, knowledge, skills and competencies aimed for doctoral students , qualifications of doctoral students who will begin doctoral education, qualifications of academic advisors, the relationship between faculty members and doctoral student, doctoral education processes, assesment and evaluation processes, technological equipment and infrastructure services, departmental culture, and the problems during the doctoral education process