Mapping the emotional journey of the doctoral ‘hero’ : Challenges faced and breakthroughs made by creative arts and humanities candidates

Journal article


Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth, Owens, Alison Rhona and Brien, Donna. (2020). Mapping the emotional journey of the doctoral ‘hero’ : Challenges faced and breakthroughs made by creative arts and humanities candidates. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education: an international journal of theory, research and practice. 19(4), pp. 354-376. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022219844986
AuthorsBatty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth, Owens, Alison Rhona and Brien, Donna
Abstract

This article discusses how doctoral candidates identify and navigate personal learning challenges on their journey to becoming researchers. Our study asked creative arts and humanities candidates to think beyond the research project itself and reflect on emotional hurdles they were facing or had overcome. The findings point to a great deal of ‘invisible’ work that underpins doctoral study, and show that such hidden work can have a major influence not only on the research project, but also on progress and satisfaction with the learning journey. In this article, we outline the key themes that emerged from the study: on the emotional and transformational dimensions of the doctoral journey. Using these themes and the candidate stories surrounding them, we align the doctoral journey with Joseph Campbell’s journeying ‘hero’ and Mezirow’s concept of transformation, and suggest how making such invisible aspects of candidature more visible might enhance research training.

Keywordsdoctorate; doctoral journey; human dimension; research training; invisible work; transformation
Year2020
JournalArts and Humanities in Higher Education: an international journal of theory, research and practice
Journal citation19 (4), pp. 354-376
PublisherSage Publications Ltd.
ISSN1474-0222
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022219844986
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85065413082
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range354-376
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online01 Oct 2020
Publication process dates
Accepted02 May 2019
Deposited06 Jan 2022
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8x40x/mapping-the-emotional-journey-of-the-doctoral-hero-challenges-faced-and-breakthroughs-made-by-creative-arts-and-humanities-candidates

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 97
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

The precarious academic : professional development and academic identity in the neoliberal university
Daddow, Angela, Owens, Alison Rhona, Clarkson, Georgia Lynne and Fredericks, Vanessa. (2023). The precarious academic : professional development and academic identity in the neoliberal university. International Journal for Academic Development. 29(3), pp. 308-321. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2023.2246443
Four Restless Narratives : Convener Reflections on Social Learning Communities at an Australian University
Owens, Alison Rhona, Sridharan, Bhavani, Burston, Adam Scott and Hurley, Laurine Faye. (2023). Four Restless Narratives : Convener Reflections on Social Learning Communities at an Australian University. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching. 34(4), pp. 29-46.
Restructures, redundancies and workforce downsizing : Implications for Australian higher education sector post COVID-19
Owens, Alison, Loomes, Susan, Kearns, Margot and Mahoney, Peter. (2022). Restructures, redundancies and workforce downsizing : Implications for Australian higher education sector post COVID-19. Australian Universities' Review. 64(2), pp. 7-14.
Australian women writers’ popular non-fiction prose in the pre-war period : Exploring their motivations
Owens, Alison and Brien, Donna Lee. (2022). Australian women writers’ popular non-fiction prose in the pre-war period : Exploring their motivations. Australasian Journal of Popular Culture. 11(1-2), pp. 63-80. https://doi.org/10.1386/ajpc_00051_1
What is the price of excellence in learning and teaching? Exploring the costs and benefits for diverse academic staff studying online for a GCHE supporting the SoTL
Owens, Alison, Daddow, Angela, Clarkson, Georgia and Nulty, Duncan. (2021). What is the price of excellence in learning and teaching? Exploring the costs and benefits for diverse academic staff studying online for a GCHE supporting the SoTL. Teaching and Learning Inquiry: the ISSOTL Journal. 9(1), pp. 161-179. https://doi.org/10.20343/TEACHLEARNINQU.9.1.12
Part I : Orienting towards the doctoral journey : Introduction to part
Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison. (2020). Part I : Orienting towards the doctoral journey : Introduction to part. In In Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison (Ed.). The doctoral experience : Student stories from the creative arts and humanities pp. 11-14 Palgrave Macmillan.
Part III : Taking ownership of the doctoral experience : Introduction to part
Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison. (2020). Part III : Taking ownership of the doctoral experience : Introduction to part. In In Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison (Ed.). The doctoral experience : Student stories from the creative arts and humanities pp. 103-106 Palgrave Macmillan.
Part V : Completing the doctoral journey : Introduction to part
Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison. (2020). Part V : Completing the doctoral journey : Introduction to part. In In Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison (Ed.). The doctoral experience : Student stories from the creative arts and humanities pp. 183-186 Palgrave Macmillan.
Student reflections on doctoral learning : Challenges and breakthroughs
Owens, Alison, Brien, Donna Lee, Ellison, Elizabeth and Batty, Craig. (2020). Student reflections on doctoral learning : Challenges and breakthroughs. Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education. 11(1), pp. 107-122. https://doi.org/10.1108/SGPE-04-2019-0048
Investigating candidates’ research experience beyond the thesis : The peripheral world of the doctorate
Brien, Donna Lee, Owens, Alison, Batty, Craig and Ellison, Elizabeth. (2019). Investigating candidates’ research experience beyond the thesis : The peripheral world of the doctorate. TEXT. 23(57), pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.52086/001C.23703
Conclusion to volume
Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison. (2019). Conclusion to volume. In In Brien, Donna Lee, Batty, Craig, Ellison, Elizabeth and Owens, Alison (Ed.). The doctoral experience : Student stories from the creative arts and humanities pp. 223-230 Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18199-4_19
Exegetical essentials : A framing structure and template for a comprehensive exegesis in the creative arts
Brien, Donna Lee, Owens, Alison, Pittaway, Gail and Waters, Irene. (2017). Exegetical essentials : A framing structure and template for a comprehensive exegesis in the creative arts. TEXT. 21(2), pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.52086/001c.25867
Exploring the benefits of contact centre offshoring: A study of trends and practices for the Australian business sector
Owens, Alison R.. (2014). Exploring the benefits of contact centre offshoring: A study of trends and practices for the Australian business sector. International Journal of Human Resource Management. 25(4), pp. 571 - 587. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.807861
Customer relationship management: A case study from a metropolitan campus of a regional university
Pember, Edward R., Owens, Alison and Yaghi, Shazhi. (2014). Customer relationship management: A case study from a metropolitan campus of a regional university. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. 36(2), pp. 117 - 128. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2013.861056
Writing themselves: Using creative writing to facilitate international student accounts of their intercultural experience
Owens, Alison R. and Brien, Donna L.. (2014). Writing themselves: Using creative writing to facilitate international student accounts of their intercultural experience. New Writing. 11(3), pp. 359 - 374. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790726.2014.932815