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Open research questions in Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions

534 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 4,730 Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Cultural, linguistic, and institutional barriers faced by international PhD students. The need for tailored mentorship programs that address the unique challenges faced by international PhD students. The challenge of fostering research autonomy and critical thinking among PhD students.

    Beyond Supervision: Mentorship and Mentoring Dynamics in Fostering Resilience and Success Among International PhD Students in Hong Kong · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap in understanding the experiences of international doctoral candidates in non-Western study destinations. The lack of research on mentorship dynamics in non-Western contexts, specifically in Hong Kong. The need for tailored mentorship programs that address the unique challenges faced by international PhD students.

    Beyond Supervision: Mentorship and Mentoring Dynamics in Fostering Resilience and Success Among International PhD Students in Hong Kong · 2026 · DOI

  • the study used a convergent mixed-methods design which may have limitations in terms of generalizability, - the sample was limited to 156 participants, - the study relied on self-reported data from graduates

    Doctoral Preparation in Mathematics Education: Graduates’ Perspectives on Program Features, Expertise Development, and Scholarly Learning Cultures · 2026 · DOI

  • further research could explore the impact of different doctoral program features on graduates' perceptions of expertise development, - studies could investigate the role of supervisory relationships in shaping doctoral learning, - research could examine the effectiveness of different scholarly learning cultures in promoting graduates' development as mathematics education researchers

    Doctoral Preparation in Mathematics Education: Graduates’ Perspectives on Program Features, Expertise Development, and Scholarly Learning Cultures · 2026 · DOI

  • The challenge of providing responsive scaffolding while preserving student agency and intellectual ownership. The need to address the ethical use of AI in doctoral education. The challenge of reducing feelings of isolation and student attrition in doctoral programs.

    The Promise and Paradox of AI in Doctoral Education · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of a structured approach to understanding how AI tools can support doctoral students. The need for a new paradigm that redefines student independence as supported autonomy. The limited use of AI in doctoral education to provide responsive scaffolding and preserve student agency.

    The Promise and Paradox of AI in Doctoral Education · 2026 · DOI

  • Structural and organizational barriers were encountered by participants. Participants expressed a desire for greater influence over supervisor selection, improved communication about programme structure, and more current content on master's degree topics. The need for a consistent academic contact person and stronger peer connections to increase a sense of belonging was emphasized.

    Exploring the educational journey: a qualitative study of student completion in a part-time master's degree programme · 2026 · DOI

  • Little is known about how programmatic structure impacts dissertation progress for non-clinical online psychology doctoral students in the US. There is a need for research studying completely online students and exploring learning outcomes such as time to completion for online doctoral students.

    Sequentially Structured Dissertation Model: Implications for Timely Student Completion among Online Psychology Doctoral Students · 2025 · DOI

  • This commentary is intended to share some knowledge about the limited research on doctoral programs that has been reported and to prompt a discussion of the nature and content of doctoral preparation in institutions in the United States.

    Doctoral Preparation in Mathematics Education: What Is Known? What Is Unknown? What Research Is Needed? · 2026 · DOI

  • During the past decade, more than 100 institutions have awarded doctorates in mathematics education, yet very little is known about the nature of the preparation these graduates received.

    Doctoral Preparation in Mathematics Education: What Is Known? What Is Unknown? What Research Is Needed? · 2026 · DOI

  • Although undergraduate thesis finalisation tends to improve when combining individual and group supervision activities, the theoretical justifications for forming such combinations and the evaluation of their sub-components’ comparative impact on students’ progression is lacking.

    Thesis Finalisation Self-efficacy – A Useful Concept for Improving Undergraduate Thesis Supervision · 2026 · DOI

  • However, limited research has been conducted on the relationship between research experiences and student outcomes in non-Western contexts.

    The student research experience questionnaire in Japan: validation and structural relations among experience dimensions, skill development and satisfaction · 2026 · DOI

  • This notwithstanding, virtually none of the limited research on relational work in PhD vivas in English for academic/specific purposes (EAP/ESP) has investigated how examiners negotiate such critical moments successfully to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships with candidates’ supervisors.

    Negotiating relational goals in PhD vivas: A multimodal, interpersonal-pragmatic analysis of how examiners manage supervisors’ face · 2026 · DOI

  • While reforms increasingly emphasize student needs, research that amplifies student voices in these settings remains scarce.

    Navigating supervisory and structural challenges in phD education: a qualitative study of Iranian phD candidates’ perspectives · 2025 · DOI

  • Although global interest in PhD students' experiences is growing, few studies have examined these issues through a multi-level theoretical lens in non-Western contexts.

    Navigating supervisory and structural challenges in phD education: a qualitative study of Iranian phD candidates’ perspectives · 2025 · DOI

  • In the African context, the experiences of postgraduate research supervision are not clearly understood from the experiences of all stakeholders.

    Mapping evidence of postgraduate research supervision experiences at higher education institutions in Africa: A scoping review protocol · 2025 · DOI

  • Descriptive statistics were used to analyse closed question responses, while combined framework and thematic analysis was applied to open question responses.

    Understanding the value of a doctorate for allied health professionals in practice in the UK: a survey · 2024 · DOI

  • METHODS: With a broadly interpretivist design, a qualitatively oriented cross-sectional survey, with closed and open questions, was developed to enable frequency reporting while focusing on the significance and meaning participants attributed to the topic.

    Understanding the value of a doctorate for allied health professionals in practice in the UK: a survey · 2024 · DOI

  • Skill mismatch and overeducation in Taiwan's labor market. The need for multifaceted policy responses to address brain drain and improve human capital utilization. The challenge of providing practical work experience and overseas employment exposure to doctoral degree holders.

    Employment Alignment and Salary Satisfaction among Doctoral-Level High-Skilled Talent in Taiwan · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap between high education-employment alignment and low salary satisfaction among doctoral degree holders in Taiwan. The need for a better understanding of the determinants of salary satisfaction and overseas employment intentions among doctoral degree holders.

    Employment Alignment and Salary Satisfaction among Doctoral-Level High-Skilled Talent in Taiwan · 2026 · DOI

  • Examining the ways graduate students engage in breakthrough science with non-student team members. Investigating the impact of network weaving on graduate students' contributions to scientific discovery teams.

    Untapped potential: graduate students as catalysts in scientific discovery · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of research on graduate students' contributions to collaborative scientific discovery. The need for intentional integration into knowledge networks.

    Untapped potential: graduate students as catalysts in scientific discovery · 2026 · DOI

  • The study only surveyed early-career researchers in Chile. The sample size was limited to 267 respondents.

    Early-career researchers in Chile: findings from a national survey on conditions, challenges, and institutional perceptions · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research could explore the experiences of early-career researchers in other countries. Studies could investigate the impact of different funding models on the careers of early-career researchers.

    Early-career researchers in Chile: findings from a national survey on conditions, challenges, and institutional perceptions · 2026 · DOI

  • High attrition and delayed completion rates in doctoral programs. The need to address existing doctoral supervision pain points. AI over-reliance and the potential for the illusion of learning.

    A design science blueprint for an orchestrated AI assistant in doctoral supervision · 2026 · DOI

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534 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 4,730 Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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