Despite much research into doctoral education over the past two decades, theorising the field remains challenging. Recently, identity has been taken up as a conceptualising frame. Views of identity vary but often privilege the reproductive features of society, downplaying how individuals can be intentional in pursuing their desires--with the…

This paper examines the perceptions and attitudes of mature students in relation to a ground-breaking one-year "top-up" degree in business and enterprise, exploring how those perceptions and attitudes evolve during the students' studies. It concludes with a discussion of how entrepreneurship educators can best support the development of…

The relationship between selected aspects of personal development and a study abroad experience was investigated. The longitudinal data were collected before studying abroad, after returning from abroad, and 1 year later. The Omnibus Personality Inventory (Form F) was administered to a group of students preparing to study abroad during 1980-1981…

Students studied over a 4-year period showed that growth on ego identity occurred not as freshmen but primarily during the upperclass years. (Author)

Personality characteristics of dental students as freshmen and seniors were studied, and no significant change was found. The results imply that dental school had minimal effect on students' personal needs, values, and attitudes, making faculty knowledge of these traits essential before admission. (MSE)

This paper reports on research that examined longitudinal data on students entering Tennessee Board of Regents institutions of higher education after the implementation of a state-mandated developmental studies program. The program identifies and helps at-risk students to persist in college to graduation. Data analysis is presented from a 1986…

Many graduate students lack the capacity for self-authorship, the ability to develop one's own perspective. Data from a longitudinal study of sixteen students, begun in their first year of college, illustrates the difficulty of moving from embracing multiple perspectives to constructing self-authored perspectives. The stories of three graduate…

Students at a midsized public university in the southeast completed the Student Development Task and Lifestyle Inventory at the beginning of their first year, beginning of their sophomore year, and end of their senior year. More involved students reported greater development in moving through autonomy toward interdependence and establishing and…

The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88), a longitudinal study sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics, provides trend data about transitions experienced as young people develop, attend school, and embark on careers. The study began with a national sample of about 26,000 eighth graders in 1988 and follows these…

Many studies in higher education have focused on the development of late adolescent and adult personality change on the assumption that such change was brought about by the college experience. The focus of this study is on the value changes that occur during college years and the changes that endure beyond college. Group and individual values…

Interest in the developmental impact of college has intensified in recent years. However, researchers usually overlook one key to understanding this impact: longitudinal studies. For this investigation, data was gathered from four class cohorts, over a 17-year period, at the United States Military Academy (USMA). The results indicate that cadets…

A review is provided of past and present literature on the reactions of students to transfer from primary to secondary school giving rise to a number of hypotheses about the potential difficulties associated with this process. A study is described in which attitudes towards transfer of 207 Year 6 students attending five primary schools in the…

Student development along three cognitive and three psychosocial dimensions was studied at the University of Iowa. Six instruments were administered to students during their freshman and senior years. Attention was directed to moral development, ego development, and conceptual level, as well as freeing interpersonal relationships, establishing…

Results of a longitudinal study of student experience at over 200 4-year colleges are summarized. The study focused on student outcomes and how they are affected by college environments. Key findings are discussed for three areas: academic development, personal development, and satisfaction. (MSE)

Initial findings and case studies of a 30-year follow-up of gifted students and adults suggest that characteristics such as love of one's work, persistence, purpose in life, love of challenge, high energy level, and a sense of mission may be more important in the long run than creative ability, intelligence, and high school achievement. (DB)