Arguments for starting a PhD (Qualitative Analysis)

Notes on section 5.3 of the paper "Why do women pursue a PhD in Computer Science?"

Arguments for starting a PhD (Qualitative Analysis)

We identified the following themes in the answers to the question:

• Q55. Do you have any insights on what encourages students to start a PhD in computer science?

Distribution of answers over themes identified in a qualitative analysis of the insights on encouraging factors for starting a PhD.

Table 8 summarises these themes, a short explanation for each of them, an illustrating example, and the frequency that theme was identified in the participants' responses.

Identified themes with explanation and sample comments

Selected quotes:

P320. "Being part of real research projects in their courses and projects play a big role I think."

P682. ". . .A research project during bachelor or master studies could show students what it looks like and feels like to be a researcher."

P835. ". . .Educate them about what research and PhD are and that might help them to consider enrolling. This can be by including them in research projects, papers, pro- viding research methodology as a course for them."