RES-866-RS-M2-Transcript1.docx

College of Doctoral Studies

RES-866 Qualitative Analysis Assignment: Transcript 1

1-S.m4a (1-M)

[00:00:01] OK we are recording now.

Researcher: [00:00:04] So First, the purpose of my study is to investigate what factors of resilience online doctoral graduates perceive influenced their successful opt for a completion. Your information will be valuable to my study is that will help to create a profile of online for all students and how those resilience factors can contribute to their success. You will be provided with a case study summary including an individual resilience profile once I’m finished. This interview will last about 30 to 60 minutes.

Researcher: [00:00:36] And I will ask each question I’ll provide you with the opportunity to answer it in full. And then I’ll ask any follow up questions.

Researcher: [00:00:47] The interview is of course digitally recorded. The only thing I ask is that you speak as clear as you can and in a normal pace no faster or slower than what’s comfortable for you. And then of course I will let you finish what you’re saying before I respond or ask any other questions. Make sure there’s not a lot of overlap. And then just in terms of confidentiality your confidentiality will of course be maintained if and when any information from the interviews published in the final study. And if you’re quoted an alias will be assigned for anonymity and then all transcripts recordings of the interview will be housed and my private password protected computer which is accessible only to myself. And then of course you may end the interview at any time without any consequences any question so far. No.

Researcher: [00:01:30] OK great. We’ll Go ahead and get started.

Researcher: [00:01:32] So the first set of questions involve social support that you experience throughout your program. So, any of all what types of social or did you receive throughout your program.

1-S: [00:01:45] Well you know

1-S: I had my family were supportive and you know cheering me on so to speak and rooting for me. I don’t know that really there was a lot of social support just because I think a lot of the people that you come in contact with everyday your family they’re used to the dynamics that are there.

1-S: And so not really understanding you know my parents knew I was doing a program, but I don’t know that they really understood what that entails.

1-S: But they were very you know verbally supportive.

Researcher: [00:02:21] Absolutely, that’s common nobody really understands what you’re going through. What about your faculty or your peers? Did you receive any social or moral support from those individuals?

1-S: [00:02:36] Oh yeah they were very supportive. And again, you know they’ve all a lot of them had already been through their doc programs so they would you know where are you, and your doc program what are you in now what are you doing kind of ask them questions show some interest. A lot of support

1-S And if I needed a resource they were very good for that. Nobody had time really to just buddy up and like you know let’s trade papers lets edit for each other let’s do this. I didn’t really find that kind of deep support.

1-S But it’s you know really felt supported as far as they were cheering for you and oh yeah I remember doing my doc and you know grin and bear it. And I heard a lot of times like it’s just a test of wills like you just have to get through it.

1-S It’s part of it just grit your teeth keep going, you’ll make it.

Researcher: [00:03:32] Yeah absolutely. Was there any specific person that you would go to the most if you were struggling.

1-S: [00:03:42] I didn’t I didn’t really feel like I was struggling per se. I do have one faculty member who teaches in our grad department and she was she actually did her study on PDS which is professional development schools and I did that.

1-S: So I would go to her often if I was like hey I’m looking for a resource. Do you know anybody who’s researched that? And she was really good to offer names or you know some information there.

1-S So maybe that and then you know just I think when it got really hard I think probably my significant other. He was really supportive in that you know be like I have another paper doing this and it was just you can do it. So probably whining to him the most and asked the most questions.

Researcher: [00:04:35] OK. And then when you were writing your dissertation. What types of support did you seek from your committee members other than just the basic academics work?

1-S: [00:04:47] Well my chair he was great to answer just the logistic questions. And I mean I think that’s basically academic support. I did have to you know use him to clarify. Then he passed away. He fell. And so, then I had a new person and they were like No, no, no, you’re OK you’re fine you’re you know I had hired an editor as well for my final dissertation, so she was involved so I had a really weird dissertation piece up until the defense it was very normal.

1-S: [00:06:33] All I needed was a few academic support questions, but it took all hands-on deck I think tons of e-mails and things from that point.

Researcher: [00:06:47] Absolutely. How do you feel about that situation affected just your overall motivation at that time or you know your desire to keep going?

1-S: [00:06:57] Well at first I was devastated and I cried a lot that day. And I’m you know I’m just going to quit. I just you know I’m past the point I’ve done all this and just start over would be. Just almost more than I could take. But then I think. You know I got I got a little backbone and thought well now wait a minute you know this isn’t right. I got this research question approved. Like we went through all the processes. I don’t know who this person is that they’re new so. And that probably then it kind of ticks me off like wait a minute. I this is nine months worth of heart and soul. And it might not be perfect but it’s not going to be thrown out. And so I think it actually made me more determined and that was like July or something, June and July when that started. And I actually was awarded in October so there was I mean it was quite It wasn’t like an easy solve.

Researcher: [00:08:29] And how do you feel the different support that you did receive. How do you feel that impacted your completion. Just overall.

1-S: [00:08:39] Positively. I think everybody along the way that that was helpful in that you know from beginning to end just from encouraging me to start.

1-S Of course, at our university if You don’t Receive tenure you don’t continue working there so. And you can only be tenured if you’re doctoral prepared. You know it is a push. It’s an encouragement to do it but it’s almost a threat as well to get it done. You know it keeps you going.

Researcher: [00:09:11] Absolutely. Okay great. So I’m going to move on to my next set of questions are more situational based. So when you were presented with particularly difficult challenges throughout your journey whether they were actually part of your program or personal challenges whatever happened and what types of strategies did you use to just stay optimistic during these times.

1-S: [00:09:38] I think it’s just kind of how you live life one foot in front of the other like just. Keep going keep after it. And this too shall pass. I remember my daughter had Emergency surgery. She had all of a sudden, She was in college and she has a daughter she she’s a single mom in college. And so she had a kidney stone and it was large and they had to go in and remove it immediately cause kidney damage or something. And I remember Sitting next to her hospital bed. And leaned over the computer trying to finish a paper that was due. And just thinking you know oh my gosh what else can happen. But it never. I don’t know why it didn’t dawn on me to think shut the computer and quit just email the professor and say sorry and I’m not going to turn in this paper. Like it just didn’t seem like an option so I guess I don’t I don’t know what really strategies other than quitting it Wasn’t. I don’t like to Not follow through I don’t like to fail so quitting wasn’t an option.

Researcher: [00:10:52] And so that specific situation for example when your daughter was sick and. How do you think that that influenced maybe the way you approach future experiences in your program?

1-S: [00:11:04] Well I learned not to wait till the last minute and think oh I can you know it’s OK all I can do at Monday night or Tuesday even though it’s due Wednesday. I learned to really get ahead of the game and try to never put myself to where That deadline was right there and I wasn’t done. So I always pretended the deadline was like Monday or Tuesday instead of Wednesday, just because life it constantly would try and pull the rug out from under me.

Researcher: [00:11:36] And then how would you describe your overall just attitude toward approaching difficulty during your program.

1-S: [00:11:45] I think just trying to stay really organized really positive and like structured.

1-S You know this is doable I just figure I have to figure out how to juggle and get it done. And communicating with the professors as far as, I think my experience at higher ed helped me with how I would like my students to communicate with me in other words not with you know excuses or You know after the fact, ahead of time. So I can remember e-mailing a professor and saying look I’m leading a team to Jamaica to work in that poverty area in a school and they get credit. You know I run the course over there. We work in the school. And can I have the discussion questions ahead of time. Because. For the next week you know we won’t be there and she said no and that you know she wouldn’t let me have it but I remember like really trying. All the others I went every year sometimes twice a year to take students over from our university and every other professor worked with me on that and said you know Sure yeah she didn’t.

1-S But anyway so just I think a lot of forethought like trying to perceive any of those barriers roadblocks challenges and communicate really effectively. This is probably what helped me the most.

Researcher: [00:13:16] And then. How do you feel that your level of Optimism or your positive attitude impacted or contributed to your overall success your program?

1-S: [00:13:29] I think it’s the key factor I think even in life in general is making that choice every day to stay positive or you know even I’m not going to say that there weren’t days I wasn’t frustrated or you know really dreading something but just keep going. Like don’t stop. Cause you can do it. And just that belief in yourself that you can do it in the end I think is it’s very much the key to.

Researcher: [00:14:01] Absolutely OK. What types of coping methods did you use when you are presented with difficulty like how well do you feel you were able to cope with things when they didn’t go as planned?

1-S: [00:14:18] I think I coped really well from that you know frustrations little things here and there.

1-S Switching professors you would have one professor that this would be their thing that they would really want to see and then you would switch and then this professor said no I don’t like it that way this this way or whatever. So just being very flexible was probably and coping. Like just roll with the punches feel like all right this is their thing you know. But I used passive voice last Class and they didn’t pick on it and this one said passive voice oh my gosh 10 points. So just being really flexible and there were probably other coping strategy is just giving myself a night off every once in a while. I’ve given up so much you know, I went to my kid’s activities. But as far as TV things like that I’d given up reading and TV and so every once in a while just calling up my sister and saying you know I need a night. Let’s go. And so we were just she and my brother in law when we go out have a glass of wine. I’d laugh a lot and I could come back and do it again.

Researcher: [00:15:27] How often do you think that you would do that take that time for yourself.

1-S: [00:15:32] It probably only happened a couple of times a month. I want to say once a week I don’t think it did. So a couple of times a month I would just you know take a night off and let it all go.

Researcher: [00:15:43] And then what personal characteristics do you feel most impacted your ability to complete your program.

1-S: [00:15:54] Probably sheer determination just drive and my grit.

1-S: [00:16:00] I did have you know because of my personal situation of losing my husband right before I started I think that that was definitely part of that. In the back of my mind that just you know go ahead and do that and finish that because he was he was really supportive of that.

Researcher: [00:16:26] This one that kind of goes off into a little bit of a different direction. What types of physical activities did you participate in throughout your doctoral program?

1-S: [00:16:35] We had a gym membership. And I know that that same mentor that I went to a lot for resources she said you know my son said he saw you at the gym I cannot believe you have time for that. And I had taken the advice, one faculty said just expect to gain like 30 pounds through your doctorate. And I was like what, that’s not acceptable, that’s not Okay. I can’t say we would go every day that again my partner and I he and I probably three to four times a week just went for an hour and I would just go on the machines or whatever and just release that energy. So physically I tried to stay active and teaching university, I had student teacher so I was running around the buildings a lot and not in teaching classes nursing and so fairly active that way.

Researcher: [00:17:33] Great. And how do you feel that your level of physical activity influenced your overall progress and success for your program.

1-S: [00:17:42] Critical I think if somebody is doing a doc and they’re struggling to get through reading or writing stop if you can go outside take a walk just walk. Really really hard for 30 minutes come back in. It will gel. It will clear your mind. I think it really is important.

Researcher: [00:18:04] Awesome. Absolutely. OK. And then you see here you kind of already answered this next question. Aside from. Going out with your family every once in a while. How much time did you just take for yourself whatever it might have been just for yourself each week throughout your program?

1-S: [00:18:25] That was. Just really minimal because it even went into my sleep time I can remember a lot of my doctorate was done between the hours of like ten at night two in the morning. You know I would sit down at the computer just about every night when I got kids to bed and work till two or three so I, personal time. Other than physical activity and maintaining a full-time job.

1-S I guess going to the kid’s activities kind of personal. So I chose to do that. They were in marching band so they would have marching band competitions on Saturdays or whatever. But no there was no you know pedicures or spa days involved.

Researcher: [00:19:12] How do you feel that just that lack of personal time. How did that influence you throughout your program?

1-S: [00:19:19] I don’t know that I had a lot of personal time before starting the doc. So it you know kind of just shifted from I didn’t have much time for you know the kids or watching shows with them we had some shows we watch together again as they were watching those I’d go down and work, my office was downstairs. But I haven’t been the type to have a lot of just personal downtime. We’re kind of a go family. So it kind of fit right in.

Researcher: [00:19:55] OK. Great. And then how would you recognize each success that you achieved throughout your program whatever that success might be. Little or big.

1-S: [00:20:05] I had the schedule of courses from start to finish printed off and on the bulletin board. Right. You know behind my desk and every time I finish course I would cross it off with the grade. And like just that kept me going. And first it seemed like I’m never going to get it done. But as I got closer and closer you know that definitely helped me finish helped me go Look how many I’ve done I only have four classes left with three or two. You know I can do this. Well that’s a lot.

Researcher: [00:20:36] What about when you got your dissertation and it wasn’t necessarily grade focused. How did you recognize those milestones?

[00:20:43] So you know really you had I think you had like three dissertation courses to get it done.

1-S And so I Looked at the schedule those forms that you have to get done this form and this form in this form kind of divided up if I want to finish by that third and don’t want to pay for the extension courses because money was kind of a deal. This is what track I need to stay on. And then just really trying to keep very on track gave myself deadlines and time lines like I’m going to have this turned in by this date and then just having the self-discipline to try and reach that and the only part that there was frustrating was you know you say you do the same thing in your mind for your committee. You would think OK I’m going to turn this in I’m going to give him two weeks plenty of time to get back to me. And you wouldn’t hear. You won’t hear any. And, when do I start bugging out or e-mailing? So you know that probably you know just again setting goals and deadlines and then sticking with it.

Researcher: [00:21:49] Absolutely. And then how would you describe the level of control that you have during your dissertation journey.

[00:21:57] Along the way up until my defense I felt like I had quite a bit of control.

1-S There was one part I remember where my consonant expert and my statistician they got kind of in an argument about how this part should go and my chair is kind of like I’m fine with whatever. But they just need to decide. And there were all these e-mails that I felt like I’m kind of at the mercy of them. And then at the very end I really felt not in control with that AQR like that whole process until I could kind of get some answers and get a new person and then get going again so that there was a period there where I felt very out of control of you.

Researcher: [00:22:47] How important do you feel that that control was to you that that feeling of self control over your dissertation.

1-S: [00:22:55] You know I think that. Maybe teachers by nature kind of control freaks but that.

1-S At those moments where you feel like I have no control over this process that I think is the scariest. And that’s you know like I said that when I received that feedback from the reviewer that you’re going to have to start all over I can’t even read this you know. Very scary probably that will take me out of the game more than anything is just lack of control of that end of it in that process. I can handle life here. Like whatever happens. I got it, somehow I can juggle and get through it. But on the other end of they hold the plug that was that wasn’t going to be good.

Researcher: [00:23:43] Yeah absolutely. And then during your doctoral program can you describe just your overall feelings about your ability to complete your program.

1-S: [00:23:53] I think I felt pretty positive about that, pretty on top of it. The first course was a little nerve wracking and like will I have the intelligence will I be able to write at that level. Will I be able to understand the content that they’re presenting me with? But I think every course, successful course helped me feel better and better about that. So I think I got pretty solid on my belief.

Researcher: [00:24:23] Why do you think that you felt less confident in your first course.

1-S: [00:24:27] Just not knowing what it was going to be like. You know I had done my masters but that had been quite a few years before so had been a while since I had been back as a student in that classroom. And you know doctorate is just that big scary word that you’re going to go get that.

1-S And people really do I think kind of talk about it as such a grueling hard process and sometimes it is sometimes it’s just being able to grit your teeth you can go back and rewrite even though You’ve written four times. You know they approved it four times and it’s not OK. You got to rewrite that part. So I can see where it was a test of wills but I think I thought the whole thing was going to be so grueling and so when I got the first course I was like well this is actually OK. You know, and second course I enjoyed a lot of the books that we had for mine. I was effective schools research and a lot of those texts I really liked. I enjoy reading.

Researcher: [00:25:33] OK great. And then how would you describe your level of spirituality during your doctoral program.

1-S: [00:25:44] I my belief in higher power or just being mindful and you know kind of being centered and realizing that you have to just sometimes let go you know and let live and let God worry about that one and just do what I can here so I guess I did that. I’m not a big an organized religion or church goers. So it’s not like I had a big church family support or had you know people at church praying for me to get through, like that.

1-S I think you know staying grounded staying centered whatever your belief system might be is important.

Researcher: [00:26:31] And how do you feel that influenced your motivation or your desire to complete your program.

1-S: [00:26:36] Well definitely with you know my belief system in a spiritual world I was thinking OK Dave’s watching, you know he’s got my back he wants me to finish so that that probably felt like a calming, good presence. I would think for me throughout, just kind of that belief system that somehow he knew I was doing it.

Researcher: [00:27:02] And then if you had to just pick one thing that really just impacted you the most throughout your program and your ability to complete the program what do you think that one thing would be.

1-S: [00:27:15] I would say it first just starting it was the job that you know the threat to lose the job. And it’s something that I loved doing it. You know it was it was time to get after and do it. But after I started it and went into it became a personal goal. And so that one thing it was it was definitely became a very personal hurdle for me. And I don’t know if that’s just because you’re in there doing all that work but at that point in time even if the university came halfway through and said you know oh you don’t have to finish OK. I wouldn’t have quit. I would have been like no I want it now.

Researcher: [00:27:51] You know. Great. That was it for the question I have. Do you have any other comments you want to make or any questions that you have?

1-S: [00:28:00] No but I think that this research you’re doing is fascinating and I can’t wait to read it.

Researcher: [00:28:05] And I’m looking forward to it. It is very fascinating.

1-S: [00:28:10] Good for you for doing it. I would I really be interested to read it. So do you get, I mean will we know when you published.

Researcher: [00:28:20] Absolutely. I will definitely let you know of course it’ll be published in ProQuest like everybody else. So it’ll definitely be available there. And like I said I am trying to put together like a resilience profile of everybody that I’m interviewing I’ll definitely send that to you when I’m done.

1-S: [00:28:38] I appreciate and I really do. If I can help in any other way let me know.

Researcher: [00:28:44] Definitely. Thank you very much. Well if you have any questions concerns anything like that later. Just give me a call shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to answer those questions for you.

1-S: [00:28:53] OK. All right.

Researcher: [00:28:55] Thank you very much again you have a wonderful rest of your Sunday.

1-S: [00:28:58] You too. Thank you.

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