TITLE A Study of Factors Related to Dissertation Progress among Doctoral Candidates: Focus on Students ' Research Self-Efficacy as a Result of Their Research Training and

This study examined relationships among doctoral candidates' background characteristics, research preparation, research environment, research involvement, student-advisor relationship, research self-efficacy, and dissertation progress. The study focused on differences in research self-efficacy and dissertation progress among students from the three different departments within the college of education at an urban Southern research university. Subjects (n=97) had completed their course work and passed written and oral comprehensive examinations during the years 1987-1997, but had not completed their degrees by December 1997. Subjects responded to a mailed questionnaire that asked questions related to research training, research environment, research involvement, graduate assistantships, relationships with advisors and committee members, research self-efficacy, dissertation status, and demographics. Results indicated that both students ' research self-efficacy and their relationships with thei