The Role of Academic Help-Seeking Attitudes, Achievement Goal Orientations, and dissertation Self-Efficacy in dissertation Progress

The current study explored socialization variables (academic discipline, part-time versus full-time enrollment status, and student involvement with research and teaching assistantships) and educational psychological variables (academic help-seeking attitudes, achievement goal orientations, and dissertation self-efficacy) in relation to dissertation progress. The primary research questions were 1) What is the unique relationship between the educational psychological variables of academic help-seeking attitudes, achievement goal orientations, dissertation self-efficacy, and dissertation progress over and above the socialization variables of academic discipline, enrollment status, and student involvement in research and teaching assistantships? 2) Is there a significant difference between the academic help-seeking attitudes of PhD candidates and PhD graduates? 3) Is there a significant difference in academic help-seeking attitudes, achievement goal orientations, dissertation self-efficacy, and dissertation progress based on academic discipline using Holland\u27s theory? Participants were two groups (N = 445) from 92 academic majors and 46 invited universities across the United States: PhD candidates (N = 236) who had completed coursework, passed oral and written comprehensive exams and were currently enrolled in a PhD program; and PhD graduates (N = 209) who had earned their degrees. The two groups were further divided into the Holland categories of Artistic, Enterprising, Investigative, and Social categories. Respondents completed an on-line survey consisting of 3 previously-validated questionnaires with minimal word modification. Results for queston 1 revealed dissertation self-efficacy to significantly and positively predict dissertation progress over and above teaching assistanships. Further analyses revealed performance-approach and help-seeking approach to significantly and positively predict dissertation self-efficacy. Results for question 2 revealed no significant difference between the academic help-seeking attitudes of PhD candidates and PhD graduates. Results for question 3 revealed that physical and life sciences PhD candidates (Holland category of Investigative) significantly differed from social sciences PhD candidates (Holland category of Social) and had higher means for mastery and performance-approach. Implications of this study are addressed