| A structural equation model technique was used to examine the socialization and the mediating effects of satisfaction on doctoral student persistence in engineering at a large private, 4-year research university. The four areas of socialization studied are experience in the doctoral program; experience with advising and mentoring; understanding the requirements of the doctoral program; and internalizing the outcomes of doctoral education. Two-hundred and three doctoral students in engineering responded to a modified version of the Carnegie Foundation Survey of Doctoral Students (Fall 2003). The results from this analysis indicate that higher levels of positive experiences in the doctoral program had a direct positive effect on persistence. Satisfaction had a significant effect as a mediator only between advising and mentoring experience and persistence. In addition, the department was found to have a significant effect on advising and mentoring experiences and internalizing program outcomes. Contrary to the extant literature, largely based on small sample case studies, there were no gender differences on any of the measured constructs. The structural model indicating the relationship between persistence, satisfaction, and socialization was presented. Conclusions and recommendations for future research are discussed.;Keywords: Doctoral student persistence, Socialization, Engineering. |
