What does this research mean for the field?

Human resource development (HRD) doctoral students have diverse, non-uniform career development needs that cluster into three primary perspectives—academic appointments, well-being, and visibility/networking—which are shaped by their individual identities, aspirations, and contexts. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Investigate human resource development doctoral students' subjective career development needs and identify the personal and contextual factors shaping their priorities.

August 27, 2026Advances in Developing Human ResourcesOpen Access

“Swimming in the Dark”: A Q Methodology Study on the Career Development Needs of Doctoral Students in U.S. HRD Programs

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Authors

ESEunbi Sim CSCynthia Sims HSHoda Parvaneh Shirazi

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Overview

Mixed-methods Q methodology study uncovers three distinct career support profiles in doctoral students, highlighting the need for tailored, identity-responsive career programming.

Key Points

Investigate human resource development doctoral students' subjective career development needs and identify the personal and contextual factors shaping their priorities.
Enrolled 17 doctoral students from six U.S. human resource development programs to complete 70-statement Q-sorts, followed by focus group interviews with 13 participants.
Analyzed Q-sort configurations using principal component analysis with varimax rotation and interpreted factor arrays via the crib-sheet method supplemented by qualitative focus group data.
Identified three distinct career development viewpoints: support for academic appointments, support for well-being, and support for visibility and networking.
Observed bipolar variations differentiating structural versus financial well-being needs, as well as academic versus industry-oriented networking priorities based on identity and career aspirations.

Cite This Study

Sim et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe99110c91c1e926212ad https://doi.org/10.1177/15234223261480245

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August 27, 2026Advances in Developing Human ResourcesOpen Access

“Swimming in the Dark”: A Q Methodology Study on the Career Development Needs of Doctoral Students in U.S. HRD Programs

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

ESEunbi Sim CSCynthia Sims HSHoda Parvaneh Shirazi

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Mixed-methods Q methodology study uncovers three distinct career support profiles in doctoral students, highlighting the need for tailored, identity-responsive career programming.

Key Points

Investigate human resource development doctoral students' subjective career development needs and identify the personal and contextual factors shaping their priorities.
Enrolled 17 doctoral students from six U.S. human resource development programs to complete 70-statement Q-sorts, followed by focus group interviews with 13 participants.
Analyzed Q-sort configurations using principal component analysis with varimax rotation and interpreted factor arrays via the crib-sheet method supplemented by qualitative focus group data.
Identified three distinct career development viewpoints: support for academic appointments, support for well-being, and support for visibility and networking.
Observed bipolar variations differentiating structural versus financial well-being needs, as well as academic versus industry-oriented networking priorities based on identity and career aspirations.

Cite This Study

Sim et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe99110c91c1e926212ad https://doi.org/10.1177/15234223261480245

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