Weaving a web of recruitment

P2hD

Project Athena has designed and is in the process of rolling out a social network-based decision impact system to assist doctoral students when they are making the high-level personal and professional, academic and career decisions that face them as their career unfolds.

The "P -"square" h D System derives it name from the exponential growth in complexity that occurs at the nexus of personal and professional decision-making. P2hD is short for Professional/Personal Higher Decision-making Program. The P2hD tool provides a body of knowledge regarding successful and unsuccessful pursuit of doctoral work. It represents the collective wisdom gained through the experiences of the Project Athena Fellows as they considered and pursued doctoral studies in LIS.

The system combines three independent information distribution, information access, and information sharing tools to build the open decision impact system.

Tool 1: Podcasts

Interviews with Project Athena Fellows are distributed by Podcast revealing their stories of how they came to pursue doctoral studies, and relate obstacles and successes that they have had since making this decision. The Fellows shared the following information regarding the decision to pursue doctoral studies:

  • The factors and experiences that led them to consider a Ph.D. in the first place;
  • The issues that they felt were important in making their decisions, and how they resolved those issues;
  • The challenges they encountered during the application process and as they began their doctoral programs;
  • The gaps that were not addressed during the decision making process that they now perceive were important;
  • Obstacles and successes that they have experienced since their admission that they feel would be useful for others to know about prior to making the decision to pursue a Ph.D.

Tool 2: Blogging

A blog spot is employed to initiate discussion between project fellows, potential students, and LIS professionals. At the culmination of the podcast listeners may log into the blog to engage in discussion. The intent is to provide individuals who are considering doctoral studies an opportunity to ask questions regarding their thoughts and concerns on the topic, thus establishing a social network that can provide support throughout the decision process. Opening the discussion to the larger LIS community, particularly current doctoral students and individuals holding the degree provides for a broader perspective in addressing questions and enlarge the social network.

Tool 3: Wiki (Anticipated)

Long-term research planning based on Project Athena data will be conducted by the Co-PI based on content analysis of the podcasts and social network analysis of the blog files. As a result of the data analysis, the researcher will develop two lists; an initial list of the ten most predominantly mentioned positive factors and the ten most predominantly mentioned negative factors.. These lists, and a document discussing each factor will be prepared and posted to a Wiki and made available via a link from the Project Athena website for sharing with the podcasters, bloggers and other interested individuals. The Wiki approach will allow participants to engage in editing, updating, and revising the lists and the documents. The Wiki approach will also promote critical thinking about the issues since participants will be required to explain the changes that they propose. In time, the lists will evolve into documents that are agreed upon collectively by the participants. These documents will provide an additional information resource for future individuals considering doctoral studies.