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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - WhatsApp with doctoral researchers
T2 - A reflexive autoethnography
AU - Chandler, Kathy
PY - 2025/3/10
Y1 - 2025/3/10
N2 - Purpose: This study aims to examine how being part of a WhatsApp community of doctoral researchers over a five-year period influences the author’s well-being, learning and professional development. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a digital autoethnographic approach, using the author’s own contributions to a WhatsApp group of doctoral researchers as data. Findings: For the researcher, WhatsApp plays a significant and positive role in fostering community. The group engenders a sense of connection in a “backstage” community, where feelings can be shared honestly and reassurance received, thus supporting well-being. In this community, it is easy to seek advice about research. It also provides a low-stakes environment in which to learn how to offer advice to others, the experience of doing so contributing to professional development as a doctoral supervisor. Practical implications: The insights gained will be useful for doctoral researchers considering the potential value of peer support and also for those supporting and supervising them. Originality/value: This paper provides a rare glimpse into a peer-led WhatsApp community of doctoral researchers. It adds to the literature that uses rhizome theory as a theoretical lens, showing how rhizomatic principles and ideas around assemblages can be helpful in analysing multiple aspects of WhatsApp groups and other similar online communities.
AB - Purpose: This study aims to examine how being part of a WhatsApp community of doctoral researchers over a five-year period influences the author’s well-being, learning and professional development. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a digital autoethnographic approach, using the author’s own contributions to a WhatsApp group of doctoral researchers as data. Findings: For the researcher, WhatsApp plays a significant and positive role in fostering community. The group engenders a sense of connection in a “backstage” community, where feelings can be shared honestly and reassurance received, thus supporting well-being. In this community, it is easy to seek advice about research. It also provides a low-stakes environment in which to learn how to offer advice to others, the experience of doing so contributing to professional development as a doctoral supervisor. Practical implications: The insights gained will be useful for doctoral researchers considering the potential value of peer support and also for those supporting and supervising them. Originality/value: This paper provides a rare glimpse into a peer-led WhatsApp community of doctoral researchers. It adds to the literature that uses rhizome theory as a theoretical lens, showing how rhizomatic principles and ideas around assemblages can be helpful in analysing multiple aspects of WhatsApp groups and other similar online communities.
KW - Autoethnography
KW - Doctoral research
KW - Doctoral supervision
KW - Peer support
KW - Rhizome theory
KW - Well-being
KW - WhatsApp
U2 - 10.1108/SGPE-04-2024-0043
DO - 10.1108/SGPE-04-2024-0043
M3 - Journal article
JO - Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education
JF - Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education
ER -