"What's too much and what's too little?": The Process of Becoming an Independent Researcher in Doctoral Education.

GRADUATE education; DOCTORAL programs; ACADEMIC achievement; EDUCATIONAL attainment; MASTERY learning; HISTORY education; CHEMISTRY education; GRADUATE students; EDUCATION

The article underscores the process of becoming an independent researcher in doctoral education. It focuses on the road toward independence which is grounded in the socialization process of graduate school as experienced by 40 doctoral students in the disciplines of history and chemistry at two learning institutions. It is also posed that the transition to independent scholar is part of the doctoral education process that happens while in graduate school. The methods of the study, the findings, conclusions and implications for practice and research are also mentioned.