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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to predict the
academic performance of PhD students understood as
publications and presentations at conferences.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We use a multimethod approach,
a quantitative web survey of PhD students and
their supervisors and in-depth interviews. We surveyed
all PhD students at the University of Girona (Spain) in
their 4th and 5th year, who held either a PhD grant or
a teaching position at the university.
RESULTS: The explanatory variables of PhD performance
are of three types: characteristics of the PhD students’
research groups understood as social networks, background
variables and attitudinal characteristics. The
quantitative analyses show the importance of some
background and attitudinal variables like supervisor performance,
having a grant, or motivation. The qualitative
results show networking to be also important. Policy
implications are drawn at country and university level.
DISCUSSION: Policy implications are drawn at country
and university level