Adult Learning and Doctoral Student Research Forum Participation: Insights into the Nature of Professional Participatory Experience

Few research studies have focused on student learning as conference participants. Framed by situated cognition and informal learning theories, this qualitative study investigated how participation in a uniquely designed, international doctoral forum may have played a role in students' educational development as scholars. Findings indicate that participation in the forum had positive influences on doctoral student learning and development including enhanced understandings of the research process and the larger professional community of scholarly practice as well as increased confidence and motivation regarding students' own dissertation studies and identities as developing researchers. The paper concludes with suggestions for designing the kinds of forums and experiences that might simultaneously extend pedagogic practice and support doctoral student development. Recommendations for further research are also discussed. Keywords: doctoral student development, learning at conferences, researcher development, community of practice, adult learning; doctoral student research forums