Do PhD students’ research styles predict their perceived competencies?

Abstract Most empirical studies on PhD students’ competencies lack a conceptual framework, and no study has examined a comprehensive list of competencies necessary for both an academic and a non-academic career. The study pioneered the operationalization of (Shin’s Higher Education Forum, 16 , 27–43, 2019) conceptualization of the competencies that novice academics and knowledge professionals need to possess. Furthermore, the present study investigated how research styles, as a study resource, statistically predicted PhD students’ perceived competencies. Based on data from the 1,105 PhD students in Hong Kong (509 participants randomly assigned to the calibration group and 596 to the cross-validation group), a seven-scale inventory —the PhD Students’ Perceived Competencies Inventory (PSPCI)—was established. This inventory consists of 23 items across the following scales: core competencies (CC), job performance-novice academics (JP-NA), job performance-novice knowledge professionals (JP-NKP), understanding the work environment-novice academics (UWE-NA), understanding the work environment-novice knowledge professionals (UWE-NKP), identity development (ID), and professional habits (PH). Moreover, based on data obtained from the 1,105 PhD students, it was found that the six research styles (legislative, conservative, liberal, executive, hierarchical, and monarchic) measured by the Research Styles Inventory statistically predicted the seven scales in the PSPCI. These findings enrich the literature on PhD education and provide practical implications for students, supervisors, and programs.