Educational trajectories of graduate students in physics education research

TL;DR

This study investigates the educational paths and future aspirations of physics education research graduate students, highlighting visibility issues, focus areas, and career expectation mismatches in the field.

Contribution

It provides empirical data on PER graduate students' trajectories and offers recommendations to improve field visibility and career communication.

Findings

PER has low visibility as a field of study

Most work at the undergraduate level

Students' future expectations often mismatch with current opportunities

Abstract

Physics education research (PER) is a rapidly growing area of PhD specialization. In this article we examine the trajectories that led respondents into a PER graduate program as well as their expected future trajectories. Data were collected in the form of an online survey sent to graduate students in PER. Our findings show a lack of visibility of PER as a field of study, a dominance of work at the undergraduate level, and a mismatch of future desires and expectations. We suggest that greater exposure is needed so PER is known as a field of inquiry for graduates, that more emphasis should be placed on research beyond the undergraduate level, and that there needs to be stronger communication to graduate students about potential careers.