The Pandemic as a Soundtrack for the Dissertation Journey: Obtaining Flow During Unprecedented Times

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate the experiences of practitioner-scholars as they conducted their dissertations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic; the methodology utilized surveys at four time points across a 1-year span. Findings indicated increased impacts as the pandemic progressed, as well as both negative and positive pandemic impacts related to flow, as measured by the Work-Related Flow Inventory (WOLF). These impacts largely depended on the doctoral students’ personal and work life situations, indicating a need for doctoral programs to provide individualized support as students progress through their dissertation journeys, particularly during times of crisis.