Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the consequences of Grit in the dissertation writing process from the perspective of the lived experiences of doctoral students at Shiraz University. The qualitative research approach and the method used were Husserlian descriptive phenomenology.The participants in this study were 12 doctoral students from Shiraz University in three academic departments: humanities, engineering, and basic sciences. They were selected using a purposive sampling approach and theoretical sampling method. These students had completed theoretical courses and were in the process of writing their dissertations. The data collection method for this study was a semi-structured interview.. To assess the initial validity of the data, the criteria of acceptability, validity, and reliability of qualitative data were used. After coding the data, the content analysis method was used to form a network of themes of the doctoral students' experiences in relation to the consequences of Grit in the dissertation writing process. The analysis of the research data in the first step led to the discovery of basic themes as the consequences of doctoral students' persistence in the dissertation writing process. In the next step, these themes were categorized into four main organizing themes: 1- Academic success (timely and successful completion of the thesis, high quality of the thesis, publication of articles) 2- Personal and professional growth and improvement (learning skills, increasing flexibility, better time management, strengthening resilience, increasing self-efficacy and confidence, strengthening self-worth and self-esteem, strengthening growth mindset, independence, gaining respect and credibility, professional networking, better job opportunities, becoming a role model) 3- Psychological well-being (reducing stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, fatigue and burnout, anger, increasing satisfaction with life and learning, experiencing positive emotions (happiness, pride), restful sleep, achieving peace) 4- Positive behavioral consequences (reducing procrastination, reducing self-handicapping, reducing academic dishonesty, ). Finally, a comprehensive framework of these experiences was drawn in the form of a network of themes of the consequences of Grit. The innovation of this research is in focusing on the lived experience of doctoral students and drawing a comprehensive network of multidimensional consequences of Grit in dissertation writing, which had previously received less attention in similar studies. The conclusion of the research shows that Grit, as a transformative process, not only enables the achievement of academic goals, but also lays the groundwork for the training of independent and effective researchers by strengthening personal and professional capabilities and also promoting psychological well-being. Based on the findings, it is suggested that universities should provide the basis for strengthening Grit in graduate students by designing educational, counseling, and support programs, and that supervisors should adopt more effective strategies for guiding students by better understanding this construct.In the final conclusion of this phenomenological study, it can be emphasized that persistence in the process of writing a doctoral thesis is not a single-dimensional strategy, but a multi-dimensional transformation in the student's being. This study, by going beyond purely quantitative perspectives and relying on authentic narratives and lived experiences of students, showed that persistence is not limited to "completing a task", but rather acts as a holistic mechanism that simultaneously and intertwines academic success, personal-professional growth, psychological well-being, and constructive behaviors. Achieving tangible successes such as completing a thesis and publishing an article is only the visible part of the process. What lies beneath is the process of qualitative transformation of the student into a self-confident and resilient researcher: someone who overcomes challenges by strengthening a growth mindset; who masters his or her life by managing time; And by gaining self-efficacy, they build their professional future with confidence. This risky journey ultimately ends not with burnout, but with profound psychological well-being, a sense of pride and satisfaction in learning, and a sense of peace and dignity. As a result, it can be argued that promoting and supporting persistence is a strategic investment in higher education. This will not only increase thesis completion rates, but will also foster a generation of graduates who are prepared not as holders of a degree but as active knowledge creators, resilient citizens of society, and influential role models, equipped with a baggage of skills, mental health, and self-confidence to manage and enrich the complexities of the real world.Therefore, persistence is not a lasting legacy of the PhD; rather, it is a launching pad for a productive life and an effective career path. Also, according to the findings of this study, persistence in the process of writing a doctoral thesis is a multifaceted transformation that brings valuable consequences for various stakeholders. For doctoral students, this study provides a concrete roadmap that shows that persistence and continuous effort not only lead to successful completion of the thesis, but also transform them into resilient and independent researchers. For supervisors, the findings indicate that their role goes beyond academic guidance and can act as facilitators of persistence by creating a supportive environment and fostering a growth mindset. For university administrators, this study also shows the need to design educational-supportive programs and review regulations to create an ecosystem that supports persistence, thereby increasing both the rate of timely completion of education and the quality of scientific production. Therefore, promoting persistence is a strategic investment whose legacy will be to nurture the next generation of influential researchers. Finally, it is suggested that future research design, implement, and measure the effectiveness of intervention programs based on enhancing persistence. These programs could be designed based on the components identified in this study (such as time management, resilience, and growth mindset) and their practical impact on reducing the duration of study, improving the quality of scientific production, and promoting the psychological well-being of doctoral students could be experimentally investigated.The conscious choice of the phenomenological method, as the most appropriate path to discover and understand the essence of this experience, provides the possibility of penetrating the hidden layers of meaning. This research seeks to achieve a rich and authentic understanding of the consequences of this path, whether in the scientific, personal, professional, or behavioral dimensions, by focusing on the lived experience of persistent doctoral students who have followed the tortuous path of dissertation writing with exemplary perseverance. The discovery of these experiences is not only a step towards enriching the literature in the field of higher education, but can also provide a basis for designing operational programs, support strategies, and meaningful interventions to strengthen the research spirit and reduce the dropout rate at the doctoral level.







Keywords: Grit, PhD students, dissertation writing, phenomenology, consequences