摘要：The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which students who have completed, or are still engaged in, a PD consider that either the product of their doctorate or the process of doing it, have „impacted‟ on their professional practice and development. A range of case studies/ narratives/ stories from students who were willing to openly engage in the activity of personal reflection on how the PD influenced, impacted upon or altered their own professional practice and development provide part of the evidence base for this research. Data were also collected from written documentation including evidence from completed PD theses. In the next phase of this research we intend to collect further data from interviews and focus groups. The data from those who participated serves to inform the main research question: what is the impact of the professional doctorate on students‟ professional practice and personal development? In addition, it is helping us to begin to conceptualise some of the problematic terms in the debate around professional doctorates and to show how „impact‟ and influence might work in the professional practice of PD students.
关键词：Professional doctorates; Impact; Professional practice
