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Module by: Joe Donaldson, George J. Petersen, Ph.D.

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Name: Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives
ID: m14518
Language: English (en)
Summary: In response to societal, pedagogical, and economic pressures for change, colleges of education and departments of educational leadership have sought alternative formats for the professional development of educational leaders (Clark and Clark, 1997; Glasman and Glasman, 1997; Short, 1997; Petersen and Barnett, 2005). A major programmatic development that is illustrative of responses to these pressures is the use of cohorts, which have emerged as a popular program delivery strategy (Murphy, 1999). Cohorts are touted for providing clear program structure and course sequencing, a supportive peer group, and increased contact with instructors (Norris & Barnett, 1994; Yerkes, Basom, Norris, & Barnett, 1995; Barnett, Basom, Yerkes, & Norris, 2000). University administrators, faculty and students laud cohort programs as vehicles for increasing student interaction and interdependence (Norris & Barnett, 1994), increasing student involvement and integration with the greater university community, and improving learning outcomes (Reynolds & Herbert, 1998). Yet, despite these observations about cohorts, we really have very little empirical evidence to support claims that cohorts prepare educational leaders at the doctoral level any better than other programmatic forms (Barnett et al., 2000). So, why have cohorts become so popular? One lens for exploring this and related questions is neo-institutional theory. Neo-institutional theory offers a means to explore not only the level of commonality in use of cohorts, but also the processes by which they have become so popular across the leadership preparation landscape.
Subject: Social Sciences
Keywords: doctroal programs, educational leadership, NCPEA
Document Type: -//CNX//DTD CNXML 0.5 plus MathML//EN
License: Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 2.0)
Authors: Joe Donaldson (donaldsonj@missouri.edu), George J. Petersen, Ph.D. (gjpeters@calpoly.edu)
Copyright Holders: Joe Donaldson (donaldsonj@missouri.edu), George J. Petersen, Ph.D. (gjpeters@calpoly.edu)
Maintainers: National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (tcreigh@vt.edu), Joe Donaldson (donaldsonj@missouri.edu), George J. Petersen, Ph.D. (gjpeters@calpoly.edu)
Version: 1.1 (history)
Created: May 7, 2007 9:32 am GMT-5
Revised: May 11, 2007 9:28 am GMT-5

Version History

Version: 1.1 May 11, 2007 9:28 am GMT-5 by National Council of Professors of Educational Administration
Changes: 
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Donaldson, J.; Petersen, G. Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives, Connexions Web site. http://cnx.org/content/m14518/1.1/, May 11, 2007.

American Medical Assocation (AMA) Manual of Style:

Donaldson J, Petersen G. Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives [Connexions Web site]. May 11, 2007. Available at: http://cnx.org/content/m14518/1.1/.

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Donaldson, J., & Petersen, G. (2007, May 11). Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives. Retrieved from the Connexions Web site: http://cnx.org/content/m14518/1.1/

Chicago Manual of Style (Bibliography):

Donaldson, Joe, and George Petersen. "Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives." Connexions. May 11, 2007. http://cnx.org/content/m14518/1.1/.

Chicago Manual of Style (Note):

Joe Donaldson and George Petersen, "Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives," Connexions, May 11, 2007, http://cnx.org/content/m14518/1.1/.

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Donaldson, J., & Petersen, G. 2007. Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives. Connexions, May 11, 2007. http://cnx.org/content/m14518/1.1/.

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Donaldson, Joe, and George Petersen. Cohort Doctoral Preparation Programs: Neo-Institutional Perspectives. Connexions. 11 May 2007 <http://cnx.org/content/m14518/1.1/>.