Revisiting Goffman’s impression management: doctoral candidates’ identity management challenges

Kennedy, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6771-9608, Hussain, S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8273-7801 and Cunliffe, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1157-2878, 2025. Revisiting Goffman’s impression management: doctoral candidates’ identity management challenges. Higher Education Research and Development. ISSN 0729-4360 (Forthcoming)

Text 1788742_Hussain.pdf - Post-print Restricted to Repository staff only Download (364kB)

Abstract

Undertaking a PhD is a significant intellectual challenge that requires candidates to conduct rigorous research and produce an original contribution to knowledge. However, doctoral candidates' identity management is often overlooked, despite significantly impacting their ability to conduct research. This paper examines the identity management challenges doctoral candidates navigate during their PhD studies using Goffman’s impression management. Semi-structured interviews with 10 doctoral candidates from UK universities were conducted to achieve the research aim. The findings reveal that doctoral candidates Presentation of Self (PoS) is not clear-cut. They navigate multiple stages where they perform distinct selves' dependent on the audience and social context thereby, leading to marginalisation and stigma. This impacts doctoral candidates' sense of belonging and personal wellbeing. This study highlights the need for doctoral candidates' identity management to be acknowledged as complex by higher education institutions, wider student support services and supervisors, negating the one-size-fits-all approach to doctoral study.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Higher Education Research and Development
Creators:	Kennedy, M., Hussain, S. and Cunliffe, M.
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Date:	20 November 2025
ISSN:	0729-4360
Identifiers:	Number Type 1788742 Other
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Business School Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Borcherds
Date Added:	25 Nov 2025 14:51
Last Modified:	25 Nov 2025 14:51
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/54802

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Statistics

Views

Downloads