9: Afterword

This book is based on a narrative inquiry that revealed a system of tensions experienced by early career researchers in pursuit of varied pathways. Tensions are explored in each chapter of the book, contributing to debate about the quality (i.e., sufficient preparation) and quantity (i.e., number of) doctoral graduates and their access to employment.

Tensions are explored using Connelly and Clandinin’s (2006) three narrative inquiry perspectives – time, place and society (see Fig. 9.1). The Notions of Time framework was used to explore the enduring and evolving purposes of the doctorate in Chapter 2 and to balance well-being and workload in Chapter 7. Three career trajectories are applied in Chapters 3, 4 and 8 to explore the academic and industry workforce; pracademic and prosearcher roles; and working in physical places and virtual spaces. Case studies are used in Chapter 5 to explore social engagement in open and closed research cultures, and a collaborative research culture framework informed discussion of barriers to collaboration in Chapter 6.