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

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.