Developing a Psychometric Self- Assessment Tool “PG Scan” for Examining PhD Candidates’ Readiness

Abstract

The Malaysian government and universities provide numerous scholarships for PhD candidates; unfortunately, an observable number of the recipients were unable to complete their studies due to various factors. To date, no specific instrument has been introduced for Doctoral candidates towards minimising the risks of abortive academic plans. Henceforth, the goals of this study are; i) to examine the factors in selecting suitable PhD candidates, ii) to develop an instrument to gauge the applicants' PhD readiness, and iii) to develop a proposed model of PhD readiness. Library research was conducted to examine the factors relating to instrument development. The present study is the preliminary stage of item and model development. The importance and originality of this study are manifested in the outputs of the research project with the establishment of a new comprehensive self- assessment tool to gauge PhD readiness and the PhD readiness model. The implications of the self- assessment tool and model fulfil the Twelfth Malaysian Plan and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).