Table 2.
Open coding examples.
| Interviewee | Initial account | Concept | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | I want to encourage teachers in my school to read more books by being the first to earn an Ed.D, just to show them that miracles happen. | Setting examples for subordinates | Setting good examples |
| F2 | I think a mother should set a good example for her child and let her feel that her mother is a very progressive person. | Setting examples for children | |
| F5 | As a student counselor, I get stuck in a mode of following routines gradually, and I started doubting myself. | Getting stuck in work | Facing professional plight |
| F2 | you can only feel when you are working, and you think that there are issues that need to be addressed urgently. | Facing working challenges | |
| F7 | If you have the opportunity to do an Ed.D in university, your development prospects or what you get will be different. | Promoting personal development | Developing human capital |
| M5 | Money and title can be taken away at any time, but your talent can never be taken away by others. I think that is one of the biggest motives to study for an Ed.D. | Improving personal intelligence | |
| F6 | I am so tired at work. I think maybe I can change my personal situation by pursuing an Ed.D. degree, such as job adjustment or position exchange. | Getting more job options | Increasing job options |
| F9 | In fact, my family is quite supportive, and they wish I could promote more. | Supported by family | Having interpersonal support |
| M3 | If you study abroad, you have to stay in a foreign country for a long time. The risk of being infected with COVID-19 is relatively high, and the expenses and tuition fees are also higher. | Paying less than abroad | Appropriate cultivation mode |
| F3 | I don't want to leave my job or resign from my workplace. I want to study and work simultaneously. This kind of Ed.D. program happens to be designed for in-service educational practitioners. | Without resigning from work | |
| F4 | A large proportion of my classmates in postgraduate went on studying for Ph.D. after postgraduation. | Influenced by classmates | Influenced by significant others |
| F7 | One of my colleagues passed the Doctor of Education exam. She inspired me a lot. I thought, if she could do it, why can't I try? | Influenced by colleagues |