Analysis of the Mental Image in M.A Sport Management`s Students from Continuing to Study at a Doctoral Degree (an Approach Based on Causal Layered Analysis)

The Mental image of Students from concept of continuing education represents their expectations and their orientation in higher education. The Aim of this study is Analysis of the Mental image in M.A sport management`s Students from continuing to study at a doctoral degree. Through qualitative method based on case study, data were collected in the form of interviews and focus groups. Through the purposive sampling method, the participants constitute 59 M.A students in the field of sport management. In order to analyze the data, the theme analysis Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) were used. The results showed that MA students in sport management had three mental images of the concept of continuing education at a doctoral degree. They are a) Compelled in Continuing Education, b) Science lover in Continuing Education, c) Risk-taking in Continuing Education. It can be concluded that these Mental image in M.A sport management`s Students from continuing to study at a doctoral degree are result in educational policies and interactions in life-worlds of Students in the scientific environments of sport management. The results of this study can be a good way to develop the fields of study in graduate studies. The results of this study can be useful for extending the fields in graduate degrees, as well as, can be useful for coordinating employment policies with educational policies related to the discipline of sport management.