What is Attributions

During the dissertation journey, graduate students must expect to receive critical feedback. And, yet, in order for this critical feedback to be productive, graduate students must be able to perceive this feedback as helpful rather than as discouraging. This chapter explores the interpretation of critical feedback through the cognitive framework of attributional style. This chapter presents six anecdotes and six reflections as recounted by six graduate students. By presenting these authentic examples, this chapter demonstrates how reflecting on attributional style can assist graduate students in reappraising the critical feedback they receive throughout their dissertation journey.