Fostering Epistemic Expertise and Research Rigor among EFL Doctoral Students in English Studies: A Follow-Up Study Using a Self-Efficacy Lens

This follow-up study examines whether participation in the Research-Publication (Res-Pub) Training Workshop influenced the epistemic expertise and research rigor of 20 doctoral students in English Studies. The workshop was designed using a reframed Community of Practice (CoP) approach situated within the Disciplinary Writing Expertise (DWE) framework. To enhance research publishability, this study introduces the Scholarly Rigor-Expertise (SR-E) model, integrating eight methodological components—(1) Critical Literature Navigation, (2) Domain-Specific Knowledge, (3) Epistemological Awareness, (4) Conceptual Framework Development, (5) Methodological Justification, (6) Transparent Data Collection Design, (7) Analytical Rigor and Interpretation, and (8) Reflective and Contextual Conclusions. A mixed-methods design integrated a self-constructed self-efficacy survey with qualitative data from focus groups and in-depth interviews. Findings showed strong self-efficacy in six areas (means = 3.26 -3.42) and moderate self-efficacy in Conceptual Framework Development, and Reflective and Contextual Conclusions (means = 3.20, 3.14). Qualitative data enrich the quantitative findings, offering deeper insights into the SR-E model’s effectiveness. Focus groups interviews emphasized Domain-Specific Knowledge, while in-depth interviews deepened Methodological Justification–both central to research expertise. The findings suggest the Res-Pub Training Workshop, grounded in the Reframed CoP model, could enhance the participants’ scholarly rigor and expertise, fostering research and practice to support doctoral students and young scholars’ development.