A need exists for better models of what contributes to changes in the time that students take to complete doctorate degrees. Utilizing numerous data sources, On Time to the Doctorate presents a new model to explain changes in both total time to the doctorate and in the several components of time to the doctorate. It examines the lengthening time to the doctorate in many fields (chemistry; physics and astronomy; earth, atmospheric, and marine sciences; mathematical sciences; engineering; agricultural sciences; biological sciences; health sciences; psychology; economics; and "all other social sciences") and provides theoretical explanations for this lengthening time. This thorough and current analysis of time to the doctorate provides an up-to-date, extensive review of the literature and an exposition of data not available elsewhere.
Author(s): coll.
Publisher: National Academies Press
Year: 1990
Language: English
Pages: 162
City: Washington, D.C.
Tags: Doctor of philosophy degree
On Time to the Doctorate
Copyright
Preface
Contents
Executive Summary
FINDINGS
Trends in TTD
Trends in Components of TTD
Modeling TTD
CONCLUSIONS
1 What has been Happening to Time to the Doctorate?
COMPONENTS OF TIME TO THE DOCTORATE AND HOW THEY HAVE CHANGED THROUGH TIME
The Several Kinds of Time
Mean Total Time to the Doctorate
Mean Time Spent Prior to Graduate Entrance
Mean Registered Time to the Doctorate
Mean Time Spent Away from the University
Summary THE NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TIME TRENDThe Two Models
Patterns of Change
The Shape of Change
MANPOWER LOSS FROM LENGTHENING TOTAL TIME TO THE DOCTORATE
2 Models of the Factors that Affect Student Choice and Time to the Doctorate: A Literature Survey
LITERATURE ON PERSISTENCE AND ATTRITION
LITERATURE ON EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS
LITERATURE ON ENROLLMENTS
LITERATURE ON EXPECTED RETURNS
LITERATURE ON TTD
SUMMARY
3 A Model of the Determinants of TTD
THE MODEL
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OPPORTUNITY COSTS FINANCIAL AID AND ITS IMPACT ON COMPLETION TIMESThe Impact of Type of Aid
Effects on the Components of TTD
MARKET FORCES AND COMPLETION TIMES
Effects of Changes in Relative Salaries
Effects of Employment Opportunities
Effects on the Components of TTD
THE VARIABLES USED TO DEVELOP THE MODEL
4 The Relationship Between the Five Vectors of Variables and TTD and its Components: A Comparison of Zero-Order Correlations
THE IMPORTANCE OF DISAGGREGATION BY FIELD
CHANGES IN FAMILY BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS
CHANGES IN STUDENT ATTRIBUTES CHANGES IN TUITION AND FINANCIAL AIDCHANGES IN INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
CHANGES IN MARKET FORCES
Salary Variables
Employment Indicator Variables
THE STOCK VARIABLE
THE ZERO-ORDER CORRELATION OF THE VECTORS
SUMMARY
5 Changes in TTD
COMMON VARIABLES MODEL
Log Linear Equations
Weaknesses of the Common Variables Model
UNIQUE VARIABLES MODEL
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Limitations of the Analysis
What Can Be Learned from the Findings? 6 Changes in Registered Time to the Doctorate, Time Prior to Graduate Entrance, and Time Enrolled in the UniversityREGISTERED TIME TO THE DOCTORATE
RTD in the Common Variables Model Using Linear and Log Linear Equations
RTD in the Unique Variables Model
Evaluation of the Results
TIME SPENT PRIOR TO GRADUATE SCHOOL ENTRANCE (TPGE)
TIME NOT ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY (TNEU)
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS
7 Past as Prologue
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO TIME TO THE DOCTORATE?
Total Time to the Doctorate
Registered Time to the Doctorate
