Survey of Earned Doctorates

Survey of Earned Doctorates

National Science Foundation

Division of Science Resources Statistics

Mark Fiegener, Ph.D.

Presentation toClemson University

April 15, 2009

National Science FoundationDivision of Science Resources Statistics

www.nsf.gov/statistics

2

Agenda

• What is the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)?

• Why collect these data?

• How are the data collected?

• How can the data be used?


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What is the SED?

• SED is an annual census of all new research doctorate recipients from accredited U.S. institutions

• Research Doctorate: – requires an original contribution of knowledge to the

field (typically a dissertation); and– is not primarily intended for the practice of a profession


4

Doctorates awarded byU.S. colleges and universities, 1957-2007


0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates.

Num

ber o

f do c

tor a

te r e

cip i

ents

5

Why Collect These Data?


NSF is authorized by a Legislative mandate(NSF Act of 1950):

• To collect and analyze demographic and educational information on individuals who earn degrees in science and engineering; and

• To design, establish, and maintain a data collection and analysis capability for the purpose of identifying and assessing the number and characteristics of scientists and engineers in the United States.

6

Larger Context of SED Data

EconomicOutcomes

WorkforceCharacteristics

EducationCharacteristics

R&D,Innovation,

GDP growth,etc.

Scientists,Researchers,

Engineers

ResearchDoctorateRecipients

SED Data Users:Policy makers

University administratorsAcademic researchers

Associations/organizations concerned with advancing particular fields or underrepresented groups


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Uses of SED data: Examples

• Policy makers: evaluation of federal programs– Graduate and Undergraduate Fellowship, Scholarship,

Traineeship, Dissertation, and other programs administered by federal SED sponsors*

• Associations/organizations: program development– Obtaining grants, planning, measuring & reporting progress

• Universities– Program development– Program comparison (internal and external)– Faculty recruiting, doctoral student placement


* National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Aeronautics & Space Administration

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How Are SED Data Collected?


• Data Collection Modes – Paper surveys – PDF version – Web SED option (some use Web SED exclusively) – Mail, telephone, and Web used for non-respondents

• Timing: July 1 to June 30 of following year– 2009 SED from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009

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Data Collection Mechanics


InstitutionalContact

DoctorateRecipientsNORC

Paper Quex,Web Info

NSF& Federal Sponsors

Paper Quex,Web Info

CompletedPaper Quex

CompletedPaper Quex

Survey DesignSurvey Mgmt

Missing InfoRoster

Missing Info Letter,CATI

CompletedWeb Quex

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SED Response Rates


40

50

60

70

80

90

100


92%Target

Perc

ent

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Why Response Rate Matters

• “Small data cells” – fewer doctorate recipients in some data categories than in others– 277 fields of degree– 3 citizenship categories– 7 race/ethnicity categories

• Non-response in small data cells could have disproportionate impact on small fields of degree, underrepresented groups, smaller universities . . . policy decisions could be affected

• Survey of Doctorate Recipients


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Data Protection and the SED


• Data reported in aggregate form, and only in sufficiently large numbers

• Universities requesting their own data must sign confidentiality statements affirming that the data will be used for research purposes only

• All Federal and NORC employees must sign legally binding confidentiality forms

• Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release

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SED data


Doctorate Records File

• Contains data on doctorate recipients back to 1920

• For 1920-1957, data (basic items only) generated from graduation announcements and lists provided by graduate schools

• From 1958 to present, data from SED respondents– Basic data items collected for non-respondents

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SED Variables: Education


• Degree history (type, year, field, institution)

• Financial support during graduate school

• Amount of debt

• Time to degree

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Median time-to-degree of Clemson doctorate recipients by field of study, 2003-2007


14.33

9.34

8.27

8.84

7.46

8.17

8.19

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Education

Social Sciences

Engineering

Math/CS

Physical Sciences

Biological Sciences

Agricultural Sciences

Years from Start of Grad School to Graduation


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Percentage of Clemson doctorate recipients with level of debt by field of degree, 2003-2007


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

AgriculturalSciences

BiologicalSciences

PhysicalSciences

Math/CS Engineering SocialSciences

Education

No Debt $1 to $10,000 $10,001 to $30,000 > $30,000


Perc

e nt o

f Cle

mso

n do

cto r

ate

reci

p ien

tsw

ith l e

vel o

f de b

t

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Number of U.S. doctorate recipients (2003-2007) who earned baccalaureate degree from Clemson


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Clemson, total Biological SciencesEngineering Social SciencesEducation


Num

b er o

f U.S

. doc

t ora

te re

cip i

ents

with

bac

cala

ure a

te d

egre

e fr

om C

lem

son

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SED Variables: Post-graduation Plans


• Type of plan (post-doc, traineeship, employment)

• Location (state in the U.S. or foreign country)

• Type of employer (government, industry, private)

• Primary or secondary work activity

• Starting in SED 2008, salary offer

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Post-graduation plans of Clemson doctorate recipients by field of study, 2003-2007



Perc

ent

z30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100


BiologicalSciences

Physicalsciences


Education

% with Definite CommitmentsOf Committed, % Employed in non-PostDoc PositionOf Employed, % in Academe

0

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Intended post-graduate location of Clemson doctorate recipients by field of study, 2003-2007



Perc

e nt o

f Cle

mso

n do

cto r

ate

reci

p ien

tsw

ith I n

tent

ions

to lo

c ate

i n s

tate

/reg i

on

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100


BiologicalSciences

PhysicalSciences


Education

South Carolina Other SouthEast Locations Other U.S. Locations Foreign Locations

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SED Variables: Demographics


• Gender• Race and ethnicity • Marital status • Dependents• Parent’s education• Disability status• Date of birth• Place of birth• Citizenship status at the time of Ph.D.• Country of citizenship

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Post-graduation status of U.S. doctorate recipientsby field of study, 1986-2006



Perc

e nt w

i th d

e fin

ite c

omm

itmen

tsfo

r em

ploy

men

t or s

tudy

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

All fields Lifesciences

Physicalsciences

Socialsciences

Engineering Education Humanities Other fields

1986 1996 2006

z 0

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Post-graduation status of U.S. doctorate recipientsby selected demographic groups, 1986-2006



50

55

60

65

70

75

80

Men Women AmericanIndian

Asian Black Hispanic White

1986 1996 2006

Perc

e nt w

i th d

e fin

ite c

omm

itmen

tsfo

r em

ploy

men

t or s

tudy

z 0

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Post-graduation plans of doctorate recipientsby field of study, 1986-2006


NOTE: Percentages are based on the number reporting definite commitments for employment or study.


20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1986 1991 1996 2001 2006

Life sciences Physical sciences Social sciences Engineering

Perc

e nt w

i th d

e fin

ite c

omm

itmen

tsfo

r em

plo y

me n

t

z0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

100

z

Percent with definite com

mitm

entsfor study

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Employment sector of S&E doctorate recipientsby field of study, 1986-2006


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1986 1996 2006 1986 1996 2006 1986 1996 2006 1986 1996 2006

Academe Industry/self-employed Government Other

Life sciences Physical sciences Social sciences Engineering

NOTES: Percentages are based on the number reporting definite commitments for U.S. employment to a sector. The “Other” sector includes employment in elementary/secondary schools and non-profit organizations.


Perc

e nt w

i th d

e fin

ite c

omm

itmen

tsfo

r U. S

. em

ploy

men

t in

sect

or

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Data Availability


• SED Questionnaireshttp://www.nsf.gov/statistics/question.cfm

• SED publicationshttp://www.nsf.gov/statistics/doctorates/

• Interagency Summary Report http://www.norc.org/sed

• WebCASPAR (database with selected variables)http://webcaspar.nsf.gov/

• Restricted-use Data License http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/database.cfm#MICRODATA

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/question.cfm

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/doctorates/

http://www.norc.org/sed

http://webcaspar.nsf.gov/

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/database.cfm#MICRODATA

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For further information on the SED contact:


Mark Fiegener, Ph.D. SED Project OfficerEmail: [email protected]

Survey of Earned Doctorates

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