a new context supporting ph.d. completion: a longitudinal study of 20 doctoral programs a new...
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A New Context Supporting Ph.D. Completion:A New Context Supporting Ph.D. Completion:
A Longitudinal Study of 20 Doctoral ProgramsA Longitudinal Study of 20 Doctoral Programs
Howard E. Jackson
University of Cincinnati
Council of Graduate SchoolsDecember 10, 2004
Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:
Robert FrankAssociate Dean
Eleanor BuczalaSenior Assistant Dean
Comments for CGS …Comments for CGS …
We are data driven…
Some simple data
Some simple data re-examined
Some simple data not in place
Some more complex data we wish
Some Simple DataSome Simple Data
University of Cincinnati Ph.D. completion data for entering cohorts 1992-1997 (as of 9/04)
English …………… 69.2%
College of Medicine (8 departments) … 66.8%
Psychology ............. 64.3%
Criminal Justice .... 62.3%
College of Engineering (9 programs) ....... 57.7%
Simple Data – displayed differentlySimple Data – displayed differently
Program PhDs Completed in 6 YearsPhDs Completed To DateYear n n Percent n Percent
Engineering 1992-93 109 42 38.53% 61 55.96%1993-94 78 44 56.41% 58 74.36%1994-95 86 55 63.95% 64 74.42%1995-96 96 45 46.88% 49 51.04%1996-97 95 34 35.79% 41 43.16%1997-98 85 42 49.41% 44 51.76% 57.74%1998-99 92 34 36.96% 34 36.96%1999-00 89 29 32.58% 29 32.58%
Average 91.3 40.6 44.52% 47.5 52.05%
Entering
Simple Data Reexamined …Simple Data Reexamined …
UC Engineering PhDs to date1992 - 1999 entering cohorts
32
75
139
88
3316
4 20
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Years to Degree
Nu
mb
er
of
Stu
de
nts
Simple Data Reexamined …Simple Data Reexamined …
Astonishing: 32 students completed in 3 years!
Implies
Terrifically talented engineering students
Or a difficulty – a definitional difficulty –
with the data
Simple Data Reexamined: COESimple Data Reexamined: COE
Does one count from year of entry into the University?
Does one count from time of Masters degree completion?
University database does not have a field for when a student is admitted to candidacy(!)
More Complex Data More Complex Data Longitudinal DataLongitudinal Data
Change over time can be observed
Quantitative data
Qualitative data
Data collection by a neutral third
party: Institute for Policy Research
More Complex Data More Complex Data Longitudinal Data - Longitudinal Data - QuantitativeQuantitative
Student demographics, admissions, academic data, et al.
Survey data from students on attitudes, expectations goals, …
Information on student progress from graduate program directors and major professors.
More Complex Data More Complex Data Longitudinal Data - Longitudinal Data - QualitativeQualitative
Taped in-depth individual interviews with 50 entering students
Interviewed by specially trained Graduate Research Assistants
Graduate Program Directors will be interviewed by IPR staff
Data will be analyzed using qualitative methods
A Qualitative/Quantitative Longitudinal Database
Program for Graduate ProgramDirectors
GraduateRecruitmentWeekend
EarlyProfessionalEngagement
Flex ProgramEvaluation
Enhanced TeachingOpportunities
A Panoply of Existinginitiatives
Presently Imagined Interventions …Presently Imagined Interventions …
In Summary …In Summary …
Data is good!
Good data is better!
Complex longitudinal data is best!