Survey of Earned Doctorates National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Mark Fiegener, Ph.D. Presentation to Clemson University April 15, 2009 National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources 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? National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics

3 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 National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics

4 Doctorates awarded by U.S. colleges and universities, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Number of doctorate recipients

5 Why Collect These Data? National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics 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 Economic Outcomes Workforce Characteristics Education Characteristics R&D, Innovation, GDP growth, etc. Scientists, Researchers, Engineers Research Doctorate Recipients SED Data Users: Policy makers University administrators Academic researchers Associations/organizations concerned with advancing particular fields or underrepresented groups National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics

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

8 How Are SED Data Collected? National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics 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

9 Data Collection Mechanics National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Institutional Contact Doctorate Recipients NORC Paper Quex, Web Info NSF & Federal Sponsors Paper Quex, Web Info Completed Paper Quex Completed Paper Quex Survey Design Survey Mgmt Missing Info Roster Missing Info Letter, CATI Completed Web Quex

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11 SED Response Rates National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates. 92% Target Percent

12 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 National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics

13 Data Protection and the SED National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics 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

14 SED data National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Doctorate Records File Contains data on doctorate recipients back to 1920 For , 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

15 SED Variables: Education National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Degree history (type, year, field, institution) Financial support during graduate school Amount of debt Time to degree

16 Median time-to-degree of Clemson doctorate recipients by field of study, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates.

17 Percentage of Clemson doctorate recipients with level of debt by field of degree, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Percent of Clemson doctorate recipients with level of debt

18 Number of U.S. doctorate recipients ( ) who earned baccalaureate degree from Clemson National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Number of U.S. doctorate recipients with baccalaureate degree from Clemson

19 SED Variables: Post-graduation Plans National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics 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

20 Post-graduation plans of Clemson doctorate recipients by field of study, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Percent z 0

21 Intended post-graduate location of Clemson doctorate recipients by field of study, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2007 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Percent of Clemson doctorate recipients with Intentions to locate in state/region

22 SED Variables: Demographics National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics 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

23 Post-graduation status of U.S. doctorate recipients by field of study, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2006 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Percent with definite commitments for employment or study z 0

24 Post-graduation status of U.S. doctorate recipients by selected demographic groups, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2006 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Percent with definite commitments for employment or study z 0

25 Post-graduation plans of doctorate recipients by field of study, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics NOTE: Percentages are based on the number reporting definite commitments for employment or study. SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2006 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Percent with definite commitments for employment z z Percent with definite commitments for study

26 Employment sector of S&E doctorate recipients by field of study, National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Life sciencesPhysical sciencesSocial sciencesEngineering 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. SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, 2006 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Percent with definite commitments for U.S. employment in sector

27 Data Availability National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics SED Questionnaires SED publications Interagency Summary Report WebCASPAR (database with selected variables) Restricted-use Data License

28 For further information on the SED contact: National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics Mark Fiegener, Ph.D. SED Project Officer