journal article Aug 01, 2009

Doctoral Student Attrition in the Stem Fields: An Exploratory Event History Analysis

View at Publisher Save 10.2190/cs.11.2.e
Abstract
The STEM fields, otherwise known as the Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics areas, have become the focus of multiple studies and funding initiatives in recent years. Despite these efforts, lingering concerns exist about who enters, who is retained, and who completes the doctorate in STEM fields. This study utilizes discrete-time event history analysis to model doctoral attrition for 10,088 individuals, in 56 STEM departments, at one research-extensive institution, located in the South, over a 20-year period. Results show that the odds of attrition are the greatest in the first year. Additionally, the odds of attrition are greater for females, Asians, and for those who belong to a hard-applied science major (versus a hard-pure major). The odds of attrition are lower for married students and for those who have higher relative GRE scores than their peers in the same program. The findings of this study provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between particular characteristics of doctoral students and programs on attrition rates over time.
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References
Details
Published
Aug 01, 2009
Vol/Issue
11(2)
Pages
247-266
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Cite This Article
Joe L. Lott, Susan Gardner, Daniel A. Powers (2009). Doctoral Student Attrition in the Stem Fields: An Exploratory Event History Analysis. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 11(2), 247-266. https://doi.org/10.2190/cs.11.2.e