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

Joe L. Lott; Susan Gardner; Daniel A. Powers

doi:10.2190/cs.11.2.e

journal article Aug 01, 2009

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

Joe L. Lott Susan Gardner Daniel A. Powers

Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice Vol. 11 No. 2 pp. 247-266 · SAGE Publications

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.

Topics

No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →

References

50

[1]

10.2307/270718

[2]

10.4135/9781412984195

[3]

10.1257/jep.12.3.171

[4]

Attiyeh G. (1999)

[5]

Bair C. R. & Haworth J. G. (1999). Doctoral student attrition and persistence: A meta-synthesis of research. Paper presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education, San Antonio, TX.

[6]

10.1016/s0272-7757(97)00014-9

[7]

Berelson B. (1960)

[8]

10.1080/00221546.1983.11780187

[9]

The characteristics of subject matter in different academic areas.

Anthony Biglan

Journal of Applied Psychology 10.1037/h0034701

[10]

Relationships between subject matter characteristics and the structure and output of university departments.

Anthony Biglan

Journal of Applied Psychology 10.1037/h0034699

[11]

10.1515/9781400862474

[12]

10.1002/j.2168-9830.2005.tb00830.x

[13]

Clark S. M. The Journal of Higher Education (1986)

[14]

Council of Graduate Schools. (2004)

[15]

Council on Postsecondary Education. (2007)

[16]

10.1023/a:1013022201296

[17]

Educational Testing Service. (2006). 2006–2007 Guide to the use of GRE scores. Retrieved November 30, 2006, from http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/994994.pdf.

[18]

Epenshade T. J. Social Science Quarterly (1997)

[19]

10.1007/bf00991848

[20]

10.1017/cbo9780511541414

[21]

Beginning Graduate School: Explaining First‐Year Doctoral Attrition

Chris M. Golde

New Directions for Higher Education 10.1002/he.10105

[22]

10.1353/jhe.2005.0039

[23]

Grant L. Women's Studies Quarterly (2000)

[24]

10.3102/00346543074002171

[25]

Hoffer T. B. V. (2006)

[26]

10.2466/pr0.1997.81.1.337

[27]

10.1080/00221546.2006.11778947

[28]

Knowles M. F. (1997)

[29]

10.1108/09534810310475550

[30]

10.1037/0033-2909.127.1.162

[31]

Lovitts B. E. (2001)

[32]

"The Department Is Very Male, Very White, Very Old, and Very Conservative": The Functioning of the Hidden Curriculum in Graduate Sociology Departments

Eric Margolis, Mary Romero

Harvard Educational Review 10.17763/haer.68.1.1q3828348783j851

[33]

10.1037/0003-066x.59.6.547

[34]

McCormick A. C. (2001)

[35]

10.1080/00221546.2007.11778964

[36]

10.1023/a:1018755201899

[37]

Namboodiri K. (1987)

[38]

National Research Council. (2001)

[39]

Nerad M. CGS Communicator (1991)

[40]

10.1002/ir.37019969207

[41]

Nettles M. T. (2006) 10.56021/9780801882326

[42]

Powers D. A. (2000)

[43]

Does a Spouse Slow You Down?: Marriage and Graduate Student Outcomes

Joseph Price

SSRN Electronic Journal 10.2139/ssrn.933674

[44]

10.1353/rhe.2004.0039

[45]

Tinto V. (1993)

[46]

Trower C. A. Harvard Magazine (2002)

[47]

Turner C. S. V. (2002)

[48]

U.S. News and World Report. (2007). America's Best Graduate Schools.

[49]

10.1353/rhe.2003.0079

[50]

Zwick R. (1991)

Metrics

59

Citations

50

References

Details

Published: Aug 01, 2009
Vol/Issue: 11(2)
Pages: 247-266
License: View

Authors

J

Joe L. Lott

University of Washington Seattle

S

Susan Gardner

University of Maine, Orono

D

Daniel A. Powers

University of Texas at Austin

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

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

You May Also Like