Educators are seriously concerned about the high rate of 0dropouts among the doctor of philosophy candidates and the consequent loss of talent to a nation in need of Ph. D. s. Some have placed the 0dropouts loss as high as 50 percent. The extent of the loss was, however, largely a matter of expert guessing. Last week a well-rounded study was published. It was published. It was based on 22,000 questionnaires sent to former graduate students who were enrolled in 24 universities and it seemed to show many past fears to be groundless.
The 0dropouts rate was found to be 31 per cent, and in most cases the 0dropouts, while not completing the Ph. D. requirement, went on to productive work. They are not only doing well financially, but, according to the report, are not far below the income levels of those who went on to complete their doctorates.
Discussing the study last week, Dr. Tucker said the project was initiated because of the concern frequently expressed by graduate faculties and administrators that some of the individuals who 0dropped out of Ph. D. programs were capable of competing the requirement for the degree. Attrition at the Ph. D. level is also thought to be a waste of precious faculty time and a drain on university resources already being used to capacity. Some people expressed the opinion that the shortage of highly trained specialists and college teachers could be reduced by persuading the 0dropouts to return to graduate schools to complete the Ph. D. "The results of our research" Dr. Tucker concluded, "did not support these opinions."
1. Lack of motivation was the principal reason for 0dropping out.
2. Most 0dropouts went as far in their doctoral program as was consistent with their levels of ability or their specialities.
3. Most 0dropouts are now engaged in work consistent with their education and motivation.
Nearly 75 per cent of the 0dropouts said there was no academic reason for their decision, but those who mentioned academic reason cited failure to pass the qualifying examination, uncompleted research and failure to pass language exams. Among the single most important personal reasons identified by 0dropouts for non-completion of their Ph. D. program, lack of finances was marked by 19 per cent.
As an indication of how well the 0dropouts were doing, a chart showed 2% in humanities were receiving $ 20,000 and more annually while none of the Ph. D. s with that background reached this figure. The Ph. D. s shone in the $ 7,500 to $ 15,000 bracket with 78% at that level against 50% for the 0dropouts. This may also be an indication of the fact that top salaries in the academic fields, where Ph. D. s tend to rise to the highest salaries, are still lagging behind other fields.
As to the possibility of getting 0dropouts back on campus, the outlook was glum. The main condition which would have to prevail for at leas
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