Transcript Elongating Academic Timelines, Science PhD Recipients 1951

University of California (UC)
Doctoral Student Career and
Life Survey Findings, 2006-2007
Mary Ann Mason
Marc Goulden
Karie Frasch
Sharon Page-Medrich
University of California, Berkeley
University of California (UC) Doctoral Student
Career and Life Survey
•
•
An 18-page Web survey assessed the attitudes of doctoral students (second year and
higher) toward current and future career and life issues and their satisfaction with their
degree program, with special attention to issues affecting student parents.
Launched at UC Berkeley in fall 2006 and at the other UC campuses (except Merced) in
spring 2007, an overall 43% rate was achieved (8,373 respondents/19,678 surveyed)
and an estimated 48% response rate among women doctoral students.
Respondents’ Basic Demographics
• 51% of respondents are women but women are only 45% of
UC’s doctoral student population (second year+).
• 14% of women and 12% of men have been parents as doctoral students.
• 34% of women and 33% of men are married.
• 17% of women and 11% of men are partnered.
• 5% of women and 3% of men are divorced/not remarried.
• Women are on average 1 year older than men: age 31 vs. 30.
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
UC Doctoral Student Career and Life Survey:
Response Rates by Campus
UC Campus
Number of
Responses
Number
Surveyed*
Total
Response
Rate
Estimated
Response Rate
for Women**
Berkeley
2,122
4,201
51%
56%
Davis
1,162
2,468
47%
54%
Irvine
778
1,945
40%
45%
1,527
4,364
35%
39%
Riverside
448
1,194
38%
41%
San Diego
906
2,200
41%
45%
San Francisco
344
784
44%
53%
Santa Barbara
855
1,869
46%
53%
Santa Cruz
231
653
35%
47%
8,373
19,678
43%
48%
Los Angeles
Total
*Bad email addresses are excluded from number surveyed and response rate calculation.
**Estimated based on percent of women among surveyed population (according to the local campus) and percent of
women among survey respondents (self-reported by respondents).
UC Doctoral Students: As you think about your future
career plans, how concerned are you about the family
friendliness of possible career paths?
Women
Not at all
concerned
4%
Men
Not applicable
1%
Not too
concerned
11%
Somewhat
concerned
31%
Very
concerned
53%
Not at all
concerned
7%
Not too
concerned
18%
Not applicable
1%
Very
concerned
35%
Somewhat
concerned
39%
N=3,948
N=3,648
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
As you think about possible future career paths and family issues, how
family friendly do you imagine each of the following job types to be?
UC Doctoral Students by Gender
Percent Imagining Job Type to Be Very or Somewhat Family Friendly*
Job Types
Total Men Women
Rank
1
Tenure-track faculty careers at teaching-intensive
colleges
77%
82%
73%
2
Policy or managerial careers inside academia
76%
80%
73%
3
Research careers outside academia
75%
78%
72%
4
Policy or managerial careers outside academia
72%
74%
71%
5
Non-tenure-track faculty careers
63%
62%
64%
6
Research careers at research-intensive
universities
47%
55%
40%
7
Tenure-track faculty careers at research-intensive
universities
37%
46%
29%
N=7,294 to 7,550
3,481 to 3,596
3,784 to 3,923
*vs. not too or not at all family friendly.
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Percent Imagining Tenure-Track Faculty Careers at Research-Intensive
Universities to Be Very or Somewhat Family Friendly* by New Child
Born/Adopted as PhD Student & Paid Status at Event
New Child Born or
Gender Adopted as PhD
Student?
Paid off Federal
% Imagining
Grant at
Career to be
Birth/Adopt.
Very/Somewhat
Event?
Family Friendly
No new child
Men
Yes, new child
46%
3,257
Not paid off
federal grant
46%
227
Yes, paid off
federal grant
35%
62
29%
3,637
Not paid off
federal grant
29%
211
Yes, paid off
federal grant
16%
45
No new child
Women
Yes, new child
N
*vs. not too or not at all family friendly
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Perceived Commonness of Women Faculty
in Department/Unit Having Children
Percent Rating Tenure-Track Faculty Careers at Research Intensive Univ.
as Very or Somewhat Family Friendly by Perceived Commonness of
Women Faculty in Their Department/Unit Having Children
Total N=
Not at all common
12%
Not too common
19%
Somewhat common
Women
Doctoral
Students
30%
Not too common
Somewhat common
Very common
0%
968
1,660
730
46%
Very common
Not at all common
319
31%
35%
Men
Doctoral
Students
45%
133
602
1,393
58%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Percent Rating Tenure-Track Faculty Careers at Research
Intensive Universities as Very or Somewhat Family Friendly
919
60%
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Career Goal at
Start of PhD Bus.,
Gov.,
Other
32%
Men
*Professor w.
Research
Emphasis
Current Goal
Prof.
(rsrch)*
45%
Men
Bus.,
Gov.,
Other
42%
Prof.
(teach)
20%
Other Acad.
2%
Other Acad.
3%
Prof.
(teach)
19%
N=3710
Career Goal at
Start of PhD Bus.,
Women
Prof.
(rsrch)*
36%
Current Goal
Women
Gov.,
Other
29%
Other Acad.
4%
Changing
Career Goals
N=3672
Bus.,
Gov.,
Other
41%
Prof.
(rsrch)*
39%
Prof.
(teach)
28%
N=3994
UC PhD
Students
Other Acad.
5%
Prof.
(rsrch)*
27%
Prof.
(teach)
27%
N=3936
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Career Goal at
Start of PhD
Men
*Professor w.
Research
Emphasis
Current Goal
Bus.,
Gov.,
Other
45%
Prof.
(rsrch)*
40%
Bus.,
Gov.,
Other
58%
N=1774
N=1754
Current Goal
Bus.,
Gov.,
Other
45%
Changing
Career Goals
Prof.
(teach)
12%
Other Acad.
2%
Career Goal at
Start of PhD
Women
Men
Prof.
(teach)
14%
Other Acad.
1%
Prof.
(rsrch)*
28%
Other Acad.
3%
Prof.
(rsrch)*
31%
Prof.
(teach)
21%
N=856
Prof.
(rsrch)*
20%
Women
Bus.,
Gov.,
Other
58%
Prof.
(teach)
18%
PTEM**
UC PhD
Students
N=840
**Includes physical sc., technology, engineer., & math.
Other Acad.
4%
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Reasons Most Commonly Cited by UC PhD Students for
Shifting Career Goal away from Professor with Research Emphasis
Percent Citing Factor As “Very Important*”
in Career Goal Shift
Total
Men
Women
1
Negative experience as PhD student
45%
44%
46%
2
Other life interests
42%
35%
48%
3
Professional activities too time consuming
41%
35%
45%
4
Issues related to children
36%
21%
46%
5
Geographic location issues
35%
28%
40%
6
Feelings of isolation/alienation as PhD student
33%
31%
35%
7
Bad job market
30%
29%
30%
8
Career advancement issues
30%
34%
27%
9
Job security
29%
29%
29%
10
Spouse/partner issues or desire to marry
27%
22%
32%
11
Monetary compensation (e.g., salary, benefits)
27%
31%
23%
12
Other career interests
25%
23%
27%
*”Not applicable” is excluded from analysis.
N=956 to 1,201 402 to 529 550 to 666
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.01).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Percent of UC PhD Students Dissatisfied* with
Current Aspects of their Experience, By Gender
All PhD
% Dissatisfied* with Experience
Students
Men
Women
1
Dept/unit support for career-life balance
49%
46%
53%
2
Time for self (e.g. recreation, health)
43%
39%
47%
3
Personal progress toward career goals
26%
26%
26%
4
Personal progress toward PhD degree
24%
25%
23%
5
Overall career and life situation
21%
20%
22%
6
Interaction with faculty
19%
18%
19%
7
Interaction with fellow PhD students
17%
18%
16%
8
Interaction with primary faculty advisor
17%
16%
17%
9
Quality of degree program
10%
10%
10%
N=7,790 to 8,300
3,741 to 4,034 4,008 to 4,219
*Dissatisfied includes “Not too” and “Not at all satisfied” vs. “Very” and “Somewhat satisfied.”
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
UC PhD Students: Whether or not you currently have children,
do you expect to have or adopt any in the future?
Women
Men
No
15%
Do
Not
Know
20%
No
14%
Do
Not
Know
22%
Yes
65%
Yes
64%
N=4,066
N=3,796
If “yes,” would you consider having children as a PhD student?
Women
No
58%
Yes,
and I am
certain
that I
will
7%Yes, but
I am not
certain
that I
will
35%
Men
No
67%
N=2,619
Yes,
and I am
certain
that I
will Yes, but
9% I am not
certain
that I
will
24%
N=2,394
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Reasons Cited for Not Having or Being Uncertain about Having a Child as
a UC PhD Stud. (slide 1 of 2) (among those planning to have children in the future)
Percent Citing As Very Important*
Total
Men
Women
1
Time demands of current PhD program/employment
72%
68%
76%
2
Current level of personal/household income
64%
67%
61%
3
Anticipated demands of future program/career
54%
48%
59%
4
Stress of raising a child as a PhD student
53%
48%
58%
5
Concerns re affordability/availability of quality childcare
53%
49%
56%
6
Concerns re affordability/availability of quality housing
51%
51%
52%
7
Uncertain future employment situation
50%
48%
51%
8
Concerns re affordability/availability of health insurance
47%
47%
48%
9
Worry PhD program & caregiving are incompatible
46%
36%
54%
10 Concerns re degree progress
43%
34%
51%
11 Concerns about availability of pregnancy leave
43%
32%
50%
12 Uncertain current employment situation
38%
35%
40%
*”Not applicable” is excluded from analysis.
N=3,880-4,353 1,607-2,006 2,199-2,330
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Reasons Cited for Not Having or Being Uncertain about Having a Child as
a UC PhD Stud. (slide 2 of 2) (among those planning to have children in the future)
Tot.
Men
Wom.
13 Concerns re future career advancement/success
36%
27%
43%
14 Anticipated future level of personal/household income
33%
32%
33%
15 Uncertainty re future spouse/partner (not married)
30%
27%
33%
16 Limit. interest in becoming parent as a PhD student
29%
31%
28%
17 Spouse/partner does not want child at this time
28%
32%
24%
18 Time for leisure or social activities
23%
23%
23%
19 Effects of a(nother) child on my marriage/relationship
17%
17%
17%
20 Worry advisor would take my work less seriously
15%
8%
21%
21 Worry possible employers might take work less serious
15%
6%
23%
22 Worry other faculty might take work less seriously
13%
6%
19%
23 Medical or health reasons (including age)
13%
8%
17%
9%
4%
14%
Percent Citing As Very Important*
24 Worry peers would take my work less seriously
*”Not applicable” is excluded from analysis.
N= 1,788-4,312 828-1,983
953-2,314
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Everybody is Busy (UC Doctoral Students)
Average Hours per Week
PhD Program Work
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
34.2
15.0
18.8
32.7
N=543
Women with
Children
Employment
Housework
Caregiving
6.5
9.7
5.8
9.5
16.2
16.6
42.8
42.1
452
3436
3215
Men with
Children
Women
without
Children
Men without
Children
20.8
12.5
19.3
37
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
UC Doctoral Student Parents and Career-Family Conflict
Women
N=409
"I have not brought my childr(en) to my department because I
worry that colleagues/faculty would be bothered."
19%
25%
491
"I missed some of my child's important events so as not to
appear uncommitted to my program/work."
21%
29%
435
510
"I began working (education/employment) sooner
than I would have liked after becoming a parent to be
taken seriously as an academic."
15%
385
Men
436
30%
404
31%
"I tried to time new children to fit in with
my education/career progression."
49%
436
"I slowed down or made
sacrifices in my
education/career in
order to be a good
parent."
64%
74%
457
547
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Percent Who Indicated "Yes," the Statement Accurately Described Their Past or Present Situation
("Not applicable" has been excluded and "Partially accurate" has been grouped with "No.")
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Note: These questions were based on Robert Drago’s Mapping Project Survey Instrument (http://lsir.la.psu.edu/workfam/facultysurvey.htm).
UC Doctoral Student Parents and Career-Family Support/Flexibility
Women
N=459
"My educational/career timing has
meshed well with my family timing."
27%
27%
549
"My department has been supportive of my
need to balance work and family life."
41%
44%
420
530
Men
463
"My daily schedule is flexible,
which is helpful in raising children."
60%
58%
545
"My fellow PhD students have
been supportive of my need to
balance work and family."
66%
59%
411
515
"My advisor has been
supportive of my need to
balance work and family."
66%
67%
450
534
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Percent Who Indicated "Yes," the Statement Accurately Described Their Past or Present Situation
("Not applicable" has been excluded and "Partially accurate" has been grouped with "No.")
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Note: Some questions were based on Robert Drago’s Mapping Project Survey Instrument (http://lsir.la.psu.edu/workfam/facultysurvey.htm).
Career Duties That Place Stress on UC Doctoral Student Parenting
Women
N=
328
14%
363
19%
427
17%
503
365
21%
Research/writing (part of paid work)
32%
17%
Attending conferences/presenting papers
33%
488
250
Attending seminars, colloquia, dept. meetings
31%
398
397
Meeting deadlines for grants/fellowships
30%
444
23%
296
29%
Field research away from home
42%
375
453
34%
523
0%
Conducting time-sensitive experiments
34%
218
Research/writing (PhD program)
45%
10%
Career Duties
Meeting teaching obligations
28%
386
Men
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Percent of UC Doctoral Student Parents Experiencing a “Great Deal” of
Stress in Parenting as a Result of Specific Educational/Career Duty
(“Not Applicable” is excluded. “Some,” “A little,” and “None” responses are grouped.)
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden. 2006. “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (http://ucfamilyedge.berkeley.edu/grad%20life%20survey.html).
Elongating Career Timelines (Mean Time-to-Events):
U.S. Science & Social Sci. PhDs Who Achieve Tenure, 1985-1999*
Year of survey*
Age at Bach.
Time to PhD
Time to Ten. Track Job
Time to Tenure
1985
22.5
7.6
1.6
4.5
1987
22.4
7.7
1.6
4.8
1989
22.4
8.3
1.5
5
1991
22.3
8.3
1.6
5
1993
22.2
8.5
1.6
5.2
1995
22.4
8.8
1.6
5.3
1997
22.6
8.7
1.7
5.2
1999
23
9.3
1.8
5.1
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Mean age
*Mean age calculations are based on PhD Recipients who are given up to 14 years from PhD receipt to achieve tenure;
e.g., 1999 includes SDR respondents who received their PhD in 1985-1987.
Source: NSF, SDR Sciences, 1973-1999.
Note: The use of NSF Data does not imply the endorsement of research methods or conclusions contained in this report.