Information on the NRC Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs
What is the purpose of the study?
Every ten years or so, the National Research Council (NRC) conducts a study of national importance regarding the quality and characteristics of doctoral programs in the United States.
The 2006 NRC Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs is an effort to help universities improve the quality of their doctoral programs through benchmarking; providing potential students and the public with accessible, readily available information on doctoral programs nationwide; and enhancing the nation’s overall research capacity. The National Research Council has conducted other similar assessments that were published in 1982 and 1995.
The previous studies gathered data that described doctoral programs-size, university resources, program faculty productivity, and student characteristics. The 2006 study expands these data to include data relating to Ph.D. student financing, teaching, and other aspects of student resources. The 2006 Assessment collected data about the doctoral programs in over 60 areas of study in U.S. universities.
Why is this study important?
Graduate education is the key driver of quality in U.S. higher education. This latest study speaks to the importance of doctoral education as a key component of our system of education as well as the graduate education community’s efforts at continuous improvement. The results of this study come at a time of increased scrutiny of higher education and serve as a benchmark foundation for future assessment efforts in the ongoing work to improve doctoral education in America. The quality of doctoral education is key to developing U.S. expertise in a variety of fields and to enhancing U.S. competitiveness and innovation.
How is this study different from the previous ones?
This third study conducted by the NRC provides a massive amount of data to permit doctoral programs to compare themselves to other similar programs and, where possible, to improve their current practices. It also provides accessible data about doctoral program characteristics that are of interest to students considering doctoral study.
In past NRC assessments of doctoral programs, rankings have been provided for doctoral programs in specified fields. In 1982, rankings for each program in a field were presented in a list arranged alphabetically by university. In 1995, the rankings based on peer assessment of scholarly quality of program faculty were arranged in numerical order for each program within a field. This 2006 study utilizes a variety of new approaches to the rating and ranking of programs and drew on a richer base of data than was available in earlier studies.
The number of fields included was increased from 41 to over 60 and a new category of “emerging fields” is included reflecting the growth of interdisciplinary programs across universities. Information on the NRC taxonomy of fields and subfields
Additional quantitative measures were collected from institutions, programs and faculty to assist in characterizing programs and in understanding the correlates of reputation.
A pilot student survey was conducted of enrolled students in selected fields who have advanced to candidacy for a doctoral degree to obtain assessments of their educational experience, research productivity, program practices and institutional and program environment.
While reputational measures are included there is an emphasis in the report and database on program ratings which are presented in ranges.
The study includes a short report summarizing major issues and findings and a searchable database.
What will I find in this report?
Each university will receive an individualized set of analyses for:
Comparison of Programs
Look for the range of rankings for all four measures for programs in each field. See the ranges of rankings for the programs at your institution.
Understanding the Range of Rankings
What are the most important variables in each field? Where does a program stand on those variables compared to other programs in the field?
Data Beyond the Ratings
The online database will contain a wealth of additional data on student financing, teaching and research training, and offerings for students. These data may be compared across programs.
A Guide to the Methodology of the National Research Council Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs is available as a downloadable PDF, but the methodology has been revised since it was published. For more current information on the methodology please visit the National Academy of Sciences website.