Surveys

On occasion ASGS surveys its members to determine what types of problems they're experiencing with their theses. This questionnaire appeared in issue # 8 of Dissertation News. Here are the results (N = 100). Note: on many items, respondents selected multiple options, so percentages often do not add up to 100.

1. At what stage are you in your dissertation?
	Starting Proposal Dissertation Finished	8% 11% 21% 60%

2. Why are you getting a doctorate?
	Career enhancement Personal Satisfaction Entry to faculty position Other	75% 67% 20% 3%

3. What size is your institution?
	Small Large	20% 80%

4. What is your field of study?
	Education Psychology Professional	73% 19% 8%

5. Are you ...
	Male Female	42% 58%

6. Is your age...
	Under 30 31-40 41-50 51+	1% 36% 53% 9%

7. Are us a US citizen?
	Yes No		97% 3%

8. Are you a member of an ethnic minority?
	Yes No		31% 69%

9. Do you live with a significant other (i.e., spouse, etc.)?
	Yes No		76% 24%

10. Do you live with dependent children?
	Yes No		53% 47%

11. Are you employed full-time?
	Yes No		83% 17%

12. Is your completion timeline reasonable in light of other objectives?
	Yes No		92% 8%

13. Are you on schedule?
	Yes No		68% 32%

14. How many hrs per wk do you work on your dissertation?
	10 or less 11-20 21-40+		35% 41% 24%

15. Have you done any of the following while working on your dissertation?
	Change/start a job Move your residence Get seriously ill Get divorced Have a child Get married Have a serious accident Military duty Other trauma (family deaths, etc.)		58% 49% 22% 15% 1% 9% 5% 2% 24%

16. Do you have a dissertation buddy or support group?
	Yes No		48% 52%

17. If you do, how does it help you most?
	Motivation Problem solving Hands-on help		56% 31% 14%

18. How are you financing your dissertation?
	Scholarship/fellowship/grant Loan Personal funds Other		17% 17% 76% 13%

19. Whad did your dissertation cost?
	$21-$65,000 $11-$20,000 $10,000 or less		36% 32% 32%

20. Which editorial style are you using?
	APA Turabian		19% 89%

21. What were your major problems related to the dissertation? (3 high, 1 low)
	Diss vs Family obligations Keeping healthy/fit Finding time for dissertation Diss vs job obligations Diss vs social demands Writing the results section Knowing how to get started Analyzing/interpreting data Knowing when to stop reading literature Preparing final manuscript for the dean Writing the proposal Selecting a topic Writing the literature review Designing your study Staying motivated for your dissertation Organizing literature review Keeping your deadlines/timeline Scording/coding data Reporting data Financing your dissertation/doctorate Finding/developing an instrument Feeling supported/motivated Gathering info for the literature review Collecting data Writing the method section Learning editorial format/style Proofreading Using the computer for networking Meeting with other committee members Using the computer for word processing Defending at your oral exam Selecting/working with programmer Meeting with your advisor Incorporating the committee's suggestions Writing acceptable English Getting your study published Selecting your advisor Getting help/feedback from your advisor Getting help/feedback from committee Interpreting advisor/committee feedback Selecting committee members Securing permission to do the study Finding subjects Dealing with committee politics Using computer for database organizing Selecting/working with format editor Using computer for statistical analysis Conforming to departmental policies Feeling your study is valuable/worthwhile Selecting/working with typist/word processor Being proud of your dissertation		2.45 2.43 2.33 2.29 2.26 2.15 2.13 2.13 2.09 2.09 2.07 2.05 2.03 2.00 2.00 1.97 1.97 1.91 1.91 1.90 1.87 1.85 1.84 1.84 1.80 1.80 1.73 1.71 1.65 1.65 1.64 1.63 1.62 1.62 1.62 1.60 1.59 1.57 1.57 1.55 1.54 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.52 1.46 1.42 1.35 1.29 1.26 1.26

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