What is the Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR)?
The SDR is an ongoing survey of doctorate recipients who received their degrees from academic institutions within the United States. The survey has been conducted regularly since 1973.
What is the purpose of the SDR and how is the data used?
The SDR is designed to provide career history information about science and engineering doctorate holders. The results of the SDR are used by government agencies and academia to make planning decisions regarding education. They are also used by employers to understand employment, industry, and salary trends. This information has proven valuable for individuals who want to learn about the relationship between graduate education and careers.
This study is the only source of data on the careers of science and engineering doctorate holders from U.S. academic institutions. It provides an essential and irreplaceable resource on the education and training, work experience, and career development of those who earned a doctorate in the U.S.
Specific examples of places where the SDR data have been used include:
Who is doing the survey?
The National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
The SDR is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NSF is an independent agency of the United States government, established by the National Science Act of 1950. The missions of the NSF and NIH are to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and to secure national defense. The NSF and NIH sponsor and support, through grants and contracts, scientific research and programs designed to strengthen scientific potential, educational programs, and appraise the impact of research upon industrial development.
The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
The SDR is being conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. NORC is a self-governing, not-for-profit corporation affiliated with the University of Chicago. Founded in 1941, NORC's mission is to advance the methodology of public opinion surveys and provide accurate, well-focused survey data to inform and invigorate decision-making. NORC is one of the oldest and most respected social science research organizations in the United States, and the results from many NORC studies have been used to help national policy-makers in their decision making.
Who is included in this study?
This survey is completed by individuals that have received their doctorate in science or engineering from U.S. academic institutions. This includes those who received their doctorate in the biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences, computer and information sciences, mathematics and statistics, the physical sciences, psychology, the social sciences, engineering and health.
Approximately how many people participate in the SDR?
About 43,000 out of 773,000 (approximately 5.5%) science and engineering doctorate holders are asked to participate in the 2006 SDR.
How did you get my name?
Your name came from the Doctorate Records File (DRF). The DRF is a database that contains the name and degree information for all individuals earning a research doctorate in the United States. You were scientifically selected from this database to be part of the SDR.
Why should I complete the survey?
SDR tracks the productivity and employment trends for a very important portion of the population – science and engineering doctorate holders. We need your participation to make this information valid and complete. Since we can not interview all 773,000 science and engineering doctorate holders, your responses represent not just you, but also many others like you. Because you were scientifically selected to be part of the SDR, we cannot substitute another person for you.
How do I complete the SDR survey?
You may complete the 2006 SDR survey in one of three ways: (1) on a paper version of the survey, (2) by telephone with a professional interviewer, or (3) online via the Internet.
Please contact NORC toll-free at 1-800-685-1663 or send an E-mail to SDR@norc.uchicago.edu. Just let us know what your preference is and we will be happy to accommodate you.
I am now retired. Why do you still need my information?
The study includes people in every employment situation—tracking whether you’ve retired and returned to work or whether you remain retired is important information that makes the SDR trend data more complete and useful. The only way to track such career decisions is to include all respondents, even retired individuals who plan to stay retired, in the study.
I do not live or work in the United States. Why do you still need my information?
Scientists and engineers with doctorate degrees are highly trained and mobile. Many move from one country to another to take advantage of opportunities in their fields. Understanding the productivity and career paths of science and engineering doctorate holders is important no matter where they reside.
Why are you asking about the week of April 1, 2006?
This survey is conducted over a period of several months. In order to standardize the data collection procedures, the National Science Foundation selected this week so that everyone who participates will be asked about the same time period. It has no other special significance.
Will my answers be confidential?
Definitely. NSF and NORC maintain the highest standards of confidentiality. Your name and other identifying information, as well as that of all other participants, will be kept strictly confidential by NORC and NSF as required by the NSF Act of 1950 as amended and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002.
No information obtained in the course of this study may be disclosed in a manner in which the particular individual supplying the information is identifiable except to a very small number of authorized staff at NORC and NSF for survey administrative purposes only.
Is additional information available?
For additional information about the Survey of Doctorate Recipients, please visit the
National Science Foundation web site.
For additional information about the National Opinion Research Center's role in the Survey of Doctorate Recipients, or any other topic, please visit the
NORC web site.
How do I contact the National Science Foundation?
If you have further questions about the study or if you would like information about the survey data, please contact the NSF Project Officer, John Tsapogas, via e-mail at jtsapoga@nsf.gov
What if my question is not in this list of Frequently Asked Questions?
If you have any further questions about the study, please contact NORC toll-free at 1-800-685-1663 or send an e-mail to SDR Support.
Finally, you can reach us via U.S. mail at the following address:
2006 Survey of Doctorate Recipients
NORC
1 North State St.,16th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602-3305
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