Research Productivity of Social Work PhD Candidates Entering the Academic Job Market: An Analysis of Pre- and Postadmission Productivity Indicators

ABSTRACT

Besides traditional admissions criteria, research-intensive social work PhD programs may rely on personal interviews and curriculum vitae or resumes to gauge prior research experience to determine applicants’ fit for the research-related productivity expected in their programs. Case record review of social work PhD candidates (n=56) entering the job market (fall 2007 to spring 2016) aimed to explore preadmission demographic, academic, and research productivity characteristics as correlates of postadmission research productivity and time-to-degree. Race and ethnicity, residency, master’s degree type, Graduate Record Examination analytical score, and preadmission research productivity were significantly, yet differentially, related to postadmission research productivity. Only master’s degree type was significantly related to time-to-degree. Implications for prospective applicants and admissions committees at research-intensive social work schools are discussed.

Additional information

Funding

PhD student involvement in this project was generously supported through doctoral stipends from the Brown School and the Washington University Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship Program.

Notes on contributors

LaShawnda Fields

Renee M. Cunningham-Williams is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Doctoral Education, Ellie S. Wideman is a doctoral student, and LaShawnda Fields is a doctoral student at Washington University in Saint Louis. Brittni D. Jones is Academic Advisor at Troy University.