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Graduate Student Survey 2005

Background on Presentation of Results

Degree level (i.e., master's or doctoral) was defined based on graduate students' responses to the first item on the questionnaire. If a student did not respond to that item, his or her degree level was determined by using records data. This is the same approach that was used in the 2003 Graduate Student Survey. Basing degree level definitions on student responses produced a few incorrect classifications. For example, two Art and Art History students reported that they are doctoral students when, in fact, this program does not offer a doctoral degree. Such incorrect classifications will make little, if any, difference in the overall, campus-wide results or in the results by college. However, they may produce some slight anomalies in the by-program results, and this possibility ought to be kept in mind when interpreting those results.

Results are provided for the entire campus, by degree level. These results are further disaggregated by college (and school and division), and by individual degree program. Tables and graphs of results for the entire campus and for colleges may be viewed by clicking on the link to the left ("By college and student level"). This link displays a table in which survey questions form the table rows and colleges, schools, and divisions form the table columns. The survey items listed are sometimes individual questions, but more often item scales, or similar survey questions grouped by category. The hyperlinked items refer to a reference table that lists the corresponding 2003 survey items or scales that were asked identically in both survey years, for which there are comparable 2003 survey results. The cells of the table contain links to results for each question- by-college combination. In addition, graphs of question means, by college and student level, are provided for certain questions. Additional information about the graphs is provided in a guide. To view results for the entire campus, click on the links in the "campus" column of the table.

To view results for individual programs, click on the link at the left labeled "Tables by degree program." Results are reported for programs with at least six respondents at the master's or doctoral level. If a program meeting this requirement has fewer than six respondents at either degree level, then results are excluded for degree levels not meeting the minimum. For example, a total of 19 Spanish and Portuguese students responded, 5 of whom are master's level, and 14 of whom are doctoral level. Results are therefore available for Spanish and Portuguese, but results for its master's students are excluded.

Additionally, we have provided an excel of the overall means for each survey item by student level within college/division. To view these results, click on the link at the left labeled "Means by college and student level." Filters have been set on each column so that individual colleges or divisions can be selected as well as individual survey questions, or groups of questions. Means and number responding for each of master's and doctoral students are displayed for each survey question for which 6 or more students responded.

Although we have attempted to prevent the reporting of results under the low n-count conditions described above, on rare occasions some results based on data from fewer than six respondents may still appear in some by-program tables. Please use great caution in interpreting any results based on data from fewer than 6 respondents.

Open-ended comments are being distributed by the Graduate School to individual programs. The comments are provided on paper, with an introductory cover letter, and are organized by degree level. A brief summary of the general themes mentioned by students in response to the eleven long open-ended comments has been approved by the Graduate School.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication had a relatively small number of responding doctoral respondents (n = 16). In the graphs of question means, Journalism is often at one end of the distribution of means, suggesting that this school differs from other colleges and schools. Such differences may be exaggerated as a result of the small number of respondents. It is therefore important to use caution when interpreting results for this school.

Graduate Student Survey 2005 Main Page

Last revision 12/05/06