| This thesis investigates time to doctorate at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education (HGSE). The sample for the study includes 625 full-time students who entered HGSE between Fall 1982 and Fall 1988. Data were collected through June 1989. Time to pre-dissertation milestones and doctorate were estimated, and the following covariates examined: cohort, program, gender, race, citizenship, registration (local vs. in absentia), ability, marital status, dependents, and applying for financial aid and amount awarded in the first year of study.;Survival analysis was used for this investigation. A relatively new analytic technique, survival analysis provides more accurate estimates of time to doctorate because it incorporates continuing students in its estimates.;Estimated median time to doctorate at HGSE is 5.83 years. Students who register in absentia in years 2 and 3 graduate faster than students who register locally, but students who register in absentia in year 5 take longer than those who register locally. Foreign students in the psychology program (HDP) and teaching program (TCLE) graduate faster than U.S. students in these programs; foreign students in the administration program (APSP) have the same duration as U.S. students in this program. Students with high scores on achievement tests graduate somewhat faster than those with low scores. Non-White students under 30 at entry graduate faster than White students; non-Whites 30 and older at entry take longer than White students to graduate.;In general, students who apply for financial aid in their first year of study take longer to graduate than students who do not apply; men under 30 at entry who apply for aid, however, graduate more quickly than men under 30 who do not apply. Regarding amount of financial aid awarded in the first year of study, women who receive high awards take longer to graduate than women who receive low awards. The finding is reversed for men: Men who receive high awards graduate faster than men who receive low awards. Whites who receive high awards take longer to graduate than Whites who receive low awards, but non-Whites who receive high awards graduate faster than non-Whites who receive low awards. No relationship was found between marital status or having dependents and time to doctorate. |
