Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing quality in graduate programs: An internal quality indicator

  • Published:
Research in Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many approaches are used to measure quality in graduate education. In this study, the literature related to four approaches is reviewed: the reputational approach, the productivity approach, the correlational approach, and the multidimensional approach. This investigation examined one quality indicator that can be incorporated into the multidimensional approach. In this paper, we describe and analyze faculty judgments of doctoral examinations in the Graduate School at The Ohio State University. Graduate School representatives judge doctoral examinations and report their judgments to the dean of the Graduate School. The judgments are tabulated and presented as quantitative and qualitative indicators of quality. How these judgments are converted to useful data and illustrations of how these data are used and presented are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, A. V., and Krislov, J. Evaluating the quality of American universities: a new approach.Research in Higher Education 1978,8 97–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayer, A. E., and Folger, J. K. Some correlates of a criterion measure of productivity in science.Sociology of Education 1966,39 381–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berelson, B.Graduate education in the United States. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, R. T., and Lingenfelter, P. E.Assessing quality in doctoral programs: criteria and correlates of excellence. Ann Arbor: Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Michigan, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blau, P. M., and Margulies, R. Z. The reputations of American professional schools.Change 1974–75,6 42–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowker, A. H. Quality and quantity in higher education.Journal of the American Statistical Association March 1964,59 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, R. L., and Carpenter, P. A. The doctorate in librarianship and an assessment of graduate library education.Journal of Education for Librarianship 1970,11 3–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartter, A. A.An assessment of quality in graduate education. Washington, D. C.: American Council on Education, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartter, A. A., and Solmon, L. C. The Cartter report on the leading schools of education, law, and business.Change 1977,9 44–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, K. E.America's psychologists: a survey of a growing profession. Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Association, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. J.The assessment of quality in Ph.D. programs: a preliminary report on judgments by graduate deans. Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1974a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. J. Dimensions of quality in doctoral education.Findings 1974b,1:4 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. J. Multiple measures assess doctoral programs.Findings 1976a,3:4 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. J. The meaning of quality in graduate and professional education. In J. Katz and R. T. Hartnett (Eds.),Scholars in the making. Cambridge: Ballinger, 1976b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. J., Hartnett, R. T., and Baird, L. L.Assessing dimensions of quality in doctoral education: a technical report of a national study in three fields. Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1976c.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. J.Program review practices of university departments. Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, J. R., and Lipton, J. A. The reputation of American medical schools.Social Forces 1977,55 662–684.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, S., and Cole, J. R. Scientific output and recognition: a study in the operation of the reward system in science.American Sociological Review, 1967, 32 377–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conference Board of Associated Research Councils.Report of the planning committee on a study of research doctorate programs. Washington, D. C., 1978.

  • Cox, W. M., and Catt, V. Productivity ratings of graduate programs in psychology based on publication in the journals of the American Psychological Association.American Psychologist 1977,32 793–813.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane, D. Scientists at major and minor universities: a study of productivity and recognition.American Sociological Review 1965,30 699–714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane, D. The academic marketplace revisited: a study of faculty mobility using the Cartter ratings.American Journal of Sociology 1970,75 453–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creager, J. A.The use of publication citations in educational research. Washington, D.C.: American Council on Education, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drew, D. E.Science development: an evaluation study. Washington, D. C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eells, W. C. Leading American graduate schools, 1948–1958.Liberal Education 1960,46 16–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elton, C. F., and Rose, H. A. What are ratings rating?American Psychologist 1972,27 197–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewell, R. H. A qualified summary of the American council's evaluation report.An Assessment of Quality in Graduate Education. Buffalo: State University of New York at Buffalo, 1966 (mimeographed).

    Google Scholar 

  • Graduate and professional schools, Part II.Options in education, National Public Radio, December 12, 1977, Program No. 102 (transcript).

  • Gregg, R. T., and Sims, P. D. Qualities of facilities and programs of graduate departments of educational administration.Educational Administration Quarterly 1972,8 67–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guba, E. G., and Clark, D. L. Levels of R & D productivity in schools of education.Educational Researcher 1978,1 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagstrom, W. O. Inputs, outputs, and prestige ratings of university science departments.Sociology of Education 1971,44 375–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartnett, R. T., Clark, M. J., and Baird, L. L. Reputational ratings of doctoral programs.Science 1978,199 1310–1314.

    Google Scholar 

  • How professors rated faculty in 19 fields.Chronicle of Higher Education, January 15, 1979, 6–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, R. M.A study of graduate schools in America. Oxford: Miami University Press, 1925.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, R. M. Report of the committee on graduate instruction.Educational Record 1934,15 192–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jauch, L. B., and Glueck, W. F. Evaluation of university professors' research performance.Management Science 1975,22 66–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, R. T. Library characteristics of colleges ranking high in academic excellence.College and Research Libraries 1963,24 369–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keniston, H.Graduate study and research in the arts. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudsen, D. D., and Vaughan, T. R. Quality in graduate education: a re-evaluation of the rankings of sociology departments.American Psychologist 1969,4 12–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, J. K., and Green, K. C.A question of quality: the higher education ratings game. AAHE/ERIC Higher Education Research Report No. 5. Washington, D. C.: American Association for Higher Education, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, L. S. On subjective and objective rankings of sociology departments.American Sociologist 1968,3 129–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magoun, H. W. The Cartter report on quality in graduate education.Journal of Higher Education 1966,37 481–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margulies, R. Z., and Blau, P. M. America's leading professional schools.Change 1973,5 21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, D. R., Kearney, R. C., and Regens, J. L. Assessing quality among graduate institutions of higher education in the United States.Social Sciences Quarterly 1976,57 671–679.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muffo, J. Relationships between college rating and faculty compensation.Research in Higher Education 1979,10 25–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, C. R. Journal citations and scientific eminence in contemporary psychology.American Psychologist 1970,25 1041–1048.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Science Foundation, National Science Board.Graduate education: parameters for public policy. Washington, D. C.: 1969.

  • Pelz, D. C., and Andrews, F. M.Scientists in organizations. New York: John Wiley, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrowski, W. R., Brown, E. L., and Duffy, J. A. National universities and the ACE ratings.Journal of Higher Education 1973,44 495–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, D., and Snell, J. L.The education of historians in the United States. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • The popular vote: rankings of top schools.Juris Doctor, 1976,6, 17–18, 21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, S. A. Letters: reputational studies.Change 1980,12(X, 77–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roose, K. D., and Andersen, C. J.A rating of graduate programs. Washington, D. C.: American Council on Education, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shichor, D. Prestige of sociology departments and the placing of new Ph.D.s.American Sociologist 1970,5 157–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somit, A., and Tanenhaus, J.American political science: a profile of a discipline. New York: Atherton Press, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stallings, W. M., and Singhal, S. Some observations on the relationships between research productivity and student evaluations of courses and teaching.American Sociologist 1970,5 141–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • The top 15: the MBA survey of graduate business schools.MBA, December, 1975, 33–35.

  • Wispe, L. C. The bigger the better: productivity, size, and turnover in a sample of psychology departments.American Psychologist 1969,24 662–668.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School, The Ohio State University, USA

    Daniel A. DiBiasio, Jean E. Girves & William Poland

Authors
  1. Daniel A. DiBiasio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean E. Girves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. William Poland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

DiBiasio, D.A., Girves, J.E. & Poland, W. Assessing quality in graduate programs: An internal quality indicator. Res High Educ 16, 99–114 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00973504

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00973504

Keywords

Search

Navigation