Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Research Productivity in 2019

Abstract

In June 2020, representatives at 166 universities and colleges in the United States were contacted requesting information on family and consumer sciences graduate programs, specifically completed thesis and dissertation titles. Twenty‐five universities and colleges responded reporting a total of 214 theses, 195 dissertations, and 409 non‐thesis master’s degrees completed in family and consumer sciences. Historically, the field of family and consumer sciences has researched interdisciplinary topics with the goal of improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities. The topics highlighted by the submitted titles demonstrate that this historical tradition is still true as it relates to graduate student research.

Family and consumer sciences graduate research productivity in 2021

“…Non‐thesis master's degrees continue to be the largest category of graduate degree program graduates and has represented the largest share of graduate degrees completed in family and consumer sciences since 2014 (Kabaci, 2015, 2016; Wilmarth, 2017, 2018, 2019; Wilmarth & Milstead, 2020, 2021). This information began being collected for this project in 2012 (Kabaci, 2013).…”

“…This year's data request was answered with substantive information from 23 institutions. Participation was lower this year as compared to the last 6 years; the immediate past 2 years had 25 participating institutions and prior to that participation was in the 30s (Kabaci, 2016; Wilmarth, 2017, 2018, 2019; Wilmarth & Milstead, 2020, 2021). The lower participation in the past 2 years can be partially attributed to the COVID‐19 pandemic.…”

“…For master's theses, nutrition and dietetics was the largest subject matter category of thesis titles, representing 28.23% of reported thesis titles. Master's theses in nutrition and dietetics have been the largest reported category for the past 9 years (Kabaci, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016; Wilmarth, 2017, 2018, 2019; Wilmarth & Milstead, 2020, 2021). Human development was the second largest subject matter category (25.81%) and interdisciplinary was the third largest category (9.68%) of master's theses in 2021.…”

Family and consumer sciences graduate research productivity in 2022

“…Institutions were asked to identify the specialization area for the research presented in each thesis and dissertation listing. Following the process used by the previous researchers, the data collection tool provided a listing of 16 categories of subject matter (Kabaci, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016; Wilmarth, 2017, 2018, 2019; Wilmarth & Milstead, 2020, 2021, 2022a, 2022b). When the documents were returned by the institutions, a 17th category was identified, addictive disorders and recovery studies.…”

“…The range of number of institutions reporting is 18–64 since this project began in 1991. The highest reporting year was 1992, with 64 (Kabaci, 2016; Wilmarth, 2017, 2018, 2019; Wilmarth & Milstead, 2020, 2021, 2022a, 2022b). As Wilmarth and Milstead (2022a, 2022b) indicated, some of the lower reporting in 2020, 2021, and even 2022 could be attributed to the work situations resulting from the COVID‐19 pandemic.…”