Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Research Productivity in 2014

Abstract

Requests to collect the titles of theses and dissertations completed in 2014 were sent to representatives of 140 universities and colleges with family and consumer science programs in April 2015. Representatives from 44 universities responded, reporting a total of 533 theses and dissertations. Of those titles, 356 were for theses and 177 were for dissertations. The greatest number of titles reported for theses was in Nutrition and Dietetics and for dissertations was in Marriage and Family Therapy. An additional 842 master's students completed nonthesis options reported by 22 of the participating universities.Each year, graduate students in family and consumer sciences (FCS) programs at universities and colleges around the country generate a significant amount of research on topics and issues important to individuals and families. An annual listing of theses and dissertations completed the previous year has been published in Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal since 1992, along with a separate report on the findings (Appendix). This information is compiled with the expectation of providing a profile of and resources for research within FCS programs, particularly for graduate students.Family and consumer sciences, according to the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS, 2015), encompasses "skills, research, and knowledge that helps people make informed decisions about their wellbeing, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life." Family and consumer sciences is comprised of several disciplines including child development, nutrition and food sciences, health and wellness, consumer issues, human development, textiles, art and design, family relations, and FCS education. Although there are specific areas of interest, FCS is also recognized as a multidisciplinary field synthesizing knowledge in the social and behavioral sciences. As such, interdisciplinary research by FCS graduate students is also reported.

Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Research Productivity in 2015

“…For master's theses, the category with the highest number of titles reported was nutrition and dietetics (33.2%), followed by human development (12.6%) and child development (8.7%). The large numbers in three categories have been consistent in the past several years, including those reported in 2015 for master's theses (Kabaci, ). For doctoral dissertations, the category with the highest number of titles reported was nutrition and dietetics (15.6%), followed by human development (14.9%) and family relations (13.8%).…”

“…Thirty‐five institutions submitted information for theses and dissertations completed in 2015. This number was a decrease from the 39 institutions that participated in the previous year (Kabaci, ) (see Table ). The decrease may be due to fewer graduate students completing dissertations or theses in 2015 than in previous years.…”

“…For doctoral dissertations, the category with the highest number of titles reported was nutrition and dietetics (15.6%), followed by human development (14.9%) and family relations (13.8%). This is a change from the previous year, when more dissertations were completed in marriage and family therapy, family relations, and human development (Kabaci, ).…”

Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Research Productivity in 2016

“…Of that total number, 259 (57.2%) were theses, and 194 (42.8%) were dissertations. As identified in previous articles (e.g., Kabaci, 2015;Pucciarelli & Faith, 2012) nonthesis options for master's degrees continue to have a large share of reported degrees in family and consumer sciences. In 2016, 24 (68.6%) of the participating programs reported that 655 students completed nonthesis master's degree options.…”

“…Turing to doctoral dissertations, the largest category with 14.95% of titles submitted was in institution, hotel, and restaurant management. This is a change as in recent years the top category has been nutrition and dietetics (2015), marriage and family therapy (2014), and family relations (2013) (Kabaci, ; Kabaci ; Kabaci ). The second and third categories for doctoral dissertations were close in numbers to the first, with nutrition and dietetics in second place (14.43%) and human development in third place (12.89%).…”