Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Research Productivity in 2020

Abstract

The annual collection of graduate student degree completion and research was initiated with an e‐mail to 165 universities and colleges in the United States in June 2021. This invitation requested information on family and consumer sciences graduate programs, specifically degrees and research completed in 2020. Twenty‐five institutions responded reporting a total of 137 master’s theses, 174 doctoral dissertations, and 578 non‐thesis master’s degrees completed in family and consumer sciences in 2020. This article reviews the degree completion as well as trends in topics of theses and dissertations completed within family and consumer sciences programs.

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

“…The process we used to collect the data for this project mirrored that of Wilmarth andMilstead (2022a, 2022b), who graciously shared their directory, e-mail template, and data collection tool. They mirrored the processes established by Kabaci (2013Kabaci ( , 2014Kabaci ( , 2015Kabaci ( , 2016.…”

“…This request was confusing and may have resulted in underreporting degree productivity, especially with non-thesis master's degrees. Wilmarth andMilstead (2022a, 2022b) noted the data collection process became challenging over the years they led this project. We agree with that observation and have experienced similar challenges, such as identifying where FCS programs are housed at institutions, and this seems to be ever-changing with some institutions.…”