SDR
2013 Survey of Doctorate Recipients

Conducted by The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago for The National Science Foundation and The National Institutes of Health

This information is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. Your responses will be kept confidential. Your response is voluntary and failure to provide some or all of the requested information will not in any way adversely affect you. The average time to complete this survey is about 25 minutes. Please send any comments on the time required for this survey to National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 295, Arlington, VA 22230, Attn: NSF Reports Clearance Officer.

Please make any name/address changes below:

__________________________________________________________
First Name
_______
MI
___________________________________________________________
Last Name
___________________________________________________________
Number and Street
___________________________________________________________
City/Town
_____________________________
State
_____________________________
Zip Code

OMB No.: 3145-0020
Approval Expires: 11/30/2014

INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Directions for filling it out are provided with each question.

In order to get comparable data, we will be asking you to refer to the week of February 1, 2013, when answering most questions.
Follow all appropriate skip instructions after marking a box. If no skip instruction is provided, you should continue to the next question.

Thank you again for your help; we really appreciate it.

Part A - Employment Situation

A1.

Were you working for pay or profit during the week of February 1, 2013?
Working includes being self-employed, on a postdoctoral appointment, or on any type of paid or unpaid leave, including vacation.
Use an X to mark your answer.

1 [ ] Yes (Go to question A8)
2 [ ] No

A2.

(If No) Did you look for work during the four weeks preceding February 1, 2013? This would be between January 4th and February 1st.

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No

A3.

What were your reasons for not working during the week of February 1, 2013?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Retired

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No
If Yes, Year retired: ___ ___ ___ ___

2 On layoff from a job

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Student

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Family responsibilities

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Chronic illness or permanent disability

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Suitable job not available

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Did not need or want to work

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

8 Other ? Specify: ______________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A4.

Prior to the week of February 1, 2013, when did you last work for pay or profit?
0 [ ] Mark this box if you never worked for pay or profit and then go to page 10, question D1

LAST WORKED:
Month: ___ ___ Year: ___ ___ ___ ___

A5.

What was the title of the last job you held prior to the week of February 1, 2013?
Example: Physics professor

_________________________________________________

A6.

What kind of work were you doing on this last job ? that is, what were your duties and responsibilities on your last job? Please be as specific as possible, including any area of specialization.
Example: Taught physics and conducted research. Specialized in high energy physics.

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________

A7.

Using the JOB CATEGORY list on pages 16-17, choose the code that best describes the last job you held prior to the week of February 1, 2013.

CODE ___ ___ ___ (Go to page 8, question A42)

A8.

Although you were working during the week of February 1, had you previously retired from any position?
Examples of retirement include mandatory retirement, early retirement, or voluntary retirement.

1 [ ] Yes Year retired: ___ ___ ___ ___
2 [ ] No

Principal Employer

A9.

Who was your principal employer during the week of February 1, 2013?
If you had more than one job, report the one for which you worked the most hours that week.
If your employer had more than one location, report the location that employed you.
If you worked for a contracting or consulting company, report the name of that company, not the client organization.

Employer Name: ________________________________
Department/Division: ____________________________
City/Town: _____________________________________
State: _________________________________________
ZIP code: ______________________________________

A10.

What was that employer's main business or industry ? that is, what did that employer make or do?
If your principal employer had more than one type of business, report the type of business primarily performed at the location where you worked.
Example: Production of microprocessor chips

EMPLOYER'S MAIN BUSINESS
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

A11.

Counting all locations where this employer operates, how many people work for your principal employer? Your best estimate is fine.
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] 10 or fewer employees
2 [ ] 11 - 24 employees
3 [ ] 25 - 99 employees
4 [ ] 100 - 499 employees
5 [ ] 500 - 999 employees
6 [ ] 1,000 - 4,999 employees
7 [ ] 5,000 - 24,999 employees
8 [ ] 25,000 or more employees

A12.

Did your principal employer come into being as a new business within the past 5 years?

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No

A13.

Which one of the following best describes your principal employer during the week of February 1, 2013? Were you...
Mark one answer.

SELF-EMPLOYED or a BUSINESS OWNER
1 [ ] in a non-incorporated business, professional practice, or farm
2 [ ] in an incorporated business, professional practice, or farm
PRIVATE SECTOR employee
3 [ ] in a for-profit company or organization
4 [ ] in a non-profit organization (including tax-exempt and charitable organizations)
GOVERNMENT employee
5 [ ] in a local government (e.g., city, county, school district)
6 [ ] in a state government (including state colleges/ universities)
7 [ ] in the U.S. military service, active duty or Commissioned Corps (e.g., USPHS, NOAA)
8 [ ] in the U.S. government (e.g., civilian employee)
9 [ ] OTHER type of employee ? Specify type of employer ____________________________

A14.

Was your principal employer an educational institution?

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to page 4, question A19)

A15.

(If Yes) Was the educational institution where you worked a...
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school or system (Go to page 4, question A19)
2 [ ] Two-year college, community college, or technical institute
3 [ ] Four-year college or university, other than a medical school
4 [ ] Medical school (including university-affiliated hospital or medical center)
5 [ ] University-affiliated research institute
6 [ ] Other ? Specify

A16.

During the week of February 1, 2013, what type of academic position(s) did you hold at this institution?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 President, Provost, or Chancellor

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 Dean (any level), department head,

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Research faculty, scientist, associate, or fellow

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Teaching faculty

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Adjunct faculty

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Postdoc (e.g., postdoctoral fellow or associate)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Research assistant

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

8 Teaching assistant

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

9 Other position ? Specify: ____________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A17.

What was your faculty rank?
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Not applicable: no ranks designated at this institution
2 [ ] Not applicable: no ranks designated for my position
3 [ ] Professor
4 [ ] Associate Professor
5 [ ] Assistant Professor
6 [ ] Instructor
7 [ ] Lecturer
8 [ ] Other ? Specify: _____________________________

A18.

What was your tenure status?
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Not applicable: no tenure system at this institution
2 [ ] Not applicable: no tenure system for my position
3 [ ] Tenured Year tenured ___ ___ ___ ___
4 [ ] On tenure track but not tenured
5 [ ] Not on tenure track

Principal Job

A19.

What was the title of the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013?
Example: Physics professor

_________________________________________________

A20.

What kind of work were you doing on this job ? that is, what were your duties and responsibilities on your principal job? Please be as specific as possible, including any area of specialization.
Example: Taught physics and conducted research. Specialized in high energy physics.

_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

A21.

Using the JOB CATEGORY list on pages 16-17, choose the code that best describes the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013.

CODE ___ ___ ___

A22.

Did your duties on this job require the technical expertise of a bachelor's degree or higher in...
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Engineering, computer science, math, or the natural sciences

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 The social sciences

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Some other field (e.g., health, business, or education) ? Specify: _______________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A23.

Was this job a "postdoc"?
A "postdoc is a temporary position awarded in academe, industry, a non-profit organization, or government primarily for gaining additional education and training in research.

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to question A26)

A24.

(If Yes) What were your reasons for taking this postdoc?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Additional training in PhD field

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 Training in an area outside of PhD field

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Work with a specific person or in a specific place

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Other employment not available

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Postdoc generally expected for a career in this field

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Some other reason ? Specify: ______________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A25.

Which two reasons in question A24 were your most important reasons for taking this postdoc?
Enter number of appropriate reason from question A24 above.

1 _____ Most important reason
2 _____ Second most important reason (Enter "0" if no second reason)

A26.

During what month and year did you start this job (that is, the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013)?

PRINCIPAL JOB STARTED:
Month: ___ ___ Year ___ ___ ___ ___

A27.

To what extent was your work on your principal job related to your first U.S. doctoral degree? Was it...
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Closely related (Go to question A30)
2 [ ] Somewhat related (Go to question A30)
3 [ ] Not related

A28.

(If Not related) Did these factors influence your decision to work in an area outside the field of your first U.S. doctoral degree?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Pay, promotion opportunities

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 Working conditions (e.g., hours, equipment, working environment)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Job location

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Change in career or professional interests

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Family-related reasons (e.g., children, spouse's job moved)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Job in doctoral degree field not available

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Some other reason ? Specify: _______________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A29.

Which two factors in question A28 were your most important reasons for working in an area outside the field of your first U.S. doctoral degree?
Enter number of appropriate reason from question A28 above.

1 _____ Most important reason
2 _____ Second most important reason (Enter "0" if no second reason)

A30.

The next question is about your work activities on your principal job. Which of the following work activities occupied at least 10 percent of your time during a typical work week on this job?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Accounting, finance, contracts

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 Basic research ? study directed toward gaining scientific knowledge primarily for its own sake

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Applied research ? study directed toward gaining scientific knowledge to meet a recognized need

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Development ? using knowledge gained from research for the production of materials, devices

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Design of equipment, processes, structures, models

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Computer programming, systems or applications development

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Human resources ? including recruiting, personnel development, training

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

8 Managing or supervising people or projects

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

9 Production, operations, maintenance (e.g., chip production, operating lab equipment)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

10 Professional services (e.g., health care, counseling, financial services, legal services)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

11 Sales, purchasing, marketing, customer service, public relations

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

12 Quality or productivity management

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

13 Teaching

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

14 Other ? Specify: _____________________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A31.

On which two activities in question A30 did you work the most hours during a typical week on this job?
Enter number of appropriate activity from question A30 above.

1 ___ ___ Activity most hours
2 ___ ___ Activity second most hours (Enter "0" if no second most)

A32.

Did you supervise the work of others as part of the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013?
Mark "Yes" if you recommended or initiated personnel actions such as hiring, firing, evaluating, or promoting others.
Teachers should not count students.

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to question A34)

A33.

(If Yes) How many people did you typically...

1 Supervise directly? _____ (Number supervised)(If none, enter "0")
2 Supervise indirectly through subordinate supervisors? _____ (Number supervised)(If none, enter "0")

A34.

Thinking about your principal job held during the week of February 1, please rate your satisfaction with that job's...
Mark one answer for each item.

1 Salary