Changes to the 2008 Survey of Doctorate Recipients

Changes in the 2008 SDR Questionnaire

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2008 SDR Questionnaire Changes: Questions Added
The following questions were rotated in from the 2003 SDR questionnaire for the 2008 survey (2003
item names are in parentheses):
2008 A20 (2003 A23): 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.
Engineering, computer science, math, or the natural sciences
The social sciences
Some other field (e.g., health, business, or education) – Specify Æ
2008 A23 (2003 A26): Which two reasons in question A22 were your most important reasons for
taking this postdoc?
Enter number of appropriate reason from question A22 above.
(1) ____ Most important reason
(2) ____ Second most important reason (Enter “0” if no second reason)
2008 C1 (2003 C1): Since October 2003, how many…

Number

(1) Papers have you (co)authored for presentation at regional, national or international
conferences? (Do not count presentations of the same work more than once.)
_____
(2) Articles, (co)authored by you, have been accepted for publication in a refereed
professional journal?
_____
(3) Books or monographs, (co)authored by you, have been published or accepted
for publication?
_____
(If none, enter “0”)
2008 C2 (2003 C2): Since October 2003, have you been named as an inventor on any application
for a U.S. patent?
(1) Yes
(2) No Æ Go to question C4
2008 C3 (2003 C3): Since October 2003…

Number

(1) How many applications for U.S. patents have named you as an inventor?
_____
(2) How many U.S. patents have been granted to you as an inventor?
_____
(3) How many of the patents recorded as granted (in category 2 above) have resulted in
commercialized products or processes or have been licensed?
_____
(If none, enter “0”)

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2008 E3 (2003 E3): Did your spouse’s or partner’s 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
(2) The social sciences
(3) Some other field (e.g., health, business, or education) – Specify Æ
The second job module is new for the 2008 questionnaire as follows:
2008 A38: During the week of October 1, 2008, were you working for pay (or profit) at a second
job (or business), including part-time, evening, or weekend work?
(1) Yes
(2) No Æ Go to page 7, question A43
2008 A39: (If Yes) What was the title of the second job you held during the week of October 1,
2008?
If you had more that two jobs that week, report the job where you worked the second most hours.
Example: Clinical psychologist
2008 A40: What kind of work were you doing on this job—that is, what were your duties and
responsibilities on your second job? Please be as specific as possible, including any area of
specialization.
Example: Diagnose mental and emotional disorders and develop treatment programs
2008 A41: Using the JOB CATEGORY list on pages 13-14, choose the code that best describes the
second job you held during the week of October 1, 2008.
CODE __ __ __
2008 A42: To what extent was your work on your second job related to your first U.S. doctoral
degree? Was it…
Mark one answer.
(1) Closely related
(2) Somewhat related
(3) Not related

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2008 SDR Questionniare Changes: Questions Dropped
The following questions were included in the 2006 SDR questionnaire, but will be rotated out from the
2008 survey questionnaire:
2006 A27: “In performing the principal job you held during the week of April 1, 2006, did you…”
2006 A28: “(If Yes to Item 4 above) Did your work with individuals located in other countries
involve…”
2006 A29: “In your work with individuals located in other countries, did you…”
2006 A38: “Since completing your first doctoral degree, how many “postdocs,” if any, have you
held? Please include any postdocs you held through April 1, 2006.”
2006 A39acd: “Please provide the following information for each postdoc reported in A38.” (A39b
has been modified and retained; see below.)
2006 A39a:

Date postdoc started and ended (or date you left)

2006 A39c:

Which sector best describes where you worked for this postdoc?

2006 A39d:

For this postdoc position, did you employer provide…Health benefits?
Retirement benefits?

2006 A40: “To what extent did your most recent (or current) postdoctoral appointment…”

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2008 SDR Questionniare Changes: Questions Modified
One question from 2006 was modified to include two additional response categories (5) and (6), and the
response category (4) was changed from ‘Chronic illness or permanent disability’ to ‘Chronic illness or
disability’ based on verbatim responses reported in the 2006 questionnaire.
2008 A37 (corresponds to 2006 A37).
(4) Chronic illness or disability?
(5) Full-time job not available
(6) Held more than one job

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