RESULTS FROM AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY OF
RECENT GRADUATES OF DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
Bob Glasgow
Southwest Baptist University
bglasgow@sbuniv.edu
The scholarly activity of graduates of doctoral programs in mathematics education from 1993 to 1995 was investigated using the results of a survey of about 200 individuals and follow-up interviews with a subset of 12 of the identified graduates.
A steady increase in the number of programs and graduates from these programs (NRC, 1999) is evidence of a growing interest in mathematics education doctoral programs. This was reflected at the National Conference on Doctoral Programs in Mathematics Education held in 1999 and sponsored by NSF. Discussions at the conference focused on how doctoral programs should be structured to help define the field of mathematics education as the “changing of the guard” takes place at the doctoral level (Reys, Glasgow, Ragan, & Simms, under review). The examination of scholarly activity by graduates offers a lens through which doctoral programs may be evaluated.
The survey was designed to examine the educational background, work experiences following degree completion, and current activity of graduates. Comparisons were made across differing types of current employment positions and across differing sizes of doctoral programs. Follow-up interviews were conducted to gain insight on the graduates' views of scholarly activity and the impact on their activity by current employers and by their doctoral program preparation. The resulting description of scholarly activity may be used to evaluate the need for change in the preparation of future graduates of doctoral programs in mathematics education.
National Research Council (1999). Summary Report 1997: Doctoral Recipients from United States Universities. Washington, D. C.: National Academy Press
Reys, R. E., Glasgow, B., Ragan, G., & Simms, K. (under review) Doctoral Programs in Mathematics Education: A Status Report. In J. Kilpatrick and R. E. Reys (Eds.), One field, many paths: United States Doctoral Programs in Mathematics Education..