Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers A Multivariate Study of Graduate Student A Multivariate Study of Graduate Student Satisfaction and Other Outcomes Within Satisfaction and Other Outcomes Within Cooperative Research Centers Cooperative Research Centers Thesis Research Thesis Research by by Jennifer S. Schneider Jennifer S. Schneider & Denis O. Gray & Denis O. Gray North Carolina State University North Carolina State University Slide 1
Assumptions Assumptions Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers • I/ I/UCRCs UCRCs have a positive impact on have a positive impact on • Scott, C., student’ ’s training ( s training ( Scott, C., student Schadd, D. & Brock, D. (1991) , D. & Brock, D. (1991) ) Schadd ) • The training experience provided by The training experience provided by • individual centers varies individual centers varies • Those difference have the potential Those difference have the potential • to affect student outcomes to affect student outcomes Slide 2
Purpose of Research Purpose of Research Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers • To explore benefits, experiences, and To explore benefits, experiences, and • satisfaction of current graduate students in satisfaction of current graduate students in cooperative research centers cooperative research centers • To identify key center mechanisms needed to To identify key center mechanisms needed to • achieve those educational benefits achieve those educational benefits • To develop a tool for providing centers with To develop a tool for providing centers with • immediate feedback from graduate students immediate feedback from graduate students – Centers would benefit by more real time Centers would benefit by more real time – feedback from graduate students, providing feedback from graduate students, providing a better understanding of which center a better understanding of which center components may assist in a better components may assist in a better education/training of graduate students education/training of graduate students Slide 3
Research Questions Research Questions Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers • What individual and/or center characteristics are • What individual and/or center characteristics are related to graduate students’… ’… related to graduate students – satisfaction with their center experiences? satisfaction with their center experiences? – – outcomes outcomes (such as technical and non (such as technical and non- -technical technical – skills)? skills)? – career goals career goals (e.g: pursue careers in industry, (e.g: pursue careers in industry, – academia, and/or government)? academia, and/or government)? – scholarly achievements (e.g.: presentations, scholarly achievements (e.g.: presentations, – publications, patents)? publications, patents)? – organizational commitment organizational commitment – – perceptions of having a competitive advantage perceptions of having a competitive advantage – Slide 4
Individual Center Mechanisms Individual Center Mechanisms Lead to Process/Outcomes Lead to Process/Outcomes Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Process/ /Outcomes Center Mechanisms • Benefits •Formal Activities – Psychological – Knowledge/Skills •Meetings, Workshops, – Career Marketability Seminars • Satisfaction •Center Projects – Opportunities Individual •#, Involvement, Relevance – Education Center – Support to goals – Well prepared •Broad, Innovative, Applied – Autonomy •Internships/Jobs – Time •Interactions – Management • Organizational •Frequency and Type Commitment •Mentoring • Competitive Advantage • Scholarly Production • Career Goals Slide 5
Overview of Data Analysis Overview of Data Analysis Strategy Strategy Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers • Descriptive statistics Descriptive statistics • • Exploratory factor analyses Exploratory factor analyses • – Scale construction Scale construction – » Removed necessary items Removed necessary items » • Regression hypothesis testing Regression hypothesis testing • – Bivariate Bivariate regressions regressions – – Multivariate regressions Multivariate regressions – Slide 6
Response Rate Response Rate Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers • Response Rate • Response Rate – 528 Sent out 528 Sent out – – 208 Returned (39% response rate) 208 Returned (39% response rate) – » 14 not useable (missing data, not qualified, etc.) 14 not useable (missing data, not qualified, etc.) » – 194 Total (37% response rate) 194 Total (37% response rate) – » Excluding Center who used listserv Excluding Center who used listserv » » 45% returned 45% returned » » 43% useable 43% useable » • Number of Centers: 34 (81%) • Number of Centers: 34 (81%) – Includes 1 STC Includes 1 STC – Slide 7
Population and Sample Population and Sample Characteristics Characteristics Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers • Average number of doctoral degree students • Average number of doctoral degree students – Participating Centers: 18.69 Participating Centers: 18.69 – – Full Population: 12.34 Full Population: 12.34 – • Average number of master’ ’s degree students s degree students • Average number of master – Participating Centers: 10.10 Participating Centers: 10.10 – – Full Population: 7.59 Full Population: 7.59 – • Multi site vs. single site universities • Multi site vs. single site universities – Participating Centers Participating Centers – » 22 Multi 22 Multi- -site Centers = 64.7% site Centers = 64.7% » » 12 Single 12 Single- -site Centers = 35.3% site Centers = 35.3% » – Full Population Full Population – » 27 Multi 27 Multi- -site Centers = 64.3% site Centers = 64.3% » » 15 Single 15 Single- -site Centers Population = 35.7% site Centers Population = 35.7% » Slide 8
Student Characteristics Student Characteristics Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers • Students have been in graduate school for Students have been in graduate school for • an average of 3.2 years an average of 3.2 years • About half of them fall into the age range of About half of them fall into the age range of • 25- -29 years old 29 years old 25 • About three About three- -fourths of participants are males fourths of participants are males • and one fourth are females and one fourth are females • Full population: 77.6% Male, 22.4% Female Full population: 77.6% Male, 22.4% Female • • Almost all (90%) are current students, but Almost all (90%) are current students, but • about ten percent are recent center about ten percent are recent center graduates graduates Slide 9
Citizenship Citizenship Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Employment Plans of Non-U.S. Citizens Citizenship 23% U.S. Non-U.S. citizen 48% My country 9% 52% U.S. Citizen 68% Don't know Compare to full population: 56.4% U.S. citizens, 43.6% non-U.S. citizens Slide 10
Degree & Thesis Degree & Thesis Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Highest degree student will be pursuing 13% Masters PhD 87% Thesis/dissertation based on a Center project Yes, it is 7% Yes, it will be 9% 17% No, it is not or 67% will not be Don't know Yet Slide 11
Thesis Thesis Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Number of academic departments on committee 1 2 17% 23% 3 or more 11% 49% Don’t have a committee yet Number of industry or government Center members/participants on 0 committee 1 22% 2 or more 53% 12% Don’t have a 13% committee yet Slide 12
Technical Project Involvement Technical Project Involvement Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Technical Project Involvement 2.32 Supervising others 3.46 Managing project Reporting design, 4.45 methods, and results Collecting/analyzing 4.62 data 4.37 Developing methods Overall design of the 3.69 project 1 2 3 4 5 Extremely Not at all Mean Involved Involved 1 Factor: 5 items Reliability = .78 1 Factor: 5 items Reliability = .78 Scale Mean = 4.11 (S.D. = .74) Scale Mean = 4.11 (S.D. = .74) Slide 13
Formal Training Mechanisms Formal Training Mechanisms Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Enhanced Technical Mechanisms 3.49 Regular project team m eetings 2.61 Regular Center team m eetings Scientific sem inar series 2.40 featuring student speakers Scientific sem inar series 2.23 featuring outside speakers Reliability = .68 Reliability = .68 New Center sponsored 1.65 academ ic courses (7 items) (7 items) 1.46 Mentoring Scale Mean = Scale Mean = 2.18 (S.D. = .74) 2.18 (S.D. = .74) 1.40 Internship placem ents F ull Population: Involvement Level of Involvement: Level of Involvement: 1 = “ “Not at all involved Not at all involved” ” to 5 = to 5 = “ “Extremely involved Extremely involved” ” 1 = Slide 14
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