Presenter(s)

• Nikole Lockwood, Doctoral Graduate Student, Alfred University

Abstract

The goal of the project was to analyze and understand the current dissertation procedures to evaluate if there have been any drifting in dissertation practices which could influence an APA-accredited doctoral school psychology program’s graduation rate.  Students and faculty engaged in an historical analysis of program dissertations going back to its inception in 1993. Preliminary analysis indicates over the last six years the length of dissertations within this program have increased by about 25% without any explicit changes in the program’s policies to increase the rigor of the dissertation requirement.