Alumni study

de Susan McGee Bailey, Barbara Burrell, Radcliffe College. Henry A. Murray Research Center

This study gathered information on the career development, family responsibilities, and professional standing of graduates from seven Harvard University graduate and professional schools: the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Design, Divinity, Education, Law, and Public Health. All degree recipients from the class of 1972 at each school were surveyed, with additional participants from the Dental School classes of 1968-1978, and the Divinity School classes of 1974 and 1976. Data were collected by means of a mailed questionnaire in the spring of 1979. Of the 3,000 eligible degree-holders, a total of 1,620 or 63% responded, including 1,255 men and 365 women. Variables assessed from the questionnaire included educational background, employment history, career goals and job satisfaction, children and child-care arrangements, partner's work, and evaluations of one's own education and career as compared to other male and female colleagues. Nadelson and Notman's study of medical school alumni (see Log# 629) included many similar questions. All paper and computer-accessible data are available at the Murray Center.