Doctoral Dissertation Research in Rehabilitation Counseling: 2011
Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin
Published online on September 06, 2013
Abstract
This article begins a series of planned annual reviews of rehabilitation doctoral dissertation research. Twenty doctoral dissertations completed in 2011 from recognized doctoral programs in rehabilitation were identified and analyzed. Dissertations were indexed according to their research topic, methodology employed, model, and statistical analysis, and an annotated bibliography was developed. Institutional productivity and employment trends of doctoral graduates were added as baseline data points for future analysis. Results of the current analysis reflect that a majority of the studies consisted of quantitative descriptive research designs. Unlike prior analyses, advanced and basic statistics were utilized equitably. Dissertations focusing on attitudes toward persons with a disability were higher than any of the prior reporting periods. Predictive outcome studies and clinical population research also remain prevalent. Implications for the practice of rehabilitation counseling, education, and future research are discussed.