ORCID

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5286-0905

Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Marlene Sotelo-Dynega

Second Advisor

Mark D. Terjesen

Third Advisor

Beverly Greene

Abstract

Despite the growing number of minority students in U.S. public schools, only a small percentage of school psychology graduate students, trainers and practicing school psychologists identify themselves as racial minorities. Analyses were conducted on 512 responses to a national survey that investigated demographic and other qualitative factors that are associated with interest in school psychology master’s and doctoral programs. Additionally, analyses were also conducted to examine demographic differences that exist between undergraduate students interested in PsyD versus PhD school psychology programs. The study aimed to investigate whether there was: (a) a significant relationship between doctoral interest and higher household incomes, higher parental education, and financial support from family to pay for undergraduate or graduate education, (b) a significant relationship between doctoral interest among racially diverse students and higher household incomes and higher parental education, and (c) a significant relationship between interest in PsyD programs and higher household incomes. Results did not support the three proposed hypotheses. However, exploratory analyses supported differential effects of demographic and qualitative factors on interest in types of school psychology programs among White and minority students. Given the novelty of this study in investigating differences between specialist and doctoral interest, additional research is needed to support this study’s findings. Implications for recruitment of diverse individuals and future research are discussed.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS