Date of Award
Fall 2005
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Knox, Sarah
Second Advisor
Melchert, Tim
Third Advisor
Burkard, Alan
Abstract
This study focuses on the influences that affect female counseling psychology associate professors' pursuit of full-professorship. I selected this topic for three reasons. First, I am interested in career development, gender studies, and qualitative research, and this project seemed to be an excellent way to blend all three. Second, the lack of research on this topic seemed to make it ideal of for a qualitative research approach. Third, I value research studies that try to understand inequities in society. In this study, the inequity is that many more men than women in academia attain full professorship. Consequently, it seemed reasonable to investigate this discrepancy by interviewing women who are associate professors in counseling psychology, the area in which I have pursued a doctorate. I am hopeful that this research has added to our understanding of academic promotion and how women make career decisions.