How many people with PhDs actually succeed(i.e. get published)?

[drpepper711]

From what I understand, one can obtain a PhD, but it will only be worth something if you are able to make contributions to discourse. So how many PhDs actually get published and continue to do research? How many become 'forgotten?'

[fuzzylogician]

Please don't cross-post so many times. I've kept the post here since it seems most relevant but let me know if you'd like me to move it to another forum.

 

I think equating success with getting published is simplistic and wrong. I don't know if there are any statistics about your specific question but you can look around for many threads about how many graduates end up with a job in academia -- which in many senses is a better marker for success and also requires having been published.

[Dal PhDer]

I think success is measured differently for different disciplines. Yes, publication amounts are one measure, but it's not often the best- as people could work very hard on excellent projects that contribute a lot, but might only have 1-2 publications that come out of it.

 

In terms of succeeding in academics for a TT position- what I know is that publications and successful funding applications are a large contribution to you attaining a position (but you cannot discount teaching evaluations and your presence on committees/boards, etc.).

 

However, the point I wanted to contribute to this discussion is that success for a PhD graduate might not be evaluated through traditional academic checkpoints, such as publications. For those going into government or NGO positions, publication numbers will not be a measure that is indicative of success. To get these positions, you'll need a variety of skills and experience outside of publication.

 

And also success is very subjective. I know a few people who would say they are very successful but have not published anything from their thesis and are not working in academics!

 

If you're wondering more about the value of publications- they are important for many reasons (funding opportunities, TT positions, post-doc positions), but so are a variety of other skills! And may not be as heavily weighted depending on the career path you want to take!

[juilletmercredi]

This question is pretty much impossible to answer.  There are thousands, perhaps millions, of people out there with PhDs and other doctoral degrees.

 

The thing is, if you want to publish and continue to do research you will.  You'll seek out venues in which you can do that.  I'm in graduate school and I've already published; many graduate students start publishing here and then move on to publish more later.

[ANDS!]

From what I understand, one can obtain a PhD, but it will only be worth something if you are able to make contributions to discourse. So how many PhDs actually get published and continue to do research? How many become 'forgotten?'

 

The publishing output of the school I came from, from undergrad, is dwarfed by the publications of a single person I interned for one summer at another university.  Of course it was a state school and the focus was on educating kids. . .so success is entirely relevant to who and where you are (they certainly weren't hurting in the income department as CA's public records show).

Edited February 28, 2013 by ANDS!

[Monochrome Spring]

In many sciences, you can't even get your PhD without publications.

 

If you mean after you get your PhD, then I think it depends on the person. Not everyone will continue with research and publications. But that doesn't mean they are less successful.