| Abstract: | Typically, the PhD degree is said to be more research oriented, whereas the EdD is aimed more at the educational practitioner. We compared the two degrees with regard to research design, statistics, target populations, significance of results, age of subjects, and other characteristics. Samples of 1,007 PhD and 960 EdD dissertations were selected from Dissertation Abstracts International from 1950–1990. We found that the percentage of PhD dissertations is increasing and is higher for women; PhD dissertations contained more multivariate statistics, had wider generalizability, and were more prevalent in certain areas of concentration. The EdD dissertations contained more survey research and were most prevalent in educational administration research. No differences between the degrees were found in basic versus applied or in significance of findings. |
