Presents evidence, from three national studies, that departmental ratings for research doctorate programs in the United States reflect a contextual property representative of the university and not various performance-based departmental attributes. Academic departments within universities are found to be quite similar with respect to external…

Examines the association between departmental prestige and faculty scholarship for the discipline of sociology using evaluative ratings from three national studies and objective data on publications. Scholarship was far less important in determining current prestige ratings than either the past reputations of departments or those of their…

Reports on a study of professional socialization and the emergence of career aspirations among 566 graduate students in sociology. Finds that access to initial funding and mentoring have substantial effects on students' professional socialization. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the theory of cumulative advantage and disadvantage as it applies to the productivity and prestige of academic departments within sociology. Finds that past accomplishments do not bear importantly on current perceptions of departmental prestige. (CFR)