Personnel Needs and Training for Biomedical and Behavioral Research 1981 Report (1981) / Chapter Skim
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6. Minorities in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
6. Minorities in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
Pages 110-126
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From page 110... ...
These documents, which summarize the literature, are available to interested readers upon request.1 Although the literature describes a wide range of problems that contribute to the low representation of minorities in science careers, there is a clear emphasis on those early factors that discourage minority students from pursuing science education, beginning in the primary grades and continuing through postsecondary levels. These factors, cited by numerous authors, include the following: cultural and language differences; lack of early development of an aptitude for mathematics or science; weak academic preparation, especially in mathematics; lack of science career information, adult role models, and vigorous recruitment; inflexible college admissions criteria; and inadequate financial resources.
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From page 111... ...
The total number of minority Ph.D.'s, including Asians, in biomedical fields has remained stable for the last 7 years, even though the total number of biomedical doctorates awarded annually increased in 1979 and 1980 (Figure 6.1 and Appendix Table All)
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From page 112... ...
~ 1974 75 76 77 78 79 80 FISCAL YEAR FIGURE 6.2 1974-80 doctorate recipients in the behavioral sciences: U.S. citizens and permanent visa holders.
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From page 113... ...
Blacks Non minorities Blacks Blacks Nonminorities _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Non minorities BACHELOR'S DEGREE ENTRANCE TO GRADUATE SCHOOL DOCTO R ATE DEG R EE FIGURE 6.3 Median age of 1974-80 Ph.D.'s in the biomedical sciences: Blacks and nonminorities.
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From page 114... ...
In its 1977 Report, the Committee noted that the percentage of Blacks planning postdoctoral study was much smaller than other Ph.D. 's and recommended that a special effort be made by each agency to encourage qualif fed minority applicants to undertake postdoctoral training by establishing a special postdoctoral fellowship program targeted to minorities (1977 Report, p.
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From page 115... ...
MINORITY PH.D. 'S IN To BE - VIO=L SCIENCES The total number of doctorates awarded in the behavioral sciences increased from 1974 to 1976, then levelled off until 1980 {Figure 6.2 and Appendix Table Aim.
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From page 116... ...
TABLE 6.2 Summary of Data on Blacks in the Educational "Pipeline" 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL Percentage of Total Bachelor's Degrees:a All Fields Education Biological Sciences Psychology Percentage of Total Undergraduate Enrollment: b All Fields Percentage Distribution by Type of Ins~dtution:c Undersides 4-Year Colleges 2-Year Colleges GRADUATE LEVEL Percentage of Total Master's Degrees:a All Fields Education Biological Sciences Psychology Percentage of Total Graduate Enrollment: b All Fields Biological Sciences DOCTORATE LEVEL Percentage of Total Ph.D.'s:d AB Fields Education Biomedical Sciences Behavioral Sciences Percentage Distribution of Black Doctorates:d Physical Sciences Engineenng Life Sciences Social Sciences Education Humanides Other Fields aFrom U.S. Department of Education (1948-81)
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From page 117... ...
TABLE 6.3 Summary of Data on Hispanics in the Educational "Pipeline" 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL Percentage of Total Bachelor's Degrees:a All Fields 2.6 3.5 N/A 3.2 N/A Education 2.2 2.3 N/A 2.5 N/A Biological Sciences 2.7 2.9 N/A 3.8 NjA Psychology 3~3 3 4 N/A 4.0 N/A Percentage of Total Undergraduate Enrollment: b All Fields 4.8 N/A 5.3 N/A N/A Percentage Distribution by Type of Institution: C 100.0 Universities 12.7 Year Colleges 32.9 2-Year Colleges 54.4 GRADUATE LEVEL Percentage of Total Master's Degrees:a AB Fields 2.0 2.2 N/A 2.1 N/A Education 2.2 2.3 N/A 2.5 N/A Biological Sciences 1.4 1.5 N/A 1.7 N/A Psychology 2.7 3.9 N/A - 2.4 N/A Percentage of Total Graduate Enrollment: b AN Fields 2.2 N/A 2.3 N/A N/A Biological Sciences 1.4 N/A 1.6 N/A N/A DOCTORATE LEVEL Percentage of Total Ph.D.'s:d AD Fields 1.3 1.7 2.0 2.0 1.8 Education 1.7 2.0 2.5 2.5 2.2 Biomedical Sciences 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.0 0.9 Behavioral Sciences 1.1 1.5 1.9 1.8 1.9 Percentage Distribution of Hispanic Doctorates: d 100.0 100.0 100.0 100~0 100.0 Physical Sciences 7.2 11.6 5.6 9.5 702 Engineering 4.4 4.6 5.9 4.5 5.8 Life Sciences 8.8 7.4 8.7 8.7 8.9 Social Sciences 17.9 17.7 21.6 19.9 21.9 Education 34.2 29.7 30.5 31.2 31.7 Humanities 22.0 25.5 23.~ 24.1 21.3 Other Fields 5.5 3.4 4.5 2.2 3.1 aFrom US. Department of Education (1948-81)
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From page 118... ...
programs of the National Institutes of Health and the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration fall directly within the purview of this Committee since they are under the authority of the National Research Service Award Act. These include the Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grants, Faculty Fellowships, Graduate Institutional Training Grants, and the Predoctoral Fellowship Program, which are intended for the students and faculty of minority institutions.
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From page 119... ...
Another approach to training minority scientists is taken by the Minority Hypertension Research Develooment Summer Program, which awards NBSA training grants to university medical school Hypertension Centers for continuing summer training programs in cooperation with minority institutions. One of today's ma jor health problems, hypertension affects one-seventh of the U
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From page 120... ...
~ o ~ pat o ~ ~8 ·O o ·6 Cal i_ o ·_ CO A: U
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From page 124... ...
Current federal programs that recruit and train minority students in the biomedical and behavioral so fences should be evaluated in order to identify the most successful approaches to increasing minority participation in the sciences. Existing programs should be continued pending the outcome of this evaluation.
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From page 125... ...
spec ial ef f arts should be made be' each agency to encourage qualif fed minority applicants to undertake postdoctoral training by establi shing a special postdoctoral fellowship program for minorities ( 1977 Report, pp.
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From page 126... ...
programs in f ields relating to alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental health, and contended the agency for its efforts to provide National Research Service Award support to minority group students ( 1979 Report, pp.
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