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Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the items below for answers to the following frequently asked questions:

What is SESTAT?

The Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT), sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is a data system of information about a representative sample of people living in the United States who hold a bachelor's degree or higher in a science or engineering (S&E) field, or who are working in an S&E job.

How many surveys are in SESTAT, and how do their samples fit together?

SESTAT currently includes data from a set of surveys sponsored by the National Science Foundation conducted in 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999. These surveys are the National Survey of College Graduates, the National Survey of Recent College Graduates, and the Survey of Doctorate Recipients. Each survey includes information for a distinct segment of the SESTAT target population. These surveys exclude people over 75 years of age, or not living in the US on the reference date, or those who are institutionalized.

The 1993 National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) was conducted by the Bureau of the Census. The 1993 survey was a once-a-decade survey of all college graduates, both S&E and non-S&E. It includes information on people who held a bachelor's degree or higher in any field on or before April 1, 1990. In subsequent years, the NSCG only included a followup of individuals in some degree levels and fields.

The 1993 National Survey of Recent College Graduates (NSRCG), conducted by Westat, Inc., includes information on people who received a bachelor's or master's degree in a science or engineering (S&E) from a U.S. institution between April 1, 1990 and June 30, 1992.

The 1993 Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR), conducted by the National Research Council, includes information on people who received a doctorate degree in a S&E field from a U.S. institution prior to July 1, 1992.

The 1995 NSCG survey, conducted by the Census Bureau, includes information on people who recieved a bachelor's or master's degree in a science or engineering field prior to July 1, 1992, or who had an S&E occupation in the 1993 NSCG. This target population for this survey included a) respondents to the 1993 NSCG who had at least one S&E degree, or those who had an S&E occupation (who will now be referred to as the original NSCG); AND b) respondents to the 1993 NSRCG (who will now be referred to as the 1993 NSRCG Panel).

The 1995 NSRCG, conducted by Westat, includes information on people who received a bachelor's or master's degree in a science or engineering field from a U.S. institution between July 1, 1992 and June 30, 1994.

The 1995 SDR, conducted by the National Research Council, includes information on people who received a doctorate degree from a U.S. institution in a S&E field prior to July 1, 1994.

The 1997 NSCG was conducted by two seperate contractors, the Census Bureau and Westat. The survey includes information on people who receieved a bachelor's or master's degree in a science or engineering field prior to July 1, 1994, or who had an S&E occupation in 1993. The 1997 NSCG includes information on people who responded to the 1995 NSCG (original NSCG and 1993 NSRCG Panel) and individuals from the 1995 NSRCG (who will now be referred to as the 1995 NSRCG Panel).

The 1997 NSRCG, conducted by Westat, includes information on people who received a bachelor's or master's degree in a science or engineering field from a U.S. institution between July 1, 1994 and June 30, 1996.

The 1997 SDR, conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), includes information on people who received a doctorate degree from a U.S. institution in a S&E field prior to July 1, 1996.

The 1999 NSCG was conducted by two separate contractors, the Census Bureau and Westat. The survey includes information on people who receieved a bachelor's or master's degree in a science or engineering field prior to July 1, 1996, or who had an S&E occupation in 1993. The 1999 NSCG includes information on people who responded to the 1997 NSCG (original NSCG, 1993 NSRCG Panel, 1995 NSRCG Panel) and individuals from the 1997 NSRCG (who will now be referred to as the 1997 NSRCG Panel).

The 1999 NSRCG, conducted by Westat, includes information on people who received a bachelor's or master's degree in a science or engineering field from a U.S. institution between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998.

The 1999 SDR, conducted by the Census Bureau, includes information on people who received a doctorate degree from a U.S. institution in a S&E field prior to July 1, 1998.

Who is included in the definition of "scientist" and "engineer" for SESTAT?

In SESTAT, scientists and engineers are defined as those who either received a college degree (bachelor's or higher) in a science or engineering field or who work as a scientist or engineer and have a bachelor's degree or higher in any field.

The following degree fields and occupational categories are considered to be science and engineering in SESTAT:

Science and Engineering Degree Fields Science and Engineering Occupations
Computer and mathematical sciences

Life sciences (agricultural, food, biological, medical and environmental life sciences; health fields at the doctoral level)

Physical sciences (chemistry, earth science, geology, oceanography, physics or astronomy)

Social sciences (economics, political science, psychology, sociology, anthropology)
Engineering
 Computer and mathematical scientists

Life scientists (agricultural, food, biological, medical and environmental life scientists)

Physical scientists (chemists, earth scientists, geologists, oceanographers, physicists, astronomers)

Social scientists (economists, political scientists, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, S&T historians)

Engineers

Postsecondary teachers in any of the science or engineering degree fields

The following fields are not considered to be science or engineering:

Non-Science and Engineering Degree Fields Non-Science and Engineering Occupations
Business administration

Business & managerial economics

Health fields, at the bachelor's and master's level

Education fields

Social services and related fields (social work, philosophy, religion, theology)

Technologies fields (computer programming, data processing, engineering technologies)

Sales and market fields

Art and humanities fields
 Managers and administrators

Health-related occupations (doctors and other health practicioners, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, health technologists and technicians)

Pre-college teachers

Postsecondary teachers in non-S&E fields

Social services occupations (clergy, counselors, social workers)

Technologists and technicians (computer programmers, technicians in S&E fields)

Sales and marketing occupations

Artists and other Humanties occupations (artists, editors, writers, non-S&T historians)

How often are the SESTAT data updated?

New data are added to SESTAT every two years. Information from the 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999 surveys are currently available.

What kind of information does SESTAT provide?

SESTAT contains employment information for each respondent as of the survey reference week (the week of April 15,1993 for the 1993 surveys; April 15, 1995 for the 1995 surveys; April 15, 1997 for the 1997 surveys; and April 15, 1999 for the 1999 surveys). This information includes occupation, past employment, and other work-related information such as years of professional training and attendance at meetings.

SESTAT also includes information on education, including degrees earned and fields of study and recent courses taken.

SESTAT includes demographic data and variables related to the sample design as well as analysis weights.

How many observations are on the database?

There are 207,825 observations on the 1993 SESTAT database:

There are 105,158 observations on the 1995 SESTAT database:

There are 100,932 observations on the 1997 SESTAT database:

There are 88,247 observations on the 1999 SESTAT database:

Who is not represented in the sample?

While the SESTAT data system captures the vast majority of the scientists and engineers in the United States, some groups are not included in some years because of when they received their degrees or where they lived at the time of the survey. For instance, people who received their first S&E degree in January 1995 would not be in the 1995 sample. This is because the 1995 sample includes recent graduates receiving their degree on or before June 1994. (The January 1995 graduates would be part of the 1997 survey sample). Descriptions of the omitted groups for each survey year are provided below.

The following groups of people are not included in the 1993 databases:

The following groups of people are not included in the 1995 databases:

The following groups of people are not included in the 1997 databases:

The following groups of people are not included in the 1999 databases:

Do SESTAT data include foreign-born and foreign-trained scientists and engineers living in the U.S.?

The SESTAT data include all scientists and engineers living in the U.S. during the reference week, regardless of their place of birth, with the following exceptions. Foreign-trained scientists and engineers whose first science or engineering degree at the bachelor's level or higher was obtained abroad after April 1, 1990 are not represented in the sample if they did not have at least a bachelor's degree in any field before April 1,1990, or if they were not working as a scientist or engineer during the 1993 reference week.

Also not included are those who received their first bachelor's degree in any field abroad after April 1, 1990 even though they were working as a scientist or engineer during the 1993 reference week.

Does SESTAT cover people trained in a science or engineering field but who currently work in another field?

As long as a person received at least a bachelor's degree in a science or engineering field, he or she is represented in the SESTAT database, regardless of current occupation. Furthermore, a person working as a scientist or engineer in April 1993, but who has no degree at any level in science or engineering is also included in the SESTAT database as long as they hold a bachelor's degree in any field.

Who collects SESTAT data?

Although the National Science Foundation sponsors the surveys and specifies various features of the survey designs, the surveys themselves are conducted by different organizations under contract to NSF. Portions of the National Survey of College Graduates has been conducted by the Bureau of the Census and Westat; the National Survey of Recent College Graduates has been conducted by Westat, Inc.; the Survey of Doctorate Recipients has been conducted by the National Research Council, the National Opinion Research Center, and the Census Bureau. Although the SESTAT data are collected by different organizations, common survey instruments, editing procedures, etc. are used to provide greater comparability of the data. Assistance in these areas is provided by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

How were SESTAT data collected?

The National Survey of College Graduates was conducted by mail with computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) follow-up of all nonrespondents. Additionally, nonrespondents inaccessible by telephone were followed up via computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) in 1993, 1995 and 1997. The National Survey of Recent College Graduates was conducted almost entirely via CATI, with some mail follow-up for sample members who could not be reached by telephone. The portions of the NSCG that were conducted by Westat were also almost entirely viat CATI, with some limited mail follow-up. The Survey of Doctorate Recipients was conducted by mail with CATI follow-up of all nonrespondents in 1993 and 1999 and a subsample of nonrespondents in 1995 and 1997.

Which weight variable should I use when analyzing SESTAT data?

Because of the differential rates at which respondents were sampled, both within and across surveys, analysis weights must be used when producing population estimates. Two analysis weights are supplied on each of the SESTAT databases. In almost all circumstances, one would use the weight labeled "Z_WEIGHTING_FACTOR." This weighting factor should always be used for the national population of scientists and engineers. This weight has been adjusted for overlapping survey populations (i.e., multiplicity). See the "Population Coverage" hotlink for a discussion of how the three surveys overlap.

For special purposes, one may want to use data from only one of the three surveys, in which case "Z_WEIGHTING_FACTOR_SURVEY" should be used. Z_WEIGHTING_FACTOR_SURVEY is a survey-specific weight that has not been adjusted for multiplicity. To look at the results from a specific survey, use Z_SURVEY_IDENTIFIER to identify the survey you want, and use Z_WEIGHTING_FACTOR_SURVEY to obtain estimates.

Do I need to use special settings for my Web browser when viewing SESTAT Web pages?

The web pages in SESTAT use HTML 4.0 extensions. Any browser that supports HTML 4.0 should operate properly. The pages have been tested extensively with Netscape Navigator 4.5 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 with no known browser-related problems. Many users report that setting the default font to Arial 10 point (Netscape) or font size "Small" (Explorer) gives the pages an acceptable appearance. Please contact the Webmaster if you experience any difficulties with your browser or with the suggested settings.

The SESTAT on-line application system is now available in three different versions: Java SESTAT system, classic SESTAT system, and 508 compatible SESTAT system. The Java SESTAT application system is the newest system, and uses Java technologies to improve the software user-interface and increase system performance. The Java SESTAT application system requires the use of a workstation or PC running Windows 95/98/NT/ME and Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you are using Netscape, you must be using Navigator Version 4.5 or later (but not Netscape 6.0), and make sure to select the "Enable java" and "Enable Javascript" options in your browser. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must be using version 6.0 or later, and make sure that the "Disable Java" option is NOT selected. If any of the required conditions are not met, the user is automatically directed to the classic SESTAT system. Other browsers or operating systems are supported through the classic SESTAT application system. The 508 compatible SESTAT application system has been successfully tested with the JAWS reader software as a plug-in to the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.

How should I cite SESTAT data in a publication?

Several suggestions for SESTAT citations are shown below, but the final choice is the authors, of course.

Suggested SESTAT citations:

Where can I find copies of the survey instruments?

You may view facsimiles of the SESTAT survey instruments on-line. From the SESTAT home page (http://sestat.nsf.gov), select the "Questionnaires" link. You will be presented with a chart containing links to "pdf" versions of the survey instruments.

Who is included in SESTAT's "S&E Portion - College Grads"?

In 1993, this is the portion of the National Survey of College Graduates that either had an S&E degree, or an an S&E occupation. In 1995, 1997, and 1999, it refers to the total NSCG population in these years. Please keep in mind that after 1993, the NSCG only included science and engineering degree holders, or those without such degrees, but who had an S&E job in 1993.

Updated: May 17, 2002