Research co-sponsored by the Conference of Deans of Southern Graduate Schools and the Southern Regional Education Board on the duration of doctoral study is reported in this book. Over 1,900 recipients of a doctoral degree (representing over l20 graduate departments) cooperated along with the graduate deans and selected faculty representatives. Specific topics cover: time taken to attain the doctorate; factors affecting duration of doctoral study; delays and discontinuities in progress to the doctorate; patterns of financial assistance and support; the dissertation requirement; the foreign language requirement; differences among institutions and departments: selected indices of duration; contrasts between faster and slower groups; respondents' suggestions for time-reduction; and suggestions for further understanding and effective action. Appended are (1) the questionnaires and selected characteristics of the study sample; (2) comparative data on BA-PhD time lapse for selected fields, periods, and groups; and (3) tabular summary of major findings. A 34-item bibliography is also included. (LBH)