This article tabulates doctoral research activity in social studies education as found in "Dissertation Abstracts" published between 1982 and 1991. In this computer-based search, 499 dissertations were identified using "Dissertation Abstracts OnDisc" which is available on CD-ROM. A variety of descriptors were used, one of the least helpful being "social studies." From the dissertation abstracts of these 499, productivity levels were generated by yearly output, page length, gender, grade/level, terminal degree, graduate institution, research type, and topic. In addition, using data reported on five earlier dissertation overviews, research summaries were compiled for the purpose of comparison with contemporary data. Due to a transition in 1991 through 1993 in how research information was identified and categorized, the study was limited to the years 1982-1991. The primary problems of incomplete data due to the information escaping notice or the focus of the research not being clearly related to social studies based on the title alone is recognized. This study does not set out to cut any new intellectual ground, nor interpret, classify or evaluate dissertation work in social studies. The report offers general descriptive information on dissertation research. These data may be useful to graduate students in social studies, theses supervisors, and those interested in general trends in social studies dissertation research. (EH)