In many cases, D.P.A. programs are identical to Ph.D. programs. Additionally, the D.P.A. dissertation is usually at the same level as a Ph.D. in terms of effort, rigor, contribution to knowledge, supervision and assessment. A study published by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration titled "What's in a Name? Comparing DPA and Ph.D. Programs" concluded that there was "few differences between the programs, noting that degree title is more informative about the type of students recruited than outputs"