Тенденции в дисертационната дейност в научно направление 3.1 "Социология, антропология и науки за културата" през последните 35 години. Количествени аспекти
Trends in Dissertation Activity in Scientific Field 3.1 "Sociology, Anthropology and Cultural Sciences" over the Last 35 Years. Quantitative Aspects

Author(s): Marieta Hristova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Economy, Education, Business Economy / Management, Sociology, Adult Education, Higher Education , Evaluation research, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: dissertation activity; academic reform,; sociology; scientific degree; public defense
Summary/Abstract: The text analyses the dissertation activity within professional field 3.1 „Sociology, Anthropology, and Cultural Sciences“ in Bulgaria over the last several decades. A primary focus is placed on changes in academic legislation and their impact on the management and conduct of dissertation defenses following the dissolution of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) in 2010 and the transfer of these functions to individual higher education institutions and scientific institutes. The subject of the study are the quantitative aspects of dissertation activity in the country. The research does not attempt to analyse the preferred issues in the research work of sociologists in the country, nor the quality of their work, which can be noted as limitations of the study. The research is based on a quantitative analysis of administrative data on successfully defended dissertations in professional field 3.1 „Sociology, Anthropology, and Cultural Sciences“ for two periods: 1991 – 2010, when dissertations were defended in front of HAC; and 2011 – 2024, when with the amendments introduced in the Higher Education Act, HAC was closed and the right of defense was transferred to other educational units. The data are taken from the National Register of Academic Staff and the defended dissertations at the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID). The analysis reveals an increase in the number of defended doctoral dissertations following the legislative changes, highlighting a successful adaptation to the new regulatory framework. Additionally, attention is paid to the distribution of defended dissertations across scientific units and the activity of academic supervisors and jury members. There is significant engagement from certain academic supervisors and jury members, indicating a substantial influence by a small number of individuals in the process. On the other hand, the participation of external specialists in the evaluation committees facilitates inter-institutional collaboration and the exchange of scientific expertise.

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