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Analysis of doctoral theses in biology submitted at the Faculty of Science in Zagreb from 1950 to 2000

Background and Purpose: The aim of this research was to provide an insight into the situation and the development of biology in Croatia since 1950 to 2000 by the analysis of doctoral theses as the specific source of information. One of the tasks of the research was to determine the accessibility of the analysed theses to the world's scientific community through their representation in the Dissertation Abstracts International. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 344 doctoral theses submitted at the Faculty of Science from 1950 (the submission of the first thesis) to 2000. The theses were assessed by the following bibliometric indicators: year of publication, number of pages, number of references, language in which they were written, presence of an abstract, field of research and institutions where they were carried out. A better understanding of the demographic situation among Croatian biologists with a doctoral degree was obtained by the analysis of their gender, age, employment and participation in international collaboration. Results and Conclusions: The number of theses rose over time, with 1990’ s accounting for a third of all the theses submitted. The mean number of pages and references per thesis was 154 and 156 respectively. Theses were written mainly in Croatian (95%) ; 21% did not contain an abstract. The study found that marine biology was the area of main research, with theses work carried out primarily in universities and public institutes (73%). Over half of those who were awarded a doctorate were women (55%), and the average age was 38. The majority (64%) remained in universities and public institutes, with 8% ultimately leaving the country. The study also found that international collaboration has increased since the 1990’ s. The search of Dissertation Abstracts International showed that theses are not represented in it and thus can not be considered accessible to the scientific community.

scientometrics; biology; Croatia; doctoral theses; bibliometric analysis; demographic analysis; Dissertation Abstract International

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