Of all kinds of dissertations, the doctoral thesis is the most serious and large-scale scientific work carried out according to the requirements established by the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC). The result of the defense of the doctoral dissertation is the award of the most valuable degree in the scientific community - the doctor of sciences. Work on a doctoral dissertation is preceded by a long scientific activity, doctoral studies, defended master and candidate dissertations. The doctoral theme should be relevant and not explored before, contain solutions to existing scientific problems. In the article we will consider the basic requirements for a doctoral dissertation.
From candidate to doctor
After successfully defending a Ph.D. thesis, scientists are faced with the question of what comes next. And then one more step, having risen to which, candidates become doctors of science. Of course, not everyone chooses this thorny path, but for enthusiasts, discoverers, for those who feel within themselves the strength to draw significant conclusions or propose a solution to certain problems, the doctoral dissertation is a logical continuation of scientific work, and for someone even the whole work of life. A doctorate requires in-depth theoretical knowledge and thorough research baggage. It sets scientists with slightly different goals than lower-order works. In particular, one of the following requirements for a doctoral dissertation must be satisfied:
- a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Sciences should be equated with a scientific achievement;
- the dissertation should solve important problems (political, socio-economic, cultural, economic);
- the dissertation should include scientifically based solutions (technical, technological, etc.), the introduction of which will positively affect the development of the country.
Doctoral studies
Doctors of sciences are trained in doctoral studies, admission to which is carried out on a competitive basis. The scientific council of the university makes a decision on admission on the basis of the documents provided. The Regulation on doctoral studies in the Russian Federation sets out the requirements for employees sent to doctoral studies. Firstly, the employee must have a Ph.D. degree or have a degree obtained abroad and giving the same privileges as a candidate degree in Russia. Secondly, the employee must have a certain experience in scientific and (or) pedagogical work (at least five years). Work experience in the organization sending the employee should be at least a year. Thirdly, the employee must provide a scientific portfolio: a list of published works, patents for inventions, certificates, etc. Well, finally, the employee must have a detailed dissertation plan.
Competition
A doctor’s degree can also be obtained without undergoing a doctorate. You must become a candidate in an organization or at a department of an educational institution that has a doctoral degree. To coordinate the work of the applicant, a scientific consultant will be appointed, whose opinion and experience will be useful in writing the work. As a rule, employees of universities and research institutions become applicants.
This is due to the fact that the preparation of the dissertation takes place in parallel with labor activity, and the applicant does not need additional training - he is aware of most issues and can conduct independent research work. Thus, doctoral students and applicants differ in the organizational process of scientific research, but the requirements for a doctoral dissertation for both of them remain unchanged. Since the doctoral degree implies a significant contribution of the scientist to the development of a particular scientific field, the requirements for this work are very, very serious. In particular, this concerns the relevance and novelty of the study, the content, hypotheses and justifications.
Scientific publications
At the request of the Higher Attestation Commission for doctoral dissertations, the main scientific results of the dissertation should be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals recommended by the Higher Attestation Commission. The number of publications in the field of humanities and social sciences, cultural and art sciences, as well as socio-economic sciences should be at least 15. In other areas of knowledge - at least 10. Other evidence of scientific activity can be an alternative to publications: patents, certificates of discovery, etc. .
Doctoral dissertation: design requirements
The basic requirements for the design of doctoral work are regulated by GOST from 2011. It applies to dissertations in the form of a special manuscript and a scientific report (also a doctoral dissertation may be a published monograph). Most often, the doctoral is a special manuscript having a structure classical for scientific work: title page, table of contents, introduction, main part, conclusion, list of references. These are required components. Optional elements include the following: a list of abbreviations and symbols, a terminology dictionary, a list of illustrative material and applications. The requirements for the design of doctoral dissertations of the Higher Attestation Commission, and more specifically to its structural components, are listed in detail in the aforementioned GOST. The number of chapters, paragraphs and subparagraphs is determined by the dissertation in accordance with the logic of the narrative. It is important that all points, and even more so the topic of the dissertation, correspond to the content of the work, otherwise the dissertation will not be allowed to defend. According to the requirements of the Higher Attestation Commission, the scope of the doctoral dissertation is arbitrary. Recommended size is approximately 300 pages excluding applications, Times New Roman font, line spacing 1.5, and 14 pt.
Abstract
An important part of the dissertation is an abstract of a kind of summary of the work done. In the abstract, the dissertation gives the main ideas of scientific work and key conclusions. The abstract should be clear, logical, rich, and must necessarily reflect the essence of the dissertation. Readers of the abstract should conclude that the work is indeed of scientific interest and contains fundamental discoveries. The full text of the dissertation is assessed, as a rule, only by opponents, but most of the reviews will be specifically on the abstract. The requirements for an abstract of a doctoral dissertation are also described in GOST from 2011 (content and design). Printing of an abstract is carried out in a printing way in an amount determined by the dissertation council. The abstract should be approximately 44-55 pages. At the end of the abstract is indicated a list of own publications that are directly related to the topic of the work. If some articles are written in collaboration, then this must be indicated so as not to be accused of plagiarism. Distribution of abstracts to organizations established by the Higher Attestation Commission, and to additional places selected by the dissertation and his supervisor should be made no later than one month before the defense.
Requirements for Opponents
A key role in the evaluation of the dissertation is given to official opponents and the opposing organization. Opponents are appointed by the dissertation council from among competent representatives in the scientific discipline in which the dissertation is written. Doctoral defense involves three official opponents with a doctoral degree, and, based on the requirements for opponents of a doctoral dissertation, only one of them can be part of the dissertation council that has accepted work for defense. Ideally, official opponents should be employees of different organizations. Opponents cannot be:
- employees of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation;
- members and heads of expert councils of the Higher Attestation Commission
- the chairman, his deputy and the scientific secretary of the dissertation council, who allowed the dissertation to be defended;
- thesis supervisors;
- co-authors of the dissertation on publications related to the dissertation;
- rectors and vice-rectors of universities;
- heads of organizations and their deputies;
- employees of the departments where the dissertation was carried out, departments where the dissident conducted or ordered research work, as well as employees of laboratories, sectors or departments that are the place of work of the dissertation.
Reviews of opponents
After reading the dissertation and the publications of the applicant, the opponents send written feedback on the work to the dissertation council and a conclusion is made on the compliance of the dissertation with all the requirements. In conclusion, the following positions are evaluated:
- relevance of the topic;
- the validity of scientific provisions to be defended ;
- the reliability and novelty of the conclusions and recommendations made in the dissertation.
Opponents must impartially evaluate the qualitative component of the dissertation, highlight the advantages and disadvantages in terms of structure and content, and determine the contribution of the author to science. The applicant receives copies of reviews no later than ten days before the defense. In addition to official opponents, dissertation councils appoint an opposing organization that conducts activities in the relevant scientific field. The head of the organization or his deputy leave a review for the dissertation, in which they evaluate the significance of the results for scientific and industrial activities.
Defense of the thesis
The final chord on the way to obtaining a doctorate degree is the defense of a dissertation. This is a responsible and exciting stage, on the successful preparation of which the final result depends. The order of protection is:
- First of all, the chairman of the dissertation council announces the necessary level of the number of personnel declared for defense.
- The data of the applicant, scientific adviser, opponents and the opposing organization is provided, the documents provided by the applicant are listed.
- The applicant gives a defensive speech and answers the questions of those present at the defense.
- The supervisor characterizes the applicant.
- The scientific secretary reads the response of the opposing organization and the reviews of the abstract sent to the organization’s mail. The applicant must first respond to the comments of the opposing organization.
- Speech by official opponents and the response of the applicant to their comments.
- After answering the feedback and questions of the opponents, the main discussion on scientific research begins, in which all the persons present at the defense take part.
- The members of the council decide by secret ballot whether or not the applicant is worthy of a doctorate.
- If the decision is positive, the attestation file of the dissertation is sent to the Higher Attestation Commission within a month (a number of documents established by the Higher Attestation Commission). At the request of the Higher Attestation Commission, the defense of the doctoral dissertation should be recorded, and the record of the meeting of the dissertation council should then be attached to the certification case.
A doctorate diploma is issued for six months.
Summarize
Writing and defending a doctoral dissertation is a lengthy process consisting of several stages. There are certain requirements for doctoral dissertations, which must be adhered to so that the efforts are not in vain. After the work is written and there is the required number of publications, the organization in which the dissertation was carried out, makes a preliminary examination of the work. After receiving a positive conclusion, the dissertation is transferred to the dissertation council with all related documents, a list of which must be clarified by the scientific secretary. The Council decides on admission to the defense, approves official opponents and the opposing organization, coordinates the circulation of the abstract and a list of places for additional distribution of the abstract (mandatory list approved by the Higher Attestation Commission), sets the date and time for protection. Opponents and the opposing organization make a review on the dissertation and the abstract. The final stage is protection. In the event of a positive outcome, the attestation of the dissertation is sent to the Higher Attestation Commission, and within six months he receives the coveted Doctor of Science diploma.