[PhD theses on gerontological topics in Russia 1995-2012: scientometric analysis]

Adv Gerontol. 2014;27(2):358-65.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

The paper presents a scientometric analysis of PhD theses on gerontological topics in Russian humanities (excluding economics) for the period from 1995 to 2012. During this period, 253 PhD theses (238 of "candidate dissertations," and 15 of "doctoral dissertations") were defended in Russia. Almost half of them were defended during the boom years (2005-2006; 2009-2010). The number of theses defended in the 2000-s has increased significantly compared to the second half of 1990-s. However for gerontological PhD-s overall as a percentage of all theses defended in Russian humanities, the number hardly changed and remained small (less than 0.3%). The leading discipline in the study of aging (within the humanities) is sociology accounting for more than a third of all defended theses. Though the theses were defended in 48 cities, more than half of them were defended in 3 cities, which are Moscow, St. Petersburg and Saratov. Thematic analysis showed that the leading position was occupied by two topics: "the elderly and the state" (42%) and "(re)socialization/adaptation of the elderly" (25%). 14% of the works are devoted to intergenerational relations and social status of the elderly. Other topics (old man/woman's personality, self-perceptions of aging, violence and crime against the elderly, loneliness, discrimination, etc.) are presented by very few studies.

MeSH terms

  • Academic Dissertations as Topic*
  • Aged
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Biomedical Research / statistics & numerical data
  • Biomedical Research / trends
  • Certification / statistics & numerical data
  • Geriatrics / methods*
  • Humans
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Russia
  • Social Adjustment
  • Social Validity, Research / statistics & numerical data
  • Social Validity, Research / trends
  • Social Welfare*