Careers and Research Performance of PhD Program Graduates of Health Sciences in Turkey


ÇAVDAR Z., ULMAN C., Kirkali G., BAYDUR H., Akdogan G. G.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY-TURK BIYOKIMYA DERGISI, cilt.38, sa.1, ss.118-125, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Cilt numarası: 38 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2013
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5505/tjb.2013.08860
  • Dergi Adı: TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY-TURK BIYOKIMYA DERGISI
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.118-125
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: PhD education, health sciences, PhD graduates' careers, research, STUDENTS
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In this review, we aimed to evaluate PhD graduates of the period between 1985-2010 and analyze the status, motivation and positive and negative factors influencing research motivation of graduates in eight disciplines from three graduate schools of Health Sciences in Turkey and to compare with the present status in the world. Some information obtained by web-based survey is the following: The most of graduates (83%) have academic positions in basic sciences departments in the faculty of medicine in universities. 94.2 % of graduates recognized the importance of personal motivation, while 54% of them thought that finding the appropriate research environment was important for research. For 52%, the biggest hindrance to medical research was lack of funding and for 39%, lack of technic personnel for research. The studies in the literature related to PhD graduates pointed out to the following facts: The number of PhD graduates is increasing gradually and the graduates' career choices have changed from academic to non-academic positions, especially in the industry. This is not parallel to our pilot study findings. About the teaching perspective treated in the relevant literature, the concept of "one should be a good researcher, as well as a good teacher" is dominant. PhD graduates in our pilot study mentioned that they had responsibilities in the education activities during their PhD education. We think that these responsibilities are useful for their future academic career. In conclusion, the majority (83%) of graduates from Graduate Schools of Health Sciences in Turkey are enrolled into academic researcher positions in universities. They keep producing funded research work as a first author and publish despite some problems.