Educational Research and Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

This article presents some results arising from the meta-analysis of the educational research that has been developed at Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal). The intention was to understand the status of the educational research produced, the main thematic trends studied, affiliated scientific domains, conceptual frames mobilized, and methodological approaches used. The PhD theses that have been submitted for the doctoral degree in Educational Sciences were analyzed and for each one we searched for the research questions and/or research objectives pursued, the methodology of research developed, the entities examined (e.g., individuals, institutions, or organizations), the main theoretical perspectives assumed and the disciplinary, multidisciplinary, or transdisciplinary approach embraced. This enquiry revealed the predominance of qualitative approaches to research in education. Discovering what was done was a gateway to think about educational researchers training and to highlight some issues related to doctoral programs design, pedagogy, and teaching practices.