The most exciting moment for every postgraduate and doctoral student is the defence of their thesis. It is the results of this defence that determine the future of the scientist: whether they will receive a scientific degree or not. In order to increase the chances of success, the applicant must not only carefully approach the dissertation research, but also pay special attention to the preparation of accompanying documents and materials. In this article, we will look at which databases are worth publishing articles with the results of dissertation research.
Why do scientists need publications to defend their dissertations?
Publications play a crucial role in obtaining an academic degree. Before proceeding with the defence, it is important to understand the role that publications play in obtaining an academic degree.
This process includes several key stages, in particular:
- conducting scientific research;
- writing a dissertation;
- presenting and defending the work before the dissertation committee;
- the committee's decision on the results of the defence;
- the official awarding of a candidate or doctor of science degree.
At the defence stage, a number of strict requirements are imposed on the applicant. It takes the form of a public presentation before the dissertation committee, during which the postgraduate or doctoral student must present the main results of their scientific work.
The Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan strictly regulates the procedure for preparing and defending a dissertation. One of the key requirements is the presence of publications in authoritative scientific journals presenting the results of the dissertation research. If the applicant does not submit the necessary articles to the committee, they will not be allowed to defend their thesis.
Thus, publications are not just an accompaniment to the research, but an integral part of the entire procedure for obtaining a scientific degree.
The number of publications varies depending on the academic degree that the scientist wishes to obtain:
- to obtain a candidate of science degree, it is necessary to publish at least five articles, including:
- one article in a prestigious foreign journal.
- to obtain a doctor of science degree, a minimum of twenty articles is required, including:
- six articles published in prestigious foreign journals;
- for the humanities and social sciences – at least three articles;
- for the natural sciences – at least six articles.
To learn more about other requirements for defending a dissertation, read our article on this topic.
Which databases should be avoided for publication?
For a successful thesis defence, it is extremely important to publish articles in databases that meet the requirements of the thesis committee. Choosing an unsuitable platform may result in the publication not being accepted and the researcher not being allowed to defend their thesis.
For example, consider the ERIH+ and AGRIS platforms. Although they are fairly authoritative databases, they have certain limitations. ERIH+ focuses primarily on the humanities and social sciences, making it less suitable for technical or natural sciences. AGRIS, on the other hand, specialises in agricultural sciences and related fields, which makes publication in it unsuitable for other disciplines.
The RINC and Index Copernicus databases also cause a lot of controversy in the scientific community. Often, they are not recommended for publishing articles for a number of reasons, such as:
- the presence of predatory journals;
- low criteria for journal inclusion;
- lack of international recognition;
- non-transparent methodology for calculating scientometric indicators.
If you would like to learn more about each of the above reasons, read our article on this topic.
Are there alternatives for publication?
To increase the chances of successfully defending your thesis, it is recommended to publish in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. These databases are recognised both in Azerbaijan and worldwide. Moreover, they cover a wide range of disciplines and ensure high visibility of publications.
Thus, publication in Scopus and Web of Science will not only allow the applicant for a scientific degree to meet the requirements of the dissertation committee, but also help to avoid mistakes, save time and resources, and gain admission to the defence of the dissertation.
"Scientific Publications" is ready to help you with publication in Scopus and Web of Science. Our specialists will accompany you at all stages of the work: from auditing the article and selecting a suitable journal to the actual publication. To receive a free consultation, leave your contact details in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together to new scientific achievements!
