Peculiarities and trends in doctoral research in the Republic of Moldova in the light of the bibliographical references of theses

This study investigates the trends and peculiarities of doctoral research in the Republic of Moldova through an analysis of bibliographical references in doctoral theses from 2005 and 2023. Aiming to understand the features and evolution of citation practices, the study examines 375 theses available in national databases. The research addresses the quantity, nature, and language of citations, revealing significant findings. It shows an increase in the average number of references per thesis over time, indicating heightened scientific rigor and comprehensive literature integration. Differences across scientific fields are noted, with history and political science theses having the most references and computer science and physical-mathematical sciences the fewest. The analysis finds that scientific publications dominate the references, though other sources are important in some socio-humanities fields. Language trends indicate a shift from Russian to English references, reflecting increased global integration. The study also highlights the correlation between the thesis language and the predominant language of references used. These insights can be useful for policymakers, researchers, and academic institutions in understanding and improving the quality and impact of doctoral research in Moldova.