The impact of Ph.D., funding, and continued publications by Sports Sciences PhDs, 1-year post PhD-Defence

Abstract

Bibliometrics focuses on the quantitative analysis of scientific literature, both in terms of production and consumption. The objective of the present study was to use bibliometrics indicators for analysing the scientific production of junior researchers. Focusing on key aspects such as doctoral theses, publications, fields of study, projects, and regions, a descriptive, comparative, and correlational study was carried out. The results showed a total of 821 theses (493 proposed by men and 328, by women). A total of 1936 published works were found, of which 1358 were dated from 2013 to 2018, and 578, from 2008 to 2013 (∆: 135%, p = 0.01). The main findings increased the understanding of the state of sports science in Spain. The number of theses and publications has increased, which shows that, in the country, sports sciences have gained momentum during the period examined in the study. However, the economic resources derived from research and development have stabilized over the period under review, despite its growth rate during the last ten years being the one experiencing the greatest increase.