Home – Home – Jornals – "Philosophy of Education" 2019 number 2

Introduction. The problem of improving quality of dissertations and training of professional scientists remains vital. Analysis of the available scientific and methodological works on conducting dissertation research showed a contradiction between the need in considerable improvement of dissertation research quality and poor understanding of essence of dissertation research being a specific scientific and qualifying product. The present dissertation research theory needs to be advanced. The subject of research in this paper is the idea of the notion of ‘dissertation’. Methodology and methods of the research. In preparing this paper, the systemic and dialectical approaches, analysis and synthesis of scientific works and guidelines on preparation of dissertations, the structure of the dissertation material, and the procedure for documenting the obtained results were used. The idea of the notion of dissertation evolved due to summarizing its existing definitions and subsequent application of A. Schopenhauer’s method. The development of the dissertation structure was based on the methods of the structural and functional, systems and logical analyses. The results of the research. In the process of research, the idea of the dissertation was revealed and presented as a schematic diagram, i.e as the logic of identifying, framing and translating a new concept into scientific knowledge to improve reality. Three-stage manifestation of the logic of the idea is described. It is shown that the idea of the dissertation is structured according to a special linear-matrix type. The first block of its elements and relations performs the goal-setting function, the second block, the function of achieving goals. The structure provides for the construction of a scientific system to address a topical issue. The research shows connection between the structural elements of the dissertation and the professional skills of scientists being developed. Conclusion. The revealed idea and structure of the dissertation explain its special scientific value (novelty, validity, reliability, consistency), great social significance (solving a scientific problem, training a scientist), and the centuries-old vitality of this intellectual product. Compliance with the developed structure provides for the systemic nature of the dissertation research. Mastering the dissertation research methodology, passing through all its stages personally, creation and defense of the dissertation lead to mastering the mental and practical skills of efficient social functioning as a scientist.