Knowledge production in social work: a systematic analysis of doctoral dissertations and emerging academic trends in Türkiye

Research within social work education plays a pivotal role in both advancing practitioners’ competencies and consolidating the scientific foundations of the discipline. Supporting social work interventions with empirical research is therefore regarded as an essential prerequisite for the profession’s development at national and international levels. This study systematically examines doctoral dissertations produced in social work programs in Türkiye, with the aim of mapping the discipline’s knowledge base and academic trajectories. A total of 332 dissertations completed between 1987 and 2024 were analyzed through content analysis. The findings reveal prevailing thematic domains, methodological choices, and approaches to ethical processes in these dissertations, while also underscoring the pressing need for rigorous, timely, and globally oriented research to enhance the discipline’s international visibility. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of strengthening knowledge transfer between academia and practice, demonstrating that dissertations produced in Türkiye constitute not only a significant national resource but also a valuable contribution to the global body of social work scholarship.