Qualitative and quantitative analysis of postgraduate theses on combat sports in Turkey

This thesis aims to analyze the postgraduate theses on combat sports in Turkey from quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this thesis study. In the quantitative dimension of the study, numerical data were collected and bibliometric analysis was conducted. In the qualitative dimension, document analysis method based on examining existing written sources was used. All 552 theses related to combat sports in YÖK National Thesis Center were included in the study. When the quantitative and qualitative findings of the study were evaluated together, it was seen that there has been a numerical increase in the number of postgraduate theses on combat sports since the 2000s. It was determined that the distribution of theses on combat sports according to geographical regions, cities and universities was not homogeneous, and that there were higher rates of thesis production in metropolitan universities in Central Anatolia, Marmara and Aegean Regions. It was observed that the proportion of women in thesis author, advisor and sample genders was considerably lower than that of men. It was determined that approximately 70% of the 552 theses on combat sports were conducted in Olympic branches such as wrestling, judo, boxing and karate. It was observed that the theses were generally conducted on elite and sub-elite level athletes, while only 9.1% of the total combat sports theses focused on youth or developmental levels. It was seen that 83,15% of the theses were quantitative, 16,48% were qualitative and 0,36% were mixed research design. Sampling problems, uncertainties about deciding on the sample size, citation and referencing errors in the analyzed postgraduate theses are important findings under the theme of methodological problems. The sub-themes under the main theme of research effectiveness and widespread impact problems are the repeated research of problem situations with known answers, the thesis topics do not have enough counterparts in the field, and the process from problem to research is not operated properly. In conclusion, although there has been an increase in the number of theses on combat sports in Turkey in recent years, inadequacies in research effectiveness and deficiencies in the methodology sections draw attention. It can be suggested to comply with international scientific standards while creating methodology sections and subheadings of these sections in future graduate theses on combat sports. In future studies on combat sports, it may be recommended to conduct research on topics such as child protection, sports ethics, betting and match-fixing, gender, athlete health, doping, nutrition and ergogenic supplements, phenomenal athletes and branch-based structural problems. Keywords: Combat sports, Doctoral thesis, Master thesis, Postgraduate thesis