The politics of social work research - Ph.D. theses in Sweden

Ph.D. dissertations have a special role in the formation of academic knowledge. In addition to producing new knowledge they usually reflect disciplinary traditions, trends and research fronts. The article presents a mapping of form and content of all doctoral dissertations in social work in Sweden from the establishment in the late 1970s up to 2009 (a total number of 253 theses). The review shows not only some patterns still remaining but also some new trends. For example, in the 2000s the interest in social work methods, and compilation theses based on scientific articles, has been growing. In an introductory section academicisation processes and tensions they generate are described. The article concludes with a general remark about dual legitimacy, and the need in future to navigate between the scientific world's growing demand for excellence and, on the other hand, political and professional demands on instrumental and evidence-oriented research.