engleski

The mentoring of young researchers in the natural and social sciences in Croatia

The mentoring provided by a senior scientist is regarded as particularly important for young researchers’ professional socialization. High- quality mentoring experiences permanently influence the careers of young researchers. Due to differences in the social organization of disciplines, the mentoring practices provided for young researchers are described as differing greatly between the social and natural sciences. However, recent global changes in nature of academic work and the practices of the academic profession, together with changes related to the production of knowledge in the social sciences, impose questions relating to the possible changes in mentoring patterns and practices in those disciplines. This qualitative study of a sample of 40 novices from the natural and social sciences has shown characteristic differences between the studied domains, but it has also found that in both the natural and social sciences, mentorship differs from - in the previous research described - characteristic disciplinary patterns and practices. The latter finding is related to the disciplinary changes in the production of knowledge, as well as global and local (Croatian) changes of science systems and policies. The study concludes with specific remarks on how to improve a ‘scientific novice program’ to work more as high-quality professional socialization program.

professional socialization, mentoring, scientific productivity

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