State exam

- study of professional literature according to the chosen topic

The conditions for applying for the Ph.D. thesis defence are defined in Art. 21 and Art. 30 to 34 of Internal Regulation No. 1/2020 of the currently valid Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava. The essentials of the written work/thesis are contained in the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University on final theses.

According to Sec. 51 § 3 of Act No. 131/2002, as amended, the study of each study programme at the doctoral level also includes the student’s final thesis, which together with the defence of the final thesis forms one subject. The defence of the final thesis (dissertation) belongs to the state exams. The basic requirements for final theses are also regulated by the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University on final theses and the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava. The directive regulates the formal requirements of the dissertation, its structure, method of citation, submission, and license agreement. The assessment is "passed or failed" following the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava

Slovak and English

The defence of the dissertation takes place before the Commission for the state examinations. University teachers working in the positions of professors and associate professors and other experts approved by the Scientific Board of the faculty have the right to take examinations for the defence of the dissertation. The chair and members of the examination commission are appointed by the Dean on the proposal of the departmental commission. At least one member of the examination commission is not from the training institution. The examination commission must have at least four members.

The defence of the dissertation may take place only in the presence of at least two-thirds of all members of the examination commission and at least two opponents of the dissertation. Minutes are prepared on the defence of the dissertation. The minutes are signed by the chair and the members of the examination commission present at the defence of the dissertation.

The decision of the examination commission on the result of the dissertation defence will be made at a closed meeting of the examination commission after the end of the defence in the presence of the dissertation opponents and the supervisor. The closed session will assess the course of the defence and the possibility of using the results of the dissertation in practice.

The defence consists of the following parts: introduction of the doctoral student by the chair of the examination commission, presentation of the dissertation by the author, presentation of opponents’ opinions, author’s reaction to the opinions, opinions of the opponents answering questions, general discussion, debate, The defence of the dissertation is assessed by the evaluation "passed or failed" (following the current Study Regulations).

Framework principles of objectives and organization of the dissertation are determined by the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University in Bratislava on the basic requirements of final theses, rigorous theses and habilitation theses, control of their originality, storage, and access to Comenius University in Bratislava, currently valid Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava.

By defending the PhD. theses (dissertation), the graduate has to prove readiness for independent scientific and creative activity. After successful defence of the dissertation, the student will be ready to define and analyze the current state of scientific research in the field related to the subject of research, in areas related to the doctoral programme, and other related disciplines. The graduate will be able to carry out scientific research, interpret the results and present them in scientific forums. He/she will be able to scientifically argue and defend and reflect the results of his/her research. He/she can apply and creatively improve and develop theories and research, development, and innovation practices in his/her field and create new ones.

The doctoral student can apply for the Doctoral examination if he/she has obtained at least 60 credits, of which 40 credits for studies. He/she must register for the exam no later than 18 months after the start of his/her studies in the three-year full-time doctoral programme or 24 months after the start of his/her studies in the four-year full-time doctoral programme. The conditions for applying for the state exam are defined by the currently valid Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava. The essentials of the written work/thesis are contained in the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University on final theses.

- Relevant scientific studies thematically focused on the area of dissertation research

- BAČÍKOVÁ, M., JANOVSKÁ, M. (2018). Základy metodológie pedagogicko-psychologického výskumu. Prešov: ŠafárikPress.

- COHEN, L., MANION, L., MORRISON, K. (2007). Research Methods in Education. Routlege.

- COHEN E. L., WAITE-STUPIANSKY, S. (2017). Theories of Early Childhood Education: Developmental, Behaviorist, and Critical. London, UK: Routledge.

- KOSTRUB, D. (2016). Základy kvalitatívnej metodológie. Keď interpretované významy znamenajú viac ako vysoké čísla. Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského.

- KOŽUCHOVÁ, M., KURUC, M. 2020. Development of students' self-regulation of learning with a focus on technical education: Theory and research. Ste-con, GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany.

- The British Psychological Society, (2014). Code of Human Research Ethics. St Andrews, Scotland: The British Psychological Society. Retrieved from:

- https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/bps_code_of_human_research_ethics.pdf

A doctoral examination consists of a written work (assessed by a reviewer and an examination commission) and an oral exam (assessed by an examination commission). At the doctoral examination, the doctoral student presents an overview of the theoretical and methodological background and the state of solving a scientific problem, which he/she solves within the dissertation project. At the oral exam, he/she presents theoretical readiness in the areas of subjects of this exam defined in the given doctoral programme. The assessment is "passed or failed" following the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava.

Slovak and English

The subject of the dissertation exam is preschool and elementary education. Topics of doctoral examination

• Preschool and elementary pedagogy as a specific part of pedagogical sciences, goals, theoretical background, and research opportunities

• Psychological contexts of the development processes of preschool and younger school children in the context of teaching concepts

• Research challenges from the social dimension of childhood and education in preschool and elementary pedagogy

• Qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches in pedagogical research in the field of preschool and elementary pedagogy

• Didactic context of access to the content of pre-primary and primary education

• Pedagogical diagnostics and its importance in the educational process of pre-primary and primary education

• Evaluation of the educational process in pre-primary and primary education

• Research methods in the educational process of pre-primary and primary education

• Alternative pedagogical strategies and research methods in the educational process with emphasis on children / pupils with special educational needs

• Ethical principles of research in preschool and elementary pedagogy

• Current issues of educational policy in the context of changes in pre-primary and primary education

Learning objectives: To verify the acquired knowledge of the methodology and research methodology in the field of preschool and elementary education.

Learning outcomes: Graduates understand the essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories related to research and teaching practice and its educational system context. They can creatively use relevant knowledge to identify, analyze and solve problem situations within of preschool and elementary education. Graduates demonstrate the skills of metacognition, self-education, and postdoctoral studies.

The graduate of the dissertation will be able to acquire, analyze, interpret, and apply new scientific knowledge in the field in which he/she carries out his/her research. He/she can demonstrate professional and methodological knowledge in the areas of the dissertation exam determined by the doctoral programme. He/she can evaluate the theories, concepts, and innovations that are needed to grasp and solve the scientific problem that is the subject of his/her research.