Sociological Factors and Consequences of Social Demand for PhD Degree in the Recent Decade in Iran

Abstract The present article seeks to explore the sociological factors and consequences of social demand for the PhD in the recent decade in Iran. The method used is qualitative and within the framework of phenomenology .First, by the use of documentary method, empirical and theoretical backgrounds of the research were investigated, then these factors and consequences were put in a focus group interview with 10 experts and higher education officials. Finally, the findings of the research were classified in two parts: sociological factors and sociological consequences of social demand for the PhD degree. The factors of social demand in general became: "individual-family factors" and "environmental factors". Family factors include customs and morals and individual factors include the value of belonging, intrinsic value, functional value, and the exchange value of pursuing a doctoral degree. Environmental factors include historical, institutional, economic, and socio-cultural factors. The consequences of this phenomenon include scientific-educational, socio-cultural and economic consequences, which were divided into positive and negative categories. Finally, regarding extracted factors, some solutions to the problem of high social demand for higher education were suggested. Keywords Education Continuation, Sociological Consequences, Social Demand, Ph.D, Sociological Factors.