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INTRODUCTION Brief summary of the methods applied The research: semi-structured interview I applied the method of semi-structured interviews during my research, which do not carry the possibilities of the in-depth interview, but thanks to not having a strictly binding structure, the method allows the unearthing of the deeper motivations of the interviewees, thus enabling the utilization of the narrative technigue as well. The key dimensions of the questions I addressed were as follows: 1. Early years, roots of scientific interest, family background 2. Junior researcher period, early years in science, life course models, reconciling family and career 3. Later stages of the life course, path towards MTA 4. Domestic scholarly attitudes The existence of certain variables have been kept in mind, e.g. the transformation of certain family relations and career models (the permeation of dual-earner family models, where even the number of children becomes a fundamental issue, the resolution of which can be influenced by the amount of requisitionable institutional assistance), other changes influencing family structure, workplace apparati (family vs. career conflict). A total of 32 interviews have been recorded, with 11 academicians (ordinary or corresponding members), and 21 DScs. An important aspect during the selection of the interviewees was to try to represent all fields of science, i.e. both the natural and technical sciences (the fields of engineering, mathematics, physics, geography, chemistry and medicine, in particular) and the social sciences and liberal arts (the fields of law, sociology, literature, linguistics, ethnology, history and philosophy). By the selection of the MTA DScs I chose certain individuals who have already been nominated for the title of academician. The interviews took place between December 2017 and September 2018. The population of the scientific elite 1 began to analyse was relatively small; only 418 women can be found in the ranks of MTA DSc’s, 24 of which are academicians (ordinary and corresponding members). As mentioned, I have recorded interviews with 32 of the aforementioned, and given the fact that all of the 418 members have the same level of qualification (DSc), the sample size of 32 members is suited for drawing universal conclusions as well. The majority of the women participating in the research live and work in Budapest in one of the major universities of the capital, and only 5 are teaching in the universities of other major Hungarian cities. The age of most of the researchers at the time of the interviews was between 65 and 80. Only 4 of the interviewees were under 60, with only one of them being under 50 - this last case represented an absolute exception in this regard. + ]1 +
