DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN INDIA : A STUDY

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1 Annals of Library and Information Studies 5, I; 004; 58-3 DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN INDIA : A STUDY R. K. Mahapatra Nabakrushna Chaudhury Centre for Development Studies Bhubaneswar rkm_0@yahoo.com Jyotshna Sahoo Orissa Museum Bhubaneswar jyotshna_sahoo@refiffmail.com Research programmes at the Ph.D. level in Library and Information Science carried out in India during the seven years (99-003) have been analyzed to find out the trends and areas of research, growth pattern and productivity of universities along with broad and narrow subject areas in the discipline. Presents the analysis of the study with the primary goal of appraising the perspective LIS research community to make them aware of the direction of research. INTRODUCTION Libraries and Information Centres (LCs) not only play the key role of repository of knowledge but also work as the purveyor of research activities. The information professionals engaged in LIes have been striving hard to improve the conditions of information environment. The realization that library is an important and dependable component for furthering research in any field stimulated the role of library in education []. A serious view has been taken at the functioning of libraries in a new and emerging environment where the application of information and communication technologies in acquisition, processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination are increasingly felt. Librarians remained indifferent for long to take up research in their own profession despite the fact that they are the purveyors of knowledge to researchers []. But the present scenario has warned the librarianship to know more about the profession and its inherent potentialities for overall development of the system. In order to provide services up to entire satisfaction of the user's, those professionals are required to know their users needs, the library resources to be acquired, systems and services to be designed and all other factors relating to building of a good library and information infrastructure. There are also a number of problems that libraries and Iibrarianship face. It is only research that helps to solve those problems, expand the human knowledge base and develop better and advanced tools and techniques for their work situations. These factors have, however, encouraged the LIS professionals to conduct research activities within their ambit in India. The research studies are carried out mainly by the library professionals particularly those in the academic libraries, faculty and students of schools of Library and Information Science [3]. Library professionals have started conducting research works at different levels such as, MLlS, M.Phil, Ph.D, D.Litt. and free lance research level. Among the above levels of research activities, the Ph.D level appears to be of greater significance for the discipline. Therefore, the dominant role in formal research in LIS is played by Ph.D researhers [4]. Taking consideration of the Ph.D. works conducted in Indian universities, it is desired to know the trend of research conducted in LIS. The paper is designed to reflect the Ph.D. works in LIS in India during a period of seven years., Le. from OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The study aims at the following objectives: To find out the trend of LIS research; To know the subject wise distribution of research works in LIS; 58 Ann Lib Inf Stu

2 DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN INDIA 99 Table - Year Wise Distribution of Theses Awarded. --- SINo To determine identify No of Theses the Year diversity contribution and trends of Awarded of universities degrees. research in inlisawarding field; anddoctoral Table Academic Thesaurus/Control Special Information Language Category Classification Quality Bibliographic Marketing Cataloguing Electronic Documentation Non-Book Evaluation Financial Library User Resource Research Public Bibliometrics/Citation Personnel - Distribution Studies Libraries Automation Service Software Building Legislation Standard Networking professionals Library Work Sharing Productivity Libraries Reference Materials Management System Technology management Community Retrieval LIS Database Information Evaluation Centres Life & Theses Vocabulary Specification Design Source Analysis (HRD) Services No 4 Across of 3 Thesis Categories and Quality Control SI No SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The study covers research works in LIS at the Ph.D level only accepted for doctoral degree by Indian Universities. The study does not consider the research works in LIS registered in universities. The period of coverage is from 99 to 003, a period of seven years. It has considered only those titles of doctoral theses appeared in the 'University News' published by Association of Indian Universities (AIU). METHODOLOGY As indicated earlier, the main source of datal information collected is from University News which periodically lists out the doctoral theses accepted by different universities in India. These doctoral dissertations have been listed out and analysis has been made. The year wise distribution of categories during the study period has also been made. All the 4 doctoral dissertations awarded during the period of seven years by Indian universities have been considered for the study. The theses were grouped according to subject categories, broad and narrow as well. Distribution has also been made for universities awarding the number of theses. Region wise and across libraries distribution has also been made to identify the growth pattern of research work. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY The Table represents the year wise distribution of theses which shows that the highest numbers of theses, i.e. 3 were awarded in the year 003, while lowest numbers of theses were awarded in the year 000. It is interesting to note that equal number of theses had been awarded in the year of 998 and 00. Similar ~-----~---- Vol 5 No June

3 " Mahapatra R K and Jyotshna S Users Services 4-5 ICT 4 Categories LIS Resources Personnel General 5 (Year) 4 39 Table 3 - Distribution of Theses over Narrow Categories phenomenon of equal number of theses were awarded in the year 999 and 00. number of 4 theses in LIS has been produced during the last seven years period. In order to determine the direction of LIS research in broad subject categories, the analysis has been made in Table. Taking consideration of research works in LIS, 33 broad subjects have been categorized. It is found that the subject area 'User Study' is having the highest number of thirty one (3) doctoral dissertations awarded. The focused themes in this area are 'Information Needs', 'Information Seeking Behaviour', 'Users' Satisfactio_n' and 'Evaluation of Information Resources and Services'. It appears that the above topics have attracted the attention of LIS scholars in order to know the needs of the users to develop information system and services. 'Bibliometrics and Citation Analysis' is an area of immense interest for LIS professionals. A total of nineteen (9) theses have been produced during the period in this subject area. Research topics like LIS doctoral dissertations, social science literature, astronomy, management, oceanography, biomedical literature are some of the key areas in bibliometrics and citation analysis. 'Academic Library System' appears to have attracted the attention of LIS scholars in which Seventeen () theses have been produced. The subject area of 'Personnel Management/HRD' has eight (8) theses during the period. In topics like 0 'information system design', 'Information Technology' and ' Library Professionals', an equal number of seven () theses each were awarded. It is interesting to note that the equal number of 5 theses in each of the subjects such as, 'Library Networking', 'Special Library System' have been produced by scholars during the study period. Other subject areas as indicated in the table have to 4 theses produced. It is an acknowledged fact that the whole gamut of LIS is the formation of the trio such as, users, resources/services, and library personnel/staff. In order to know the coverage of doctoral dissertations produced in these narrow areas, an analysis has been made in Table 3. Since Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a recent development and attracts attention of many LIS professionals, it has been taken up for the research works done in this subject. The residual of subjects have been included in the General category. The Table 3 depicts the year wise distribution of these theses produced over narrow subject areas. While the 'General Aspects' of the LIS got adequate number of research works, Le., 45 over the period. The topic on resources has 35 Ph.D. works. If the topics like 'resources and services' are clubbed together to know the production work on libraries themselves, it can be estimated that the highest number of theses, Le., 5 have been produced during the period. Since ICT is an emerging phenomenon in Ann Lib Inf Stu

4 DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN INDIA Table4 - SI.No. University Distributionof ThesesAwardedBy Universities. Andhra University. AnnamalaiUniv. 3. AwadeshP.SinghUniv. 4. B.A.MarthawadaUniversity 5. BangaloreUniv.. BerhampurUniv.. BhavnagarUniv. 8. BanarasHinduUniversity 9 B.R.AmbedkarOpenUniv. 0. B.R.AmbedkarUniv. GujratUniv.. GuruNanakDevUniversity 3 Guru GhasidasUniv. 4. H.S.GaurUniv. 5. Jiwaji Univ.. KarnatakUniv.. KrishnadevrayaUniv. 8. KurukshetraUniv. 9. KuvempuUniv. 0. MangaloreUniv.. ManipurUniv.. MohanlalSukhadiaUniv. 3. MaduraiKamrajUniv. 4. MysoreUniv. 5. NagpurUniv.. NorthEasternHill Univ.. NorthGujratUniversity 8. OsmaniaUniv. 9. PadmavatiMahilaUniv. 30 PunjabUniv. 3. PunjabiUniv. 3. RajsthanUniversity 33. RavishankarUniv. 34. SambalpurUniv ShivajiUniv. S.R.TMarthawadaUniv. 3. Universityof Burdawan 38 Universityof Delhi 39. Universityof Gauhati 40. Universityof Jammu 4. Universityof Kerala 4. Universityof Madras 43. Universityof Pune 44. UtkalUniversity 45. VikramUniversity No. of Thesis Produced Table 5 - Region wise Distribution of Research Works SI.No SI No North South East West No of Research Table - Distribution of Theses Across Libraries Academic Publi9 Library Special Government Library Library Research Table : Guideship pattern of Research Works SI No.. 3. Region Type of Libraries Single Joint Not Mentioned Library Social Science Library Science Library Abroad Guideship & Tech Library library, 9 theses have been produced over the period. The topics on 'library staff/personnel' have only research works. In order to ascertain the contribution of universities in India awarding doctoral dissertations in LIS over the period, an analysis has been made in Table 4. All the 459 universities in India have awarded Ph.D. in LIS during the period. While the Karnatak University, Dharwad has highest number of research works i.e, eighteen (8) awarded to their scholars, it was followed by the Bangalore University, Bangalore which has awarded thirteen (3) research works to its scholars. The Andhra University, Waltier and the Jiwaji University, Gwalior have produced equal number of twelve () Ph.D. each in LIS. The 38 4 No of research 4 " 4 Works works Works Vol 5 No June 004

5 Mahapatra R K and Jyotshna S Table 8: Distribution of Research Supervisor Contributing Ph.D work SI No. No of Guides No of Research works 4 Osmania University and the Punjab University have eight (8)and seven() doctoral dissertations respectively awarded to their scholars during the period. Thus, it is interesting to note that the state of Karnataka has the highest number of Ph.D theses awarded to their respective scholars during the period. The Table 5 reflects the region v Jise distribution of Pi.D theses produced in Indian universities. While the Southern Region has the highest number of seventy two () research works, the Western Region has the lowest of nineteen (9) only. The Northern Region is having fifty one (5) research works and the Eastern Region is having twenty two () works produced during the period. Very often it is essential to know what type of libraries are attracting the attention of research scholars at the doctoral level In view of this, an analysis has been made in Table which reflects the type of libraries that research has been covered. It is indicated that researchers are more interested in Academic libraries than any other libraries. A total of thirty eight (38) theses have been produced on 'Academic Library System' during the period. While the Special Library has eleven () theses produced, the Public Library has seven () theses produced by the scholars. Similarly, the social science library and science and technology libraries have 4 and theses done respectively. It is interesting to note that LIS researchers, perhaps foreign scholars, have, been awarded Ph.D by Indian universities during the study period. A number of seven () theses on 'LIS Abroad' have been produced and awarded by Indian universities to foreign scholars. LIS researchers have also started conducting their research work in languages other than English. A total number of Ph.D in Hindi language have been produced while the remaining 5 are in English language. Only one () thesis has been produced in Bengali language. It is interesting to note that out of theses produced in Hindi language in LIS, eleven () theses belong to Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh State only and the remaining one is from the State of Gujrat. In order to determine the Guideship pattern of Ph.D Scholars, the above table shows that One hundred forty one (4) Ph.D scholars have been guided by single Guide whereas, only twelve () scholars have chosen Joint Guideship for their research works. In eleven () cases, no mention of guide has been made (Table ). The Table 8 shows the contribution of Research Supervisors towards the creation of Ph.D theses in LIS during the period of study. Prof. C.R. Karisidappa has guided highest number of eight ( 8) Ph.Ds in LIS during the period followed by Prof. S.L. Sangam who has six () theses to his credit. Prof P. Soma Raju and Prof P.S.G. Kumar are the only two supervisors who have Ann Lib Inf Stu

6 DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN INDIA guided five (5) research works each. While three supervisors have guided four (4) scholars each, nine supervisors have guided three (3) scholars each. Similarly eighteen supervisors have guided two () scholars each and fifty four supervisors have guided one scholar each. CONCLUSION LIS professionals in India have concentrated on conducting research work at doctoral level in order to develop a knowledge base for the profession. The present paper has undertaken to trace the development of LIS research at doctoral level for the last seven years period Le., 99 to 003. It is identified that the highest of theses i.e., thirty seven (3) has been produced in the year 003, the lowest being in the year 000. 'User Study' appears to be the only broad subject area which has attracted the attention of professionals in which highest number of Ph.D works have been done followed by 'Bibliometrics and Citation Analysis'. In narrow subject areas, researchers are more interested to take up research works on 'Library Resources and Services'. The universitiesin the State of Karnataka have awarded highest number of Ph.Ds in LIS. Similarly and obviously the Southern Region in India has the highest number of doctoral research works produced during the period. Research on 'Academic Libraries' are more than other types of libraries. In respect to guideship pattern, maximum number of scholars has chosen to opt single guideship to conduct their respective research work. REFERENCES. LAHIRI (Ramansu). Research in Library Science in India (950-95): An Account of Ph.D. Programme. Annals of Library Science and Documentation 43,; 99;5-8.. KANNAPPANAVAR (8 U)and VIJAYKUMAR (M). Fifty Years of LIS Research in India: Trends and Developments. SRELS Journal of Information Management.3,4;000; MANJUNATHA (K) and SHIVALINGAIAH (D). Library and Information Science(LS) Research 98-99: A Decade of Development. Annals of Library Science and Documentation.45,4; 998; CHATTERJEE (Amitabha), RATH ( Pravash Nar!lyan) and PODDAR (Ashok). Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India. Annals of Library Science and Documentation. 4,; 995; UNIVERSITY NEWS, Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi. Vol 5 No June 004 3