Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric Analysis

There is a growing emphasis on research across disciplines, and higher educational institutions’ research productivity (RP) is a matter of serious consideration. However, a knowledge gap exists in RP in social science disciplines in India. In this context, the present study aimed to (1) understand t...

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Main Authors: Bhoomika N. Jadhav, E. P. Abdul Azeez, Nishtha Mishra, A. P. Senthil Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-04-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241241170
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author Bhoomika N. Jadhav
E. P. Abdul Azeez
Nishtha Mishra
A. P. Senthil Kumar
author_facet Bhoomika N. Jadhav
E. P. Abdul Azeez
Nishtha Mishra
A. P. Senthil Kumar
author_sort Bhoomika N. Jadhav
collection DOAJ
description There is a growing emphasis on research across disciplines, and higher educational institutions’ research productivity (RP) is a matter of serious consideration. However, a knowledge gap exists in RP in social science disciplines in India. In this context, the present study aimed to (1) understand the RP of social work and psychology schools at publicly funded central universities (CU) in India, (2) evaluate the RP and research impacts of faculty members in these schools, and (3) identify the publishing trends and patterns in social work and psychology disciplines. Using the Scopus database, we collected bibliometric information on publications of 19 social work and 16 psychology schools and their faculty members. The results indicate that schools’ research productivity remained unpromising, constituting many faculty members (Social work 51.08%; Psychology 43.4%) with no publications. Although the average RP of social work ( M  = 16.0, SD  = 17.40) and psychology ( M  = 45.63, SSD = 61.08) schools differed, the difference was not statistically significant ( t  = 1.88, p  = .078). An increase in the publication was evident after 2016, indicating positive-policy impacts. A difference in RP across professional ranks was evident for social work ( p  < .05) but not for psychology ( p  > .05). For research impact, a difference existed based on ranks for academicians from psychology only ( p  < .05). Publications in high-impact journals and an output of international collaborations remained low in both disciplines. Implications point to developing appropriate workshops and training to provide hands-on experience to improve quality research among academicians. Further policy changes are also essential to enhance research culture and productivity.
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spelling doaj.art-9bf0e91ee74140f1b8b11b414fd7e7832024-04-18T06:03:19ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402024-04-011410.1177/21582440241241170Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric AnalysisBhoomika N. Jadhav0E. P. Abdul Azeez1Nishtha Mishra2A. P. Senthil Kumar3 Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India University of Jigjiga, Somali Region, EthiopiaThere is a growing emphasis on research across disciplines, and higher educational institutions’ research productivity (RP) is a matter of serious consideration. However, a knowledge gap exists in RP in social science disciplines in India. In this context, the present study aimed to (1) understand the RP of social work and psychology schools at publicly funded central universities (CU) in India, (2) evaluate the RP and research impacts of faculty members in these schools, and (3) identify the publishing trends and patterns in social work and psychology disciplines. Using the Scopus database, we collected bibliometric information on publications of 19 social work and 16 psychology schools and their faculty members. The results indicate that schools’ research productivity remained unpromising, constituting many faculty members (Social work 51.08%; Psychology 43.4%) with no publications. Although the average RP of social work ( M  = 16.0, SD  = 17.40) and psychology ( M  = 45.63, SSD = 61.08) schools differed, the difference was not statistically significant ( t  = 1.88, p  = .078). An increase in the publication was evident after 2016, indicating positive-policy impacts. A difference in RP across professional ranks was evident for social work ( p  < .05) but not for psychology ( p  > .05). For research impact, a difference existed based on ranks for academicians from psychology only ( p  < .05). Publications in high-impact journals and an output of international collaborations remained low in both disciplines. Implications point to developing appropriate workshops and training to provide hands-on experience to improve quality research among academicians. Further policy changes are also essential to enhance research culture and productivity.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241241170
spellingShingle Bhoomika N. Jadhav
E. P. Abdul Azeez
Nishtha Mishra
A. P. Senthil Kumar
Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric Analysis
SAGE Open
title Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric Analysis
title_full Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric Analysis
title_fullStr Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric Analysis
title_short Research Productivity and Publishing Trends in Publicly Funded Social Work and Psychology Schools in India: A Bibliometric Analysis
title_sort research productivity and publishing trends in publicly funded social work and psychology schools in india a bibliometric analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241241170
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