Library and information science research in BRICS countries
Information and Learning Sciences
ISSN: 2398-5348
Article publication date: 27 April 2018
Issue publication date: 14 May 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight the research output of library and information science of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations during the ten year period, i.e. 2005-2014, as reflected through the Web of Science database.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used Social Science Index (SSCI) of Web of Science (WoS) citation database to collect data for the ten year period. All records indexed in SSCI were refined by subject area of “Information Science and Library Science” and selected countries. The downloaded results were analyzed by using specific parameters.
Findings
WoS indexes different kinds of documents, such as articles, conference proceedings, biographical items, book reviews, corrections, editorial material, letters, reprints and reviews. Out of the BRICS output, almost 90 per cent of papers were articles. Other types of documents included conference papers, review papers and book reviews. China contributed nearly half of the documents followed by Brazil, South Africa, India and Russia. On an average, a document had cited 34 references. More than one-third of records did not receive any citations. It has been observed that the titles that had 11-16 words attracted the most number of citations. The top ten publishers in whose journals the researchers published included Emerald, Elsevier and Springer. The primary subject areas were information science and library science, information systems, interdisciplinary applications and management. About 85 per cent of the documents were published in English. Around 93 per cent of the non-English research publications were in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil.
Originality/value
There are not many studies on BRICS countries and that too about Library and Information Science (LIS) research output. This study may reveal insights into how LIS researchers interact with local and global issues in a specific spectrum of the world community.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors appreciate the patience, time and guidance of editors, expert reviewers and respected Professor B.K. Sen for motivating to make the paper what it is today.
Citation
Tripathi, M., Jeevan, V.K.J., Babbar, P. and Mahemei, L.K. (2018), "Library and information science research in BRICS countries", Information and Learning Sciences, Vol. 119 No. 3/4, pp. 183-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-10-2017-0101
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited