Growth and Research Trends in Doctoral Dissertation in Library and Information Science in West Bengal , India(1983-2023)

Abstract

This study explores how doctoral research in Library and Information Science (LIS) has evolved in West Bengal over the past four decades. The study analyses 341 PhD theses awarded by universities in West Bengal offering a PhD program in Library Science between 1983 and 2023. The study uses an extensive survey method to collect the bibliographic entries of doctoral dissertations. Citations are obtained either directly from the university libraries or downloaded from the Sodhganaga Repository. The study outlines the growth trends, institutional contributions, gender participation, supervision practices, research themes, language use, and citation patterns, using simple bibliometric and descriptive techniques. The results revealed that after 2010, the University of Calcutta and Jadavpur University played leading roles in Library and Information Science Research. Most research outputs are written in English language, followed by Bengali. Bibliometrics and information behaviour are found to be the most widely researched topics. Although the study highlights the growing academic strength and maturity in Library and Information Science research, it also found some gender imbalances and uneven research practices across the surveyed universities,which highlights the need for more inclusive and balanced growth in the future.