Evaluation of Institutional Research Productivity

Jiban K. Pal; Soumitra Sarkar

doi:10.14429/djlit.40.01.14804

Jiban K. Pal Library, Documentation & Information Science Division, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road, Kolkata 700108 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2870-9180
Soumitra Sarkar University of Calcutta, College Street, Kolkata 700073, India.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.40.01.14804

Keywords: Scientometrics, Scientific visualization, Knowledge mapping, Research evaluation, Institutional productivity, Publishing performance, Single-institutional studies

Abstract

The quantification of scholarly performance has become an obvious necessity in many academic pursuits. Evaluation of research output is therefore an integral element of R&D institutions worldwide. However the quality- weighted dimensions of quantity are gaining momentum. Consequently, a good number of evaluative studies on publication productivity have been made available in scientometric literature. This paper critically scrutinises the literature on research productivity concerning scientific institutions (include universities and departments) in an informational context. It provides a thorough review to map the quantum of knowledge relating to ‘institutional research productivity’ correlating the Indian vista. It is, however, indicative to find the gaps and shortcomings in this specialty of research; hence enunciate the issues both attended and unattended. The paper also offers a few recommendations to undertake evaluative studies with caution. Thus it shows a coherent picture of this emerging area in the sociology of science.

Author Biographies

Jiban K. Pal, Library, Documentation & Information Science Division, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road, Kolkata 700108

Mr Jiban K. Pal obtained MLIS subsequently qualified uGC- SET for Lectureship in LIS. He has been serving the Library, Documentation and Information Science Division of ISI for more than twenty years. He is a recipient of the prestigious InfoShare Award of the ASIS&T (USA) for 2015. His areas of research interest include: Digital scholarship, Metadata engineering, Library consortia, Research-data management, and Scientometrics.

His contribution to the present study is the conceptualisation of ideas, review of literature, design of the work, preparation of contents, and writing of the formatted paper.

Soumitra Sarkar, University of Calcutta, College Street, Kolkata 700073, India.

Dr Soumitra Sarkar serving as Chief Librarian at the university of Calcutta (Kolkata) since 2001. He has more than thirty years of experience; thereby mentoring professional values through continuous research, teaching, and practices in the field of Library & Information Science. His areas of interest include: Information organisation and management, Library service developments, Public library systems, ICT applications, Quantitative analysis, and Research evaluation.

Dr. Sarkar contributed to this work by improving the contents through critical analyses and re-writing of the paper.