Doctoral degrees in library and information science in India during 2003-2008: A study
R. Madasamy1 and R. Alwarammal2
1Librarian, National Centre for Advanced Research in Discrete Mathematics (n-CARDMATH), Kalasalingam University, (Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education),
Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil – 626 190, E-mail: rmadasamy72@yahoo.com
2Librarian, Kalasalingam University, (Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education), Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil – 626 190, E-mail: gganandh@rediffmail.com
Data on doctoral degrees awarded in library and information science during 2003-2008 was collected from University News. Analysis of data reveals that Andhra Pradesh has produced the higher number of Ph.Ds during the period and information sources & services, user studies, library management and bibliometrics are the leading subject areas on which most of the research has been carried out. Concludes that more doctoral research needs to be carried out in the areas of digital libraries and ICT applications.
The initiation of library and information science education in India by Dr. W A Borden (1911) had started with short term training programme at Baroda. In 1915, A D Dickinson had started three months apprentice training programme at Punjab University. These two were the milestones for the origin and development of library and information science education in India in the early 19th century. Dr. S R Ranganathan, Father of the Library Science in India introduced the first certificate course in library science at Madras Library Association (1929) and later it was converted as PG Diploma in Library Science by the University of Madras in 1937.
University of Delhi was the first to establish the Department of Library Science in the year 1946 by admitting students to a diploma course. Later, the university changed the diploma course into Masters in library science in the year 19511.
The first doctoral research degree was awarded by the University of Delhi under the guidenceship of Dr. S R D Ranganathan to B Krishna Rao in 1957. Two decades later, the second doctoral research degree was awarded by the Punjab University in 19772. At present, there are many universities which are conducting doctoral research programme in different areas in library and information science.
An earlier study analysed, highlighted and pointed out the quantitative output, growth pattern, and popular areas of research with broad and narrow subject categories
by universities in India. The highest number of doctoral researches have been produced in 2003 and the lowest in 2000 and major research area is user study followed by bibliometrics / citation analysis and Karnataka state has produced a large number of doctoral research degrees in library and information science during 1997-20033.The D.Litt degree has been offered by two Indian universities namely, Banaras Hindu University and Utkal University.
The Utkal University, Bhubaneswar only has awarded this degree to Dr. D B Shukla in 19924.
The present study is an analysis of the Ph.D degrees awarded by Indian universities during the period 2003- 2008 based on the data collected from University News published by Association of Indian Universities.
Objectives of the study
1. To identify the universities’ doctoral output in library and information science, and
2. To trace the doctoral research trends in library and information science in India.
Methodology
The Association of Indian Universities is a premier organization formed in 1973 with a view to promote university activities by the way of sharing information and co-operation in the field of education, culture, sports and allied disciplines. It serves as an inter-university organization for communication, co-ordination,
consultation, growth and propagation of knowledge, organizing seminars, conferences and workshops and promoting sports among member universities.
University News is a weekly news journal brought out by the Association of Indian Universities. It provides authentic information on higher education and particularly Indian higher education offered by universities in India.
The principle feature of this periodical is listing of doctoral theses accepted by Indian universities in all academic disciplines. It also publishes the articles, national and
Table 1 –– Year-wise distribution of doctoral research Sl. no Year No. of doctoral research Percentage
reports
1 2003 17 9.9
2 2004 23 13.5
3 2005 37 21.6
4 2006 43 25.2
5 2007 30 17.5
6 2008 21 12.3
Total 171 100.00
Table 2 –– State-wise distribution of doctoral research outputs
Sl. no Name of the state 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total % of output
1 Andhra Pradesh 2 4 4 9 6 2 27 15.9
2 Assam 1 1 1 3 1.6
3 Bihar 1 1 0.6
4 Chhattisgarh 2 3 1 6 3.5
5 Gujarat 1 2 3 1.6
6 Haryana 1 2 1 4 2.3
7 Jammu Kashmir 1 1 0.6
8 Karnataka 2 2 12 2 1 5 24 14.1
9 Kerala 2 2 1.2
10 Madhya Pradesh 4 4 5 1 6 20 11.7
11 Maharashtra 2 2 4 4 6 1 19 11.1
12 Meghalaya 3 1 1 1 6 3.5
13 Mizoram 1 1 0.6
14 New Delhi 2 2 1.2
15 Orissa 1 4 1 2 1 9 5.3
16 Punjab 2 3 1 1 2 9 5.3
17 Rajasthan 1 4 2 7 4.1
18 Tamil Nadu 3 1 1 2 7 4.1
19 Uttar Pradesh 2 1 2 8 1 14 8.2
20 West Bengal 1 1 4 6 3.5
Total 17 23 37 43 30 21 171 100.00
global thinking, campus news and advertisements for openings in universities, research institutes and affiliated colleges.
The data on the doctoral thesis in LIS was collected from the published version of University News pertaining to the period 2003-2008. A total of 171 bibliographic records were collected which formed the source data for the present study.
Analysis
Distribution of doctoral research output
Table 1 and Fig.1 represent the year-wise distribution of doctoral research output in library and information science
Yearwise distribution
9.9 13.5
21.6 25.2
17.5 12.3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Percentage
in India. Highest number of 43 (25.2%) of doctoral theses were produced in the year 2006.
Table 2 shows the distribution of library and information science doctoral research output by the various Indian states during 2003-2008. It is seen that the highest number of doctoral research contribution during the period is from Andhra Pradesh (15.9%) followed by Karnataka (14.1%).
Table 3 shows that Dr. B. Ramesh Babu of University of Madras has guided the maximum number (7) of
Table 3 –– Distribution of doctoral research by research guides
Sl. No Name of the research guides 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total % of output
1 Dr. A A Vaishanv 1 1 1 1 4 2.4
2 Dr. S L Sangam 1 1 1 3 1.7
3 Dr. A S Chandel 1 1 2 1.2
4 Dr. B D Kumbar 1 1 2 4 2.4
5 Dr. B K Sharma &Dr. Hemant Sharma 1 1 2 1.2
6 Dr. B P Shrivastava 1 2 3 1.7
7 Dr. B Ramesh Babu 3 1 1 2 7 4.0
8 Dr. B S Maheswarappa 1 1 2 1.2
9 Dr. B Vijayalakshmi 2 1 3 1.7
10 Dr. Brijesh Tewari 2 1 3 1.7
11 Dr. C R Karisidappa 1 2 1 4 2.4
12 Dr. C Sasikala 1 1 2 4 2.4
13 Dr. D Rajya Lakshmi 1 3 4 2.4
14 Dr. Gayathri B Mahapatra 2 1 3 1.7
15 Dr. H B Nandawana 2 2 1.2
16 Dr. H N Prasad 1 1 2 1.2
17 Dr. H R Chopra 1 1 1 3 1.7
18 Dr. Hemant Sharma 1 2 3 1.7
19 Dr. J N Gautam 2 2 1.2
20 Dr. K C Sahoo 1 1 1 3 1.7
21 Dr. K Somashekararao 1 1 1 1 4 2.4
22 Dr. M T M Khan 3 3 1.7
23 Dr. N N Sharma 1 1 2 1.2
24 Dr. N R Satyanarayana 1 1 1 3 1.7
25 Dr. P Kamaiah 1 1 1 1 4 2.4
26 Dr. P S G Kumar 1 1 1 3 1.7
27 Dr. R S R Varalakshmi 1 1 2 1.2
28 Dr. Ranjana Vohra 2 2 1.2
29 Dr. S M Mohal 3 3 1.7
30 Dr. S P Satarkar 1 1 2 1.2
31 Dr. S Sudharshan Rao 2 2 1.2
32 Dr. Sewa Singh 2 2 1.2
33 Dr. Shailendra Kumar 2 2 1.2
34 Dr. Shivdanbhai Charan 1 1 2 1.2
35 Dr. Sonal Singh 1 1 2 1.2
36 Dr. V T Kamble 1 1 2 1.2
37 Dr. V Vishwa Mohan 1 1 1 3 1.7
38 Self Guidance 1 1 3 1 1 7 4.0
39 Research guides with single output 7 8 12 12 11 8 58 33.9
Total 17 23 37 43 30 21 171 100.00
research scholars during 2003 to 2008 followed by Dr.
A. A. Vaishnav from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Maharashtra, Dr. B D Kumbar and Dr. C R Karisidappa from Karnataka University, Dharwad, Dr. C Sasikala from Andhra University, Vishakapatnam, Dr. D. Rajyalakshmi from Nagpur University, Maharashtra, Dr. K Somasekhararao from Andhra University, Andhra Pradesh.
It is also seen that most of the research guides (58) have guided single research scholar during 2003 to 2008.
Table 4 –– University-wise distribution of research reports
Sl. No Name of the university 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total %
1 Aligarh Muslim University, 1 1 2 1.2
Aligarh
2 Amravati University, Amravati 3 3 1.8
3 Andhra University, 1 2 3 3 3 2 14 8.0
Visakhapatanam
4 Awadesh Pratap Singh 1 1 0.6
University, Rewa
5 Babashaheb Bhimarao Ambedkar 1 1 0.6
University, Lucknow
6 Banaras Hindu University, 1 1 2 1.2
Varanasi
7 Bangalore University, Bangalore 1 1 0.6
8 Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar 1 1 0.6
9 Bundelkhand University, Jhansi 7 7 4.1
10 Dr. Babasaheb A M University, 1 4 2 1 8 4.6
Aurangabad
11 Dr. Harisingh Gour 1 3 4 2.3
Viswavidyalaya, Sagar
12 Gauhati University, Guwahati 1 1 1 3 1.8
13 Gulbarga University, Gulbarga 4 1 5 2.9
14 Guru Ghasidas University, 2 3 1 6 3.5
Bilaspur
15 Guru Nanak Dev University, 2 1 3 1.8
Amritsar
16 Hemchandracharya North Gujarat 1 1 0.6
University, Patan
17 Jiwaji University, Gwalior 3 3 1 1 8 4.6
18 Karnatak University, Dharwad 1 1 5 1 1 4 13 7.6
19 Kurukshetra University, 1 1 2 1 5 2.9
Kurukshetra
20 Kuvempu University, Shimoga 1 1 2 1.2
21 M S University, Udaipur 1 1 0.6
22 Mangalore University, 2 2 1.2
Mangagangothri
23 MCRP Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal 1 1 0.6
24 Mizoram University, Mizoram 1 1 0.6
25 Nagpur University, Nagpur 1 1 2 1.2
26 North Esatern Hill University, 3 1 1 1 6 3.5
Shillong
27 North Gujarat University, Patan 1 1 0.6
28 Osmania University, Hyderabad 1 1 5 1 8 4.6
29 Punjab University, Chandigarh 2 1 1 1 1 6 3.5
30 Sambalpur University, Jyoti 1 2 1 4 2.3
Vihar, Burla
31 Shivaji University, Kolhapur 1 1 0.6
32 Sri Krishnadevaraya University, 1 1 1 1 4 2.3
Anatapur
33 Sri Venkateswara University, 1 1 0.6
Tirupathi.
34 SRTM University, Nanded 1 1 1 3 1.8
35 T M Bhagalpur University, Bihar 1 1 0.6
36 Nagpur University, Maharashtra 1 1 0.6
37 University of Burdwan, Burdwan 1 1 2 4 2.3
38 University of Calcutta, Kolkata 2 2 1.2
Cont....
Table 4 shows the contribution of 47 universities during the period 2003 to 2008. It is seen that the highest number of doctoral research output is by Andhra University (8%) followed by Karnataka University (7.6%).
Table 5 represents the subject-wise contribution of doctoral research in library and information science education in India from 2003-2008. Most of the doctoral research was predominantly covered by the traditional subject areas. Research areas included information sources and services (16.9%), user studies (14.6%), library and information management (14%), bibliometric study (12.9%) and academic library system (11.1%) among others.
Conclusion
It is seen from the study that there was a steady growth in the Ph.D output from 2003 to 2006 and thereafter a sharp decline has been noticed. Although the reason for the decline is not clear, the negative trend needs to be
Table 5 –– Subject-wise distribution of doctoral research
Sl. No Subjects 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total %
1 Information sources and services 3 3 7 10 3 3 29 16.9
2 Academic library 3 1 1 8 2 4 19 11.1
3 Information and communication 1 3 3 1 08 4.7
technology
4 Information literacy 1 01 0.6
5 Library and information management 2 6 4 4 4 4 24 14.0
6 User studies 2 3 7 8 4 1 25 14.6
7 Digital library 2 1 1 04 2.3
8 Bibliometric study 1 1 8 2 6 4 22 12.9
9 Library automation 3 4 5 3 1 16 9.4
10 Special library 1 1 3 1 06 3.5
11 E-resources 3 2 2 1 1 1 10 5.9
12 Public library 1 4 1 06 3.5
13 Library catalogue 1 01 0.6
Total 17 23 37 43 30 21 171 100.00
addressed and corrective action taken. Given the large number of universities in India that are involved in LIS education and research, there should be more doctoral research output especially in areas such as digital libraries and application of information and communication technologies in libraries as these areas although important have not been amply studied in the doctoral research works produced during 2003 to 2008.
References
1. Singh S P, Library and information science education in India:
issues and trends, Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 8 (2) (2003) 1-17.
2. Satija M P, Doctoral research in library and information science in India: some observations and comments, Libri, 49 (1999) 236-242.
3. Mahapatra R K and Sahoo Jyotshna, Doctoral dissertations in library and information science in India 1997-2003: A study, Annals of Library and Information Studies, 51 (2) (2004 ) 58-63.
4. Op. cit Singh S P.
39 University of Delhi, Delhi 2 2 1.2
Sl. No Name of the university 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total %
40 University of Kashmir, Srinagar 1 1 0.6
41 University of Kerala, 2 2 1.2
Thiruvananthapuram
42 University of Lucknow, 2 1 3 1.8
Lucknow
43 University of Madras, Madras 3 1 1 2 7 4.1
44 University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 1 1 2 1.2
45 Utkal University, Bhuvaneswar 2 1 1 1 5 2.9
46 Vardhaman Mahaveer open 4 4 2.3
university,Kota
47 Vikram University, Ujjain 1 1 3 1 6 3.5
Total 17 23 38 41 31 21 171 100.00
