ANALYZING RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPACT IN SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS AT BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY: A GOOGLE SCHOLAR CITATION METRICS STUDY

Abstract

This study explores the research publication profile of social science departments at Bharathidasan University using Google Scholar citation metrics. Analyzing data from 31 faculty members across 13 departments, the research highlights disparities in productivity and impact. Key findings reveal that the Department of Economics, represented by scholars like Dr. S. Vanitha and Dr. T. Sudha, excels in citation counts, h-index, and i10-index, indicating sustained research influence. In contrast, the Department of Physical Education & Yoga shows high citation concentration but lower consistency in impact metrics. The top 10 contributors account for 61% of total articles and 88% of citations, underscoring a skewed productivity distribution. The study also identifies the Department of Education Technology and the Department of Social Work as significant contributors, with notable variations in research output quality and quantity. Metrics such as average citations per article and i10-index further elucidate the academic reach and relevance of faculty publications. These insights emphasize the role of high-impact research in enhancing institutional reputation, attracting collaborations, and securing funding. By mapping departmental performance, this research offers actionable recommendations to strengthen research culture, promote equitable productivity, and align strategies with global academic standards. The findings contribute to broader discussions on research assessment and institutional benchmarking in Indian higher education.