A Scientometric Analysis of Doctoral Theses in Biological Sciences of Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, India

Abstract

Purpose: This study analyzes 259 doctoral theses in Biological Sciences intending to ascertain the annual distribution of doctoral theses categorized by core subjects v/z research trends, researchers' gender, and ranking of single (solo) and collaborative supervisors in Biological sciences subjects’ coverage of Zoology and Botany in DHSGVV.

Design/methodology/approach: This study utilized data collected from the total number of 259 PhD theses during from 2000 to 2023 in the field of Biological Sciences including disciplines botany with total 144 and zoology with total 155 doctoral dissertation. The raw data for this study is derived from the Shodhganga e-theses in print format and offline data obtained from the available doctoral theses in the field of biological sciences in Jawaharlal Nehru Central Library at DHSGVV. The data were organized and analyzed using quantitative statistical approaches with MS Excel tables, using (SPSS) Statistical Package for Social Sciences.

Findings: The study analyzed a total of 259 doctorate theses, comprising 115 theses in zoology and 144 theses in botany for the period from 2000 to 2023. The data reveals that the year 2012 recorded the highest number of PhDs published in Zoology (16.52%), while the year 2002 exhibited the highest PhD output in Botany (11.11%). Contemporary Research Trends Determine the total of 115 PhD outputs in Zoology categorized by core subjects, with the majority of study focusing on "Biodiversity”, “Toxicity”, “Teleost”, and “Freshwater Fish”. The research output in botany subjects includes the following core subjects, like "Medicinal Plants." The highest percentage of doctoral theses has been completed by “Bhide, Mangla,” who ranks first with a total of 19 (16.52%), followed by Subodh Kumar Jain, whose research output totals 16 (13.91%), and third is held by “Janak Dulari Ahi” with a total number of 12 (10.43%) in Zoology. In botany, the highest research output in terms of supervised doctoral theses is by “Rai, A. N.,” who ranks first with a total of 19 (13.19%), followed by “Deepak Vyas” with a research output of 16 (11.11%), securing the second rank.

Practical implications: The study is an analysis of doctoral theses from 2001 to 2023, with a total number of 259 doctoral theses. Zoology total 115 and total 144 theses in botany grounded in contemporary research trends and quantitative analysis within the biological sciences

Originality/value:  The originality of this article is to bring-in the new invented research for biological sciences, pivotal in directing future topic selection for researchers and advancements in the scientific domain. The study is very innovative research for the field of biological sciences, including subjects Zoology and Botany at Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Central University in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India.