**6. Methodology**

The main source of data collected is from university news, which periodically lists out the doctoral theses accepted by different universities and also uploaded in the thesis database in India and collected from Shodhganga. Data collected from these databases namely Shodhganga, INDCAT database, Vidyanidhi, University News data, and INFLIBNET (http://incat.inflibnet.ac.in/indcat) were searched with the key term "Library," "Library science", and "Library and Information science" to retrieve 612 records and were downloaded for the period of 2011 to 2018. All doctoral theses have been listed out and checked manually. After checking, 715 records were retained for the study. The whole work has been divided into three parts. The retrieved title has been grouped according to chronological growth, decade-wise growth, and university-wise distributions in one part. The broad and narrow subject distribution has also been made to find the actual subject trends in other parts. And the third part is state- and zone-wise distribution. The data has been analyzed quantitatively using statistical charts, diagrams, tables, etc.

**Data interpretation under topic and year wise:** Here, data are analyzed according to tools areas under 13 broad areas.

**Table 1** shows 84 research studies, which were completed through the years 2011 to 2018. Out of these, 42.86% research studies were done on academic library, 20.24% on university library, 14.28% on special library, and 1.19% and 4.76% on public library and national library, respectively. Also 4.76% research studies were done on librarianship. So, the result shows that the maximum research studies were done on academic library.


**Table 1.** *Research on library society.* *Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India during 2011 to 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109092*

If we analyze the data according to the year, the highest research studies were done in 2016 (23.80%) and the second highest research in the year 2017 (17.85%). In the area of library and society, rest of the research percentage were 4.76%, 14.84%, 13.09%, 9.52%, and 16.6% in the year 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively.

**Figure 1** shows a graphical research on library society according to year.

**Table 2** shows 104 research studies, which were completed through the years 2011 to 2018. Out of these, 56.73% research studies were done on management, 10.58% on quality management, 6.73% on organization, 5.73% research on book publishing / e- publishing and infrastructure, 2.88% on preservation and conservation, 4.80% on finance, and only 0.96% on both administration and acquisition. So, the result shows that the maximum research studies were done on management.

If we analyze the data according to year, the highest number of research studies were done in 2012 (18.25%) and second highest research in 2014 (16.35%). In the area of library management, rest of the research percentage were 12.5%, 15.38%, 15.38%, 10.5%, 7.69%, and 3.85% in the year 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively.

**Figure 2** shows research on library organization and administration based on the years.

**Table 3** represents 13 (100%) research studies that were completed through the years 2011 to 2018. Out of these, 23.08% (total 3) research studies were done on classification, 69.23% (total 9) on collection development, and 7.69% (total 1) on information processing in the area of research on knowledge organization.

If we analyze the data according to the year, the highest number of research studies were done in 2012 (30.77%, where the total was 4), and the second highest was done in the years 2017 and 2018, where both percentage were same, that is, 15.38%. During the rest of the remaining years, 7.69% research studies were done in the area of knowledge management.

**Figure 3** shows research on classification/knowledge organization based on the years.

**Figure 1.** *Research on library society according to years.*


#### **Table 2.**

*Research on library management.*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Research on library organization & administration based on the years.*

**Table 4** shows that total 19 research studies were done on cataloging/resource description. Out of this, 26.31% research studies were completed on cataloging; 21.05% research studies were done on bibliography and indexing; and 15% research studies were completed on manuscript and control vocabulary. So, maximum research studies were done on cataloging.

*Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India during 2011 to 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109092*


#### **Table 3.**

*Research on classification/knowledge organization.*

#### **Figure 3.**

*Research on classification/knowledge organization based on the years.*

On the basis of years (2011 to 2018), the analysis of data represents that 26.31% research studies were done in the year 2011, 21.05% in the year 2015 and 2018, 10.53% and 5.23% research studies were done in 2012 and 2016, respectively, in the research area of cataloging/resource description.

**Figure 4** shows research on cataloging/resource description according to the year. T**able 5** shows 179 research studies, which were completed through the years 2011 to 2018. Out of these, 40.78% research studies were done on information technology, 12.85% on ICT, 11.73% on network, 11.17% on software, and 6.14% both internet and e-journals. Only 4.47%, 5.59%, and 1.12% research studies were done on database, automation, and electronic/print media, respectively. So, the result shows that the maximum research studies were done on information technology.


#### **Table 4.**

*Research on cataloging/research on resource description.*

**Figure 4.** *Research on cataloging/resource description according to the year.*

If we analyze the data according to the year, the highest number of research studies were done in 2012 (19.55%) and second highest research in 2013 (18.99%). In the area of information communication technology, rest of the research percentage were 9.50%, 11.17%, 13.96%, 11.17%, 11.73%, and 3.91% in the year 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively.

**Figure 5** shows research on information communication technology based on the years.

**Table 6** reflects that total 29 (100%) research studies were done on information source, system, and center. Out of this, 13.79% (total 4) research studies were done on *Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India during 2011 to 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109092*


#### **Table 5.**

*Research on information communication technology.*

#### **Figure 5.**

*Research on information communication technology based on the years.*

information system, and 86.21% (total 25) research studies were done on information service/source.

Yearly distribution shows that 24.14% (7) doctoral theses were completed in the year 2015, which was the highest number of research on information source, system, and center during the years 2011 to 2018. The second highest was 20.69% (6) in the year 2012, whereas in the year 2018, no research was done on this topic. Rest of the research percentages with years were 13.79% (4) in 2011 and 2017, 6.9% (2) in 2013, and 10.34% (3) in 2014 and 2016.


#### **Table 6.**

*Research on information source, system, and services.*

#### **Figure 6.**

*Research on information source, system, and services according to the year.*

**Figure 6** shows research on information source, system, and services according to the year.

**Table 7** shows that the total number of research on library classification in the year 2011–2018 was (21) 100%.

If we study according to the year, we can see the highest research studies were done in the year 2014 and 2017, where the percentage was same (23.81%; total 5 out of 21), and the second highest was in 2016 (19.05%; total 4), and 2015 had 14.28% (3)


**Table 7.** *Research on information literacy.* *Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India during 2011 to 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109092*

research studies. Rest of the years were 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2018, which had done the same number of research studies on this topic, where the percentage were only 4.76 (total 1 out of 21).

**Figure 7** shows research on information literacy based on the years.

**Table 8** shows that total 86 research studies were done on seeking behavior and user approach in the years 2011–2018, where 41.86% were on information-seeking behavior and 47.67% were on user survey and user study. Only 10.47% research studies were done on reading habit. So, maximum research studies were done on user survey and user study.

If we study according to the year, we can see that the highest research studies were done in the year 2015, where the percentage was the same (17.44%; total 15 out of 86), second highest was in 2012 (16.28%), and 2013 and 2017 both had equal percentage, that is, 15.12% (total 12). Rest of the years were 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2018, which had done 10.46%, 13.95%, 9.30%, and 2.32%, respectively.

**Figure 8** shows research on information-seeking behavior and user Approach.

#### **Figure 7.**

*Research on information literacy based on the years.*


**Table 8.**

*Research on information-seeking behavior and user approach.*

**Figure 8.** *Research on information-seeking behavior and user approach.*

**Table 9** shows that the total number of research studies done on information economics and knowledge management was 37 (100%). Out of this, 64.86% research studies were completed on information resource, where the total was 24, which is the highest among all, 16.21% research studies were done on resource sharing, where the total was 6, and remaining 5.40% (2), 10.81% (4), and 2.70% (1) research studies were done on marketing, web resource, and information dissemination, respectively.

Yearly distribution of library management research theses from 2011 to 2018 shows that among the 37 (100%) theses, the highest number of research studies were done in the year 2014; percentage is 29.7 (14). Second highest research studies were done in the years 2015 and 2017; percentage is 16.21 (6).

**Figure 9** shows research on information economics and knowledge management based on the years.


**Table 9.**

*Research on information economics and knowledge management.*

*Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India during 2011 to 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109092*

#### **Figure 9.**

*Research on information economics and knowledge management based on the years.*

**Table 10** describes that total 10 (100%) research studies were completed on content creation and technical writing. Out of this, 50% research studies were done on open access, 30% research studies on e-learning, and 20% research studies on content management.

Yearly distribution shows that the highest research studies were done in the year 2015, which is 40%, and remaining 20%, 30%, and 10% research studies were completed in the years 2013, 2014, and 2016, respectively. 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2018 had no research in content creation and technical writing.

**Figure 10** shows research on content creation and technical writing based on the years.

**Table 11** shows 58 (100%) research studies that were completed on digital library system and digital environment. Out of this, 41.38% (24) research studies were done on the digital library system, which had the highest score; the second highest research score 34.48% (20) was on e-resource, 13.79% (8) on e-journal, and 5.17% (3) research studies were completed on both metadata harvesting and digital repository. So, the result shows that the maximum research studies were done on the digital library system.


#### **Table 10.**

*Research on content creation and technical writing.*

#### **Figure 10.** *Research on content creation and technical writing based on the years.*


#### **Table 11.**

*Research on digital library system and digital environment.*

If we analyze the data according to the year, highest research studies were done in 2015 and 2017, both (6.89%). In the area of digital library system and digital environment, rest of the research percentage were 17.24% in 2012, 10.34% in both 2011 and 2013, 6.89% in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

**Figure 11** shows research on digital library system and digital environment based on the years.

**Table 12** shows that total 40 (100%) research studies were completed on information system analysis and design. Out of this, highest research studies were done on library professional (40%). Second highest was on quality management (30%) and rest of 15% (6), 12.5% (5), and 2.5% (1) research studies were completed on consortia, performance evaluation, and Thesaurus construction, respectively.

Yearly distribution shows that highest research studies were in the year 2012 and 2013, the score was same 17.5% (7); 2014 and 2015 also had done same percentages of *Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India during 2011 to 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109092*

**Figure 11.** *Research on digital library system and digital environment based on years.*


#### **Table 12.**

*Research on information system analysis and design.*

research studies, which was 12.5 (5). 2016 and 2017 also had same 15% (6), and 5% (2) research studies were done in the year 2011 and 2018.

**Figure 12** shows research on information system analysis and design according to years.

**Table 13** reflects that total 86 (100%) number of research studies were done on library statistic and informatics. Out of this, 61.17% (total 52) research studies were done on scientometric, which got highest number among these, and second highest research was 16.47% (total 14) done on citation analysis. Rest of 7.05% (total 6), 2.35% (total 2), 5.88% (total 5), and 8.14% (total 7) research studies were completed on bibliometric, webometric, hypotheses testing, and content analysis, respectively.

Yearly distribution shows that 20% (total 17) doctoral thesis were completed in the year 2014, which was the highest number of research on library statistic and informatics during the year 2011 to 2018. Second highest was 17.47% (total 17) in the year



**Table 13.**

*Research on library statistics and informatics.*

2014. Rest of the research percentages with years were 9.41% (8) in 2011, 14.11% (12) in 2012, 7.05% (6) in 2013, 16.47% (14) in 2016, 13.95% (12) in 2017, and 2.35% (2) in the year 2018, respectively.

**Data analysis and interpretation under broad subject with years:** Here, data is represented and analyzed according to 13 broad subjects included with yearly distributions.

**Figure 13** shows research on library statistic and informatics based on the year.

This table **(Table 14)** represents the research studies under broad subject. Here, we can see that the highest research studies were done under the subject "Information Communication Technology", the total number of research 179 (25.03%) out of 715 (100%). Second highest research studies were done in "Library Management"

*Research Trends in Library and Information Science in India during 2011 to 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109092*

#### **Figure 13.**

*Research on library statistics and informatics based on the year.*



#### **Table 14.**

*Data analysis under broad subject.*

(14.54%) total were 104, where 85 (11.89%) research studies were on "Library Statistic and Informatics". "Library and Society" accrue 84 (11.75%) research studies. Next, "Digital Library System & Digital Environment", "Information System Analysis and Design", and "Information Economics and Knowledge Management" completed 58 (8.11%), 40 (5.59%), and 37 (15.17%) research studies, respectively. Rest of the subjects are "Research on Classification/ Knowledge", "Organization Cataloging/ Resource description", "Information Source", "System and Services", "Information Literacy", and "Information Seeking Behavior" completed 1 to 36 (6% to <2%) research studies in LIS field during 2011 to 2018.

According to years, the maximum number of research studies were in the years 2015 and 2012; the total were 119 (16.64%) and 117 (16.36%), respectively, where medium number of research studies were in the years 2014–100 (13.99%), 2013–2099 (13.85%), 2016–2093 (13%), 2017–2092 (12.88%), and 2011–2068 (9.51%), where lowest number of research studies were in the year 2018–2027 (3.77%) on the basis of theses uploaded in Shodhganga.

**Figure 14** shows research studies under broad subject, and also **Figure 15** shows yearly distribution of research studies under broad subjects.
