Assessing researchers’ performance in developing countries : is Google Scholar an alternative?
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Authors
Ocholla, D. N. (Dennis N.)
Onyancha, Omwoyo Bosire
Issue Date
2009
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Citation analysis , Informetrics , LIS research , South Africa , Citation indexes , Scopus
Alternative Title
Abstract
This article compares the representation of 10 purposefully selected LIS researchers
in South Africa in Google Scholar (GS), Thomson Scientific’s (herein referred to as
ISI – Institute for Scientific Information) citation indexes, and Elsevier’s Scopus, in
order to determine whether or not Google Scholar is an alternative tool for evaluating
research in developing countries, particularly those situated in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Three indicators, namely the number of publications, the number of citations and the
h-index, were used to measure the similarity or dissimilarity between the three databases/
services in the coverage of South Africa’s LIS documents. The data was also subjected
to a Pearson correlation analysis to examine the relationship between GS and ISI, GS
and Scopus and ISI and Scopus. Results show that GS covers more publications and
citations than ISI and Scopus. There is a stronger correlation between GS and Scopus
than there is between GS and ISI. We conclude that GS is an alternative service, but
should be cautiously used when evaluating research in developing countries. Areas for
further research are also recommended.
Description
Citation
Onyancha, O.B. & Ocholla,D.N. 2009', Assessing researchers’ performance in developing countries : is Google Scholar an alternative?, Mousaion, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 43-64.
Publisher
UNISA