Exploring online presence: a study of Google Scholar and Scopus for assessing the visibility of LIS faculties in central universities of India

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the Google Scholar (GS) and Scopus citations profiles of library and information science (LIS) faculty members employed in central universities in India to determine their research online visibility.Design/methodology/approachThe data was collected through manual searches conducted on GS and Scopus profiles by the end of August 2023, using the names of the faculty members along with their affiliations. The determination of the minimum sample size for each was calculated based on Cochran's formula.FindingsThe study revealed that out of 104 LIS faculty members from 19 central universities, 78 (75.0%) faculty members have profiles on GS, while 61 (58.6%) of them are on Scopus. The study found that the faculty members have a substantial number of publications on GS, while their publication count on Scopus appears comparatively lower. The results suggest that certain faculty members have produced a modest number of publications but have received a substantial number of citations compared to their colleagues. Consequently, it can be inferred that there is no straightforward correlation between the volume of publications and citation metrics.Research limitations/implicationsAs the study exclusively focused on LIS faculty members working within central universities in India who have profiles on GS and Scopus, the researchers did not reach all LIS faculty members in India.Practical implicationsThe significance of this research lies in its potential of insights into research productivity and its impact, which are crucial aspects of academia. The study provides valuable insights for individual researchers, LIS departments, institutes and universities in India and other countries to enhance their research performance and foster collaboration by establishing new research guidelines.Originality/valueThere have been no published research studies regarding the GS and Scopus citation metrics concerning LIS faculty members across all central universities in India.