Dissertations as tools for knowing the evolution of production on library and information science: the case study of the library and information science department of Carlos III University

Doctoral studies lead to the top academic degree and given its significance they are regulated by norms. Therefore, it is important to know the University departments' profile and research evolution. This study analyzes the case of the Library and Information Science Department at Carlos III University of Madrid, focusing on the 46 doctoral theses produced in the mentioned department during the following periods: 1996-1997 and 2005-2006. The scope is the study of evolution of theses production, collaboration between that Department and other Institutions, the current profile of the authors, most cited publications and authors. The methodology is based on the use of bibliometric techniques applied to the study of the 16,208 references cited in the theses. Results show an average of 352 references per thesis distributed mainly in journals where the most common subjects are those related to Bibliometric and user studies. Regarding the authors' current activities, we found that they keep working in the academy and still do research in their theses subjects. Concerning information consumption, it was found to be similar to the one used in their theses.