19 Research in Malayalam Language and Literature In
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(ISSN: 0975-315X) . RESEARCH IN MALAYALAM LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN UNIVERSITY OF KERALA: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY K. Mehaboobullah Technical Assistant, Kerala University Library Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram e-mail: [email protected] & T. Vahida Beegam Research Scholar, Department of Library and Information Science University of Calicut e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The present study is a quantitative and qualitative analysis of doctoral studies in Malayalam Language and Literature of the University of Kerala during 2000-2010. A total number of 99 Malayalam research theses produced during the period of 2000- 2010 (11 years) was analysed using appropriate statistical techniques. The analysis covers general trend of research in Malayalam Language and Literature, subject-wise analysis, year-wise distribution, productivity of guides, gender-wise and institution- wise productivity of researchers. The results showed that maximum number of Ph.D theses was produced in the year 2004 followed by 2002. In Kerala University, research is concentrated mainly in Malayalam Literature (94.95%) and blatantly ignore the linguistic aspects of Malayalam (5.05%). The study indicates that researchers in Malayalam Language and Literature give more preference to literary study than the language study and suggest the need for more female teachers come forward for guiding the research aspirants. Keywords: Malayalam Language and Literature, Bibliometric Study, Research, Doctoral Dissertation, University of Kerala. 1. Introduction Research is a careful investigation or a study about certain facts in order to get some new facts or information. It is a systematic effort to gain new knowledge (Redman, & Mory). Research is regarded as an important function being carried out in universities besides teaching and community development. Result of the research work in the form of a report submitted to the University for partial fulfillment of the award of Ph.D is generally known as Doctoral Dissertation. Analyzing these doctoral dissertations using the bibliometric method will give the quantitative and qualitative development of a discipline and thereby find the strong and weak areas of the subject to be studied. Malayalam is one of the prominent classical languages of our country. Malayalam literature is defined as a literature written in Malayalam, especially the one whose value lies in the beauty of language or emotional effect. It means creative literature or imaginative writings produced in Malayalam. Literature is the expression of life through the medium of language. It is the body of books and writings that deal with a particular subject. University of Kerala, the mother university of Kerala State conduct research programme in Malayalam language and literature in its department, affiliated colleges and various centres. Theses submitted as a result of the research programme are the important sources with high reference value and the mathematical and statistical methods to these theses will definitely give the structural growth of Malayalam Language and Literature as a subject under study. Journal of Library, Information and 19 Vol. 5 : Issue (3-4) Communication Technology (JLICT) December, 2013 (ISSN: 0975-315X) . 2. Literature Review There are several studies in the literature regarding the bibliometric analysis. But, there are only fewer articles related to the bibliometric study of theses especially in Malayalam language and literature. Kumar(2013), Regolini & Jannès-Ober (2013), Jena, Swain & Sahoo (2012), Isiakpona (2012), Warraich & Sajjad Ahmad ,Thanuskodi (2011),Thanuskodi (2010), Bakri & Willet(2008), Patra & Prakash Chand (2006), Jagtar Singh,(2009) and Utap Anyi, Zainab &Anuar (2009) conducted bibiliometric analysis of journals in different subject field. Doraswamy & Janakiramaiah (2013) analysed information use pattern of library and information professionals by using a bibliometric study. Pendam & Tirpude (2010) conducted a bibliometric analysis on LIS literature in University News. Bibliometric study conducted by Jarneving ( 2009) on literature related to research on public libraries gives several insights regarding the development of public libraries. Ramakrishnan & Ramesh Babu (2007) conducted a bibliometric study on hepatitis. Patra, Partha Bhattacharya, & Neera Verma (2006) conducted a bibliometric study of literature on bibliometrics. In1999 Glanzel & Schoepflin conducted a bibliometric study of reference literature on Science and Social science. All these study are based on a particular journal or subject areas. In this context a bibliometric study on theses in Malayalam language and literature is very relevant. 3. Relevance of the Study The term ‘research’ was used initially to mean scientific research only. This scenario continued until the mid-twentieth century. Then the social science entered the field. But even in the last two decade before the term humanities research, especially literary research, seems awkward to many skeptic scholars. They argue that literature can only be read, enjoyed and appreciated. The main reason behind this prejudice lies in the nature of literary scholarship itself. Many studies, though very less in number compared to other disciplines, were done to find out a way literary scholars gather information and the variety of materials needed by them. But attention is still lacking in the mathematical and statistical application on the theses produced by the research scholars in Malayalam Language and Literature. Considering these aspects, a study of the trends in research in University of Kerala was identified as a felt need. This analysis, therefore gives some interesting facts regarding the trend of research in Malayalam Language and Literature. 4. Objectives of the Study The main objective of the study is to examine quantitative and qualitative analysis of doctoral studies in Malayalam Language and Literature of the University of Kerala during 2000- 2010. to find out the general trend of research in Malayalam language and literature. to conduct a subject-wise analysis of the research in Malayalam language and literature to find out the year- wise distribution of research to find out the productivity of guides to find out the gender-wise productivity of researchers to identify The institution-wise productivity of researchers to quantify the research output in Malayalam language and literature 5. Methodology Details of theses are collected from Kerala University research section and recorded on a catalogue card, which is kept as a reference material in all the leading libraries. The investigator selected 99 theses available in Research Section of Kerala University during the period of 2000- 2010. The study also includes the theses produced from the centres of the affiliated colleges and university library centre. The study is limited to the PhD theses available at Research Section of Journal of Library, Information and 20 Vol. 5 : Issue (3-4) Communication Technology (JLICT) December, 2013 (ISSN: 0975-315X) . Kerala University Library during the year 2000-2010.The data collected includes accession number, call number, book titles, subject, name of research guides, year of submitting theses, name of the institution or research centre, keywords pertaining to the topic of research, specific branch of study etc. These details form the core of any research pertaining to the categorization of theses on the basis of subjects and topics. Data is further tabulated and analysed using M.S Excel. The Methods adopted are broadly divided in to two: 1) Literature Survey 2) Bibliometric Analysis 6. Analysis and Interpretation of Data The analysis of collected data has been tabulated and presented in the tabular and graphical format. 6.1. Year-wise Distribution of Theses The analysis of year-wise distribution of theses in Table 1 gives a clear picture regarding the year-wise production of research output in Malayalam Language and Literature. Table.1:Year-wise Distribution of Theses S.I No. Year Number Percentage 1 2000 2 2.02 2 2001 4 4.04 3 2002 14 14.14 4 2003 8 8.08 5 2004 19 19.19 6 2005 10 10.10 7 2006 9 9.09 8 2007 11 11.11 9 2008 10 10.10 10 2009 7 7.07 11 2010 5 5.05 Total 99 100.00 Average 9 The table depicts that year-wise distribution of theses from 2000 to 2010, which reveals a transition in the trend from 2002 to 2008. In the period of 2000 to 2001, the rate of theses production shows a minimum, but from 2002, there is a sharp increase in the production of theses. In the year 2009 seven theses were produced whereas it is only five in the year 2010. The total number of theses produced in the periods 2000-2010 (11 years) is 99.The reasons that can be ascribed to this sharp tilt in the productivity curve during the year 2002 to 2008 are due to the high productivity of research guides, support of research activities by UGC, University and the government in the form of grants, fellowships, etc. and the normative status of PhD degree in collegiate service. The highest number of theses production is in the year of 2004 (19 numbers). It may be because of an order issued by the university stating that all university research scholars who have completed their stipulated research duration should submit their PhD theses within December 2004; otherwise their registration would be cancelled without any further notice. Average productivity of research theses during the year 2000 to 2010 is 9. 6.2. Gender-wise Distribution of Theses An attempt was made to study the gender-wise distribution of theses and it is shown in Figure 1. Journal of Library, Information and 21 Vol. 5 : Issue (3-4) Communication Technology (JLICT) December, 2013 (ISSN: 0975-315X) . Gender-wise Distribution of Theses 44.44 Male 55.56 Female Figure. 1:Gender-wise Distribution of theses Figure 1 clearly shows that, out of 99 theses, 44 (44.44%) were male and the rest, 55 (55.56%) were female. Female researchers show more productivity than the male researchers by an increase of 11.12%. 6.3. Subject-wise Distribution of Theses An attempt was made to study the subject-wise distribution of theses.