Assessing the Scholarly Impact of Agricultural Scientists on ResearchGate: An Altmetric Study of Agricultural Scientists in Karnataka, India

B.T. Sampath Kumar; Sulakshana H V

B.T. Sampath Kumar Senior Professor Department of Studies and Research in Library and Information Science Tumkur University, Tumakuru Karnataka, India
Sulakshana H V Librarian JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru Karnataka, India

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to explore and assess the research visibility of agricultural scientists in India, with a specific focus on their engagement with academic social networking platforms, particularly ResearchGate (RG). In an era where digital presence significantly influences scholarly communication and collaboration, this study aims to investigate how agricultural scientists disseminate their research and engage with the wider academic community through their RG profiles. The scope of the study is limited to three prominent agricultural universities in Karnataka, India: The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru; the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad; and the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur. The analysis was confined to faculty members who had active profiles on ResearchGate. Data accuracy was based on information available at the time of collection, and no subsequent updates or modifications to RG profiles were taken into account. To initiate data collection, the names and designations of faculty members were obtained from the official websites of the respective universities. A systematic search was then conducted on ResearchGate to identify faculty members with registered profiles. These individuals were categorised by academic rank (Assistant Professor,Associate Professor, and Professor) and departmental affiliation. Their profiles were examined to extract key scientometric indicators, including the number of publications, full text uploads, citation counts, Hindex, followers, followings, Research Interest (RI) Score, and participation in academic discussions. All collected data were organised using Microsoft Excel and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The purpose was to evaluate the extent of faculty members' research visibility, productivity, and academic engagement on RG. Additionally, institutions, departments, and individual researchers were ranked using quantifiable metrics such as the RI Score, H-index, and overall research output. Of the 416 faculty members across the three universities, 215 (51.68%) had created RG profiles, indicating a moderate but growing trend in the adoption of academic social networking tools for research visibility. Collectively, these faculty members uploaded 4,991 research documents to the platform, averaging approximately 11.99 documents per individual. S. Ramesh from UAS Bengaluru emerged as the most prolific author, with 154 publications accounting for 9.94% of his university's total uploads, demonstrating outstanding individual productivity. An analysis of publication types revealed that journal articles overwhelmingly dominated the content, representing 83.85% (4,185) of total uploads. This indicates a strong preference for peer-reviewed literature, which plays a central role in enhancing academic visibility and citation impact. Other formats, such as datasets (5.36%), conference papers (4.6%), and book chapters (2.6%), were also present, albeit in smaller proportions, suggesting some diversification in scholarly communication. Among the institutions studied, UAS Dharwad ranked highest in total publications (2,638) and recommendations (2,128), reflecting substantial research output and community engagement. The H-index analysis further reinforced this standing, with UAS Dharwad scoring the highest (471), even when adjusted for self-citations (459). It also led to social engagement metrics with 3,821 followers and 3,071 following, indicating strong academic networking and visibility among peers

References

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