The study was undertaken to evaluate the global scientific output on research support services from 2000 to 2022 on the Web of Science database.
Bibliometric analysis was used to collect and analyze the data. Data included Web of Science publications, authors, research centers, top-cited publications, keywords and funding agencies from 2000 to 2022.
It was found that 803 documents were published during the specified period. Out of these publications, 517 (64.4%) were research articles. Kaur emerged as the most prolific author among the 2,143 contributing authors. It was also found that 953 research centers and organizations were actively engaged in research support services research. Sheffield University in the United Kingdom stood out as the leader in this regard, with 11 publications and 487 citations. Meanwhile, the Journal of Academic Librarianship made a significant contribution with 18 articles in the field. The analysis also indicated that the predominant language used in these publications was English.
The study is limited to Web of Science productions on research support services. Hence, the findings of the study may not be generalizable to other databases. Moreover, the study focuses on examining the research support services in academic libraries from 2000 to 2022.
The study provides insights into the productivity and impact of research support services research over more than 2 decades. It also presents the major trends in the field. It will be valuable for academics and researchers in the field.
The bibliometric analysis conducted in this study serves as a valuable benchmark for evaluating future developments and trends in the research support services. It offers a foundation for further research and analysis in this area.
