TRENDS IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE MPHIL THESES IN PAKISTAN: A MAPPING OF INSTITUTIONAL, GEOGRAPHIC, AND TEMPORAL DIMENSIONS

الملخص

This study constitutes a quantitative and bibliometric investigation aimed at examining the productivity of MPhil research within the domain of Library and Information Science (LIS) in Pakistan from 2008 to 2024. Data were collected from university websites, OPACs, and through direct communication with LIS departments. The analysis encompassed 783 MPhil theses, employing SPSS for statistical evaluation. The findings reveal that the majority of the scholars were male (55.4%). The highest number of MPhil graduates was recorded at Minhaj University, Lahore (26.9%). The province of Punjab contributed the largest proportion of LIS scholars (84.5%), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (11%). The year with the highest output was 2017, accounting for 12.1% of the theses, while the decade with the greatest volume was 2024, with 387 theses (49.4%). Regarding supervision, Dr. Iqbal Hussain Asad supervised the highest number of students (9.6%). Government universities slightly led in the number of theses (53.1%) compared to private institutions. Most research was supervised by male scholars (82.4%), although there has been a noticeable increase in female supervision over recent years. Generally, LIS research activity in Pakistan has demonstrated a steady upward trend, particularly within Punjab. The results indicate significant gender and regional disparities but also highlight growing diversity and interest in the LIS field. This study serves as a valuable resource for identifying trends and deficiencies in LIS research within Pakistan.