Title: A longitudinal assessment of Nigeria's research output for evidence based science policy development

Authors: Olufikayo Abodunde; Oluseye O. Jegede; Timothy Oyebisi

Addresses: Academic Planning Unit, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria ' Department of Information and knowledge Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa ' African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

Abstract: The study measured the trend of science and technology research output and investigated the pattern/breath of collaboration among actors of Nigeria's research and development system. Based on the results obtained, it considered its implications for science policy development. The study purposively selected the 148 science and technology journals out of the 221 journals queried over a five-year assessment period from 2012 to 2016 to elicit metrical data from the publications. Data harvested was analysed using percentages, relative growth rate and doubling time on a year-wise basis from 2012 to 2016, to identify the positive or negative growth trend of research outputs. VOS viewer was further used to examine the pattern of collaboration. The analysis from the study provided information on the extent of research that has been carried out in the various thematic areas in Nigeria's new science, technology and innovation (STI) policy.

Keywords: STI policy; research outputs; researchers; thematic areas; collaboration; productivity; scientometrics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBDM.2020.112407

International Journal of Big Data Management, 2020 Vol.1 No.2, pp.135 - 151

Received: 27 Jul 2019
Accepted: 12 Jan 2020
Published online: 14 Jan 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article