International Journal of Science for Global Sustainability (IJSGS): A Bibliometric Analysis: 2015-2019

Abstract

Bibliometric analysis method was used in this study. Observation and physical counting method was adopted to examine the bibliographic characteristics and development of the assembled issues/volumes which were available in the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) library and confirmed by the past and present Editors-in-Chief of the Journal. The study covered 8 volumes of the IJSGS from the period 2015 to 2019. The bibliometric characteristics examined in this study are (i) Number of issues published per year, (ii) Distribution of articles published per volume, (iii) Authorship pattern (single & multiple), (iv) Authorship affiliation (Universities, Research/special organizations-NAFDAC, Private, MDAs etc, Polytechnics, and Colleges), (v) FUGUS authorship; (vi) Most cited source of information which for convenience sake were divided into six, namely; books (including chapter contributions), journals, proceedings (conferences, workshops, seminars, symposiums and technical/scientific reports), Thesis/Dissertations/Projects, (Internet resources and Others (Bulletin, Newsletter, Guides, newspapers, magazines, maps/atlases, unidentifiable sources etc). (vii) Most cited journal title and ranking of the journal titles. A benchmark of 5 reference listing was set to select a Journal title as most cited/referenced/listed. Findings include the journal’s inconsistency in the number of issues published per year from 2015-2019; FUGUS staff authorship pattern shows that the department of Chemistry contributed more papers to the journal than other departments. It was also revealed that African Journal of Biotechnology was the most cited journal title and as such ranked first. The study recommended that urgent efforts should be made to make the journal more visible by hosting it on the FUGUS website as well getting it indexed.