A Citation Analysis of Scientists’ Publications from Selected Agricultural Institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigated the citation patterns in the published works of scientists from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Federal College of Agriculture, and Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. The study employed bibliometric research methods to analyze 12,903 citations from 1,202 articles authored by 43 scientists in 14 agricultural and related fields. The results showed that journal articles were the most cited resource, accounting for 6,967 citations (54.00%), followed by monographs with 2,425 citations (18.79%), while archival materials were cited only 3 times (0.02%). This analysis highlights a strong preference for periodical materials among the various information sources referenced in the scientists' publications over the past 50 years (1970 – 2020). The consistent reliance on journals was evident across most disciplines, with notable exceptions in Biometrics, Seed Technology, and Information Science, where deviations were observed. The age distribution of cited materials underscores the importance for agricultural libraries to offer a wide range of resources, including both contemporary and foundational research materials, and to tailor their collection development strategies to meet the specific needs of their users. The Chi-Square Test showed a significant variation (p < 0.001) in the average age of cited materials across disciplines, confirming the significant variations in citation frequencies among different age categories. Using targeted strategies such as subject-specific acquisitions is essential to enhance the relevance of resources. This approach should prioritize the acquisition of recent and frequently used materials while ensuring that the average age of the collection remains 16 years or less to support scientific research and development in institutional libraries.