Research Visibility of Faculty Members at Manipur University, Imphal: A Google Scholar-Based Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the research visibility of faculty members across six academic schools of Manipur University, Imphal, using Google Scholar Profiles as a source of bibliometric data. The analysis employed Google Scholar indicators, including publication count, citation count, h-index, and i10-index, to evaluate the scholarly visibility and research performance of faculty members. Data were collected through systematic observation of 235 faculty members between February and April 2025. The findings indicate that 154 (65.81%) faculty members were male and 80 (34.19%) were female. Of the total faculty, only 41.70% maintained active Google Scholar Profiles.

In comparison, 80.61% of these active users had verified their institutional email addresses, reflecting moderate adoption of Google Scholar as an academic profiling platform. Based on publication output, citation count, and h-index, Prof. Arun Kumar and Prof. Soibam Imoba Singh secured the first and second positions, respectively. In terms of the i10-index, Prof. Soibam Imoba Singh ranked first, followed by Prof. R.K. Bhubon Singh. The study further reveals considerable disparities in research visibility across departments and between genders, with research impact in several departments concentrated among a small number of highly productive faculty members. The study concludes that enhancing faculty research visibility requires greater institutional support through capacity-building initiatives, awareness programs, and policies that encourage the creation, maintenance, and effective use of Google Scholar Profiles. Such measures can improve the discoverability, accessibility, and global impact of the university's research output.