Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Scientific Productivity in Arts and Social Sciences/ Case of CASS/SQU

Research activity is considered as an element in the organization’s vision, plan, and budget; consequently, it becomes very necessary to measure the research performance of its people and to find out its effect and impact on the organization’s rank and prestige. It is, then, the purpose of this study to analyze the quantitative and qualitative aspects of scientific productivity published or accepted for publishing by academic staff at College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS)/ Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). A total of 297 items listed in the College of Arts and Social Sciences' Annual Reports for the Academic years (2008-2009) and (2009-2010) were analyzed in terms of several analytical indicators. Each item (book, chapter in a book, article, and conference paper) is considered as a unique entity regardless of the number of co-authors. SCOPUS was applied to find out the bibliometrics indicators of English journals only because the Arabic journals are not listed. Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is also applied to find out the association between used journals and specified disciplines in the area. The results show that the acquired IF values were low but this is not necessarily attributed to low quality of ranked journals, in fact it emphasizes that the quality of journals varies in terms of different disciplines, and though, better related journals to the specific disciplines should be considered. In regards to authorship, the study concluded that scientific productivity in the field of Information Studies is described as the most collaborative in terms of research and this reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the discipline. High significant differences in the types of publications, language, and authorship were traced among the different departments at CASS. Productivity qualitative and quantitative assessment within the academic environment is considered as a measurement tool to determine the faculty’s scientific performance of an organization, as with SQU. Thus, it enables the organization to measure the type, areas, and impact factor of its members’ productivity, and then, can redirect both funding and authors toward best investment in high collaborative production.