A Study on Literature Obsolescence in Agricultural Biotechnology

Abstract

Obsolescence or decline stage of research may encourage towards further research to overcome gaps or a development of new knowledge. This study aims to investigate growth and obsolescence of literature in agricultural biotechnology. 3064 references of 21 research publications from “Emerging Technologies and Management of Crop Stress Tolerance Vol. 1” for the period of 2011–2015 have been taken as a sample to know the obsolescence and growth rate in the field of agriculture biotechnology with the application of Brooke’s formula to calculate Annual Aging Factor (AAF) and Utility Factor (UF) through synchronous method. Web of Science (WOS) citation database used as a tool to collect sample data which was analysed and plotted on semi logarithmic graph. This study resulted that more number of citations (79% of total) have been published in last 15 years, which interprets that latest publications have more chances to be cited as compared to older publications. On the bases of analysed data, half-life was observed as 14.5 years, Annual Aging Factor (AAF) as 0.986 and Utility Factor (UF) as 71.42. Obsolescence study helps for taking decision of subscription or renewal of subjective journals as well as future prospects for particular research area and its popularity among researchers. Core values and principle theories are less affected with age and latest researches get more benefited because of open accessibility and easy availability.

Keywords: Growth of literature, obsolescence of literature, half-life, Annual Aging Factor (AAF), agricultural biotechnology, Utility Factor (UF)

Cite this Article

Shukla Svetal H, Lalitha Poluru. A Study on Literature Obsolescence in Agricultural Biotechnology. Journal of Advancements in Library Sciences. 2019; 6(2): 9–15p.