Australian PhDs by LIS educators, researchers and practitioners: Depicting diversity and demise

Peter Macauley*, Terry Evans, Margot Pearson

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Analyses of more than 73,000 PhD thesis records in a comprehensive database of bibliographic records from all Australian universities from 1948 to 2006 demonstrate that PhDs on LIS-related topics reveal not only diversity of content, but also the diverse nature of the researcher's academic disciplines. This diversity includes researchers from within and outside LIS who bring to LIS-or take away-a variety of methods, approaches, theories and understandings. With 27 of Australia's 39 universities having produced LIS-related PhD graduates, the distribution through the Australian university system is evident and emphasizes the transferability of skills and knowledge which graduates bring to their work. It is possible that the diversity of researcher's disciplines, combined with the dangerously low numbers of LIS graduations, may also threaten the future of LIS research and education in Australia. Based on the findings of this study, the sustainability of LIS research and research training for the next generation in Australia is under threat.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)258-264
    Number of pages7
    JournalLibrary and Information Science Research
    Volume32
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Australian PhDs by LIS educators, researchers and practitioners: Depicting diversity and demise'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this