Abstract:
This article analyzes 65 years (1952-2024) of research
conducted by Sri Lankan scholars in the field of Social Sciences.
The study's objective was to assess the research contributions of
authors in Social Sciences (SS) affiliated with the 17 public
universities overseen by the University Grants Commission (UGC)
of Sri Lanka. The bibliometric method was employed to evaluate
the research performance of authors linked to Sri Lankan
universities. The Elsevier Scopus database was chosen for
extracting data, using "Sri Lanka" as the search term for
affiliations. Data was gathered from 17 universities categorized
under "Social Sciences." A total of 3,953 research articles (6.1%)
were retrieved from the database pertaining to SS. Each entry was
verified twice, leading to the removal of 29 duplicate records. This
study offers a thorough bibliometric examination of 65 years of
social science research in Sri Lanka, concentrating on scholarly
publications from 17 public universities. Utilizing the Elsevier
Scopus database provides insights into the research output,
development trends, and growth patterns among Sri Lankan
scholars in the Social Sciences. The results indicate a rising
trajectory, with a significant increase in publications following the
Covid-19 pandemic. This research will aid future scholars in
pinpointing less-explored areas and support policymakers in
determining research funding priorities. It represents the first
comprehensive analysis of the social science research landscape
in Sri Lanka.
