Knowledge Management Research: The Perspective of African Scholars from Google Scholar Database Harande Yahya Ibrahim1,*, Ladan Binta Faruk1,** 1Faculty of Education, Department of Library and Information Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011 Kano, Nigeria * yaibrahimah@yahoo.com
** bfladan@yahoo.com
Abstract The paper examines researches conducted by the African scholars in the area of knowledge management (KM). The data for this research was based on entries enlisted in the google scholar (GS) database. The database is considered among the popular databases that allow bibliometrics and scientometric researches to be conducted systematically. The period of 7 years (2010–2016) was considered the scope for the study. Bibliometric techniques were used for the study. A total number of 3,090 papers were found on KM research; out of this number, only 32 (10%) were found relevant to this research. The analysis was done on this scanty number of papers. The finding indicates that, the highest number, 18 (56.2%) of the scholars produced papers on KM research in the year 2015. The finding further shows that the patterns of authorship employed by these scholars were found to be collaborative, and the highest number, 11 (50%), was found in the year 2015. Participation of African authors in the GS database on the issue of KM was found to be not very visible, and therefore, their participation needs to be improved and enhanced. African scholars need to address this issue urgently. Generally, the findings as a result of this research could provide an avenue for the African scholars to know how they are viewed, beheld and noticed by other scholars from other continents on the issue of KM research. Top Keywords African scholars, Bibliometrics, Google database, Google scholar, Knowledge management, Research, Scientometrics. Top |