A Bibliometric Analysis of Topic Trends and Citation Patterns in Undergraduate Theses in Library and Islamic Information Science at UIN Datokarama Palu (2021–2024)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze research topic trends and citation characteristics in undergraduate theses of students in the Department of Library and Islamic Information Science at UIN Datokarama Palu from 2021 to 2024. A quantitative approach with bibliometric analysis was employed to examine 55 undergraduate theses obtained from the library collection and institutional repository. The analysis covered keyword frequency and topic trends, classification based on Hawkins Taxonomy, reference characteristics, and compliance with the Turabian citation standard. The results indicate a shift in research orientation from library and information service-related topics toward themes increasingly associated with information technology and the digital environment. Based on Hawkins Taxonomy, Library and Information Services (LIS) was the most dominant category, accounting for 21 theses (38.2%), followed by Information Technology (IT) with 10 theses (18.2%). Of the 1,633 references analyzed, books were the most frequently used source, accounting for 813 references (49.78%), while Indonesian-language references comprised 1,606 references (98.34%). Overall compliance with the Turabian citation standard was 28.05%. The findings indicate the need to strengthen students’ research competencies, broaden the use of current and diverse scholarly literature, and improve their ability to apply citation standards consistently in academic writing.