DOCUMENTATION PAGE AND ABSTRACT Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry Degree Program Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management Thesis title SCOPUS INDEXED SCIENTIFIC
INTRODUCTION
Research Rational
The rapid growth of the ASEAN economy has significantly boosted scientific publication outputs, highlighting the strong link between research productivity and economic development (Nguyen & Pham, 2011; Rodrigues & Soeparwata, 2012; Gholizadeh et al., 2014) However, despite notable advancements in science and technology within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (British Council, 2015), Lao PDR still faces substantial resource challenges in advancing its scientific and technological capabilities, as it remains in the early stages of economic development in Southeast Asia (UNESCO, 2015).
Lao PDR's education system has lagged behind economic development, with higher education receiving little priority until the 1990s Despite a reform in 1994 aimed at enhancing skilled human resources, progress in higher education, particularly in science and technology, has been limited (Bourdet 2001) The Science, Technology and Environmental Agency (2003) noted that research and application of science and technology in Lao PDR remain in the early stages, hindered by insufficient funding, a lack of highly qualified personnel, and a limited number of domestic research institutions.
In 2015, it was noted that Laos faced limitations in research resources, despite a growing amount of funding for research activities Key factors such as access to resources, incentives for researchers, and sufficient foreign language skills remained critical challenges.
Research productivity in ASEAN countries has been classified into three categories: "Leader," "medium," and "follower," with Lao PDR unfortunately placed in the "follower" group due to its limited scientific publications (Choemprayong, 2011) The focus on measuring scientific publication output has gained attention among ASEAN nations, including Thailand (Commins et al., 2008) and Vietnam.
Despite various studies on research productivity in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei, a comprehensive analysis of research productivity in Lao PDR remains unaddressed This gap highlights the urgent need for detailed information to evaluate scientific publication outputs in Lao PDR, which is essential for assessing research productivity, identifying research priorities and constraints, and formulating effective research development strategies.
This pioneering study evaluates Laos's scientific research articles in Scopus from 1996 to 2020, addressing the challenges faced in accessing relevant literature As an environmental student, I encountered obstacles while researching my home country, which motivated this investigation The study aims to identify the potential challenges hindering research advancement and their impact on environmental management in Lao PDR.
Research objective
This research aims to accomplish the following:
1 To access the information regarding the scientific publications (articles) from Lao PDR as seen from the Scopus database from 1996 to 2020,
2 To address the potential challenges towards the scientific research development,
3 To identify how the presence of the environmental articles could produce an effect upon the environmental management in Lao PDR.
Research question and hypothesis
This research attempt to address the following questions:
1 How are the journal articles from Lao PDR have been produced and published in Scopus database during the last 25 years (1996-2020)
2 What are the potential challenges towards the scientific research development in Lao PDR?
3 How does the condition of such journal articles affect environmental management in Lao PDR?
1 The scientific research productivity of Laos decreases through times
2 The research articles of Lao PDR seen from Scopus during the Last 24 years
(1996 – 2019) are not dependent on international collaboration
3 The presence of environmental articles of Laos does not affect environmental management
1 The scientific research productivity of Laos increases through times
2 The research articles of Lao PDR seen from Scopus during the Last 24 years
3 The presence of environmental articles of Laos does affects environmental management.
Scope and limitation
This study comprehends all the journal articles relating to Lao PDR from Scopus database from 1996-2020 The author decided to limit the scope of this study only to
“journal article” as this is the largest types of documents in Lao PDR (UNESCO, 2018)
The author focused the literature review on ASEAN nations to benchmark their research productivity against that of Laos Due to the limited number of articles, the environmental analysis did not separate outputs for meaningful evaluation Additionally, the study utilized relevant literature, analysis software, and field experts to ensure accurate guidance throughout the research process.
This study faced several limitations Firstly, the data was sourced from the Scopus database, which requires a user account, necessitating assistance from an account holder to access crucial information Secondly, as the data was obtained from online sources, there is a possibility that some of it may be invalid.
Definition
This study analyzes the research development of Lao PDR through a macro-level scientometrics examination of journal articles indexed in the Scopus database from 1996 to 2020 The author aims to identify trends in scientific output, highlighting research priorities, productivity, and constraints Additionally, the study seeks to uncover factors that hinder scientific research development and assess how publication output influences environmental management in Lao PDR.
(2015), Bakri et al (2017), Ho, Lim, and Monge-Nọjera (2018) to better understand the core concept of this study
Moreover, some definitions and key terms used in this study are elucidating in this part as follow:
Scientometrics refers to the quantitative study of science, communication in science, and science policy, this is the quantitative study to measure the elements of research activity (Hess, 1997 and Schubert, 2001)
Domestic articles refer to such journal articles published by authors who were/are currently affiliating in Lao PDR during the publishing time
Collaboration articles are journal publications co-authored by researchers affiliated with institutions in Lao PDR and international partner countries at the time of publication These articles highlight the cooperative efforts between Lao authors and their counterparts from partner affiliations.
Environmental articles refer to such journal articles published by authors from both domestic and collaboration affiliations in the field of environment
Open access articles refer to such journal articles which are online freely accessed without payment
Non-open access articles refer to such journal articles that are not allowed to access freely; those articles required payment and/or permission before accessing
Journal ranking indicator refers to the measurement of scientific influence of scholarly journals
SJR (Quartiles) is a key journal influence indicator that categorizes journals into four quartiles: Q1 represents the highest value, followed by Q2, Q3, and Q4, which is the lowest For more information, visit [SCImago Journal Rank](http://www.scimagojr.com).
Citescore (Percentile and Rank) is a vital tool for assessing the citation impact of journals, book series, conference proceedings, and trade journals It facilitates comparisons among journals within the same field, categorizing them and displaying their rankings in percentiles A higher percentile indicates a greater impact of the journal in its specific subject area This metric can be accessed at http://www.scopus.com.
SNIP, or Sources Normalized Impact per Paper, is a metric that evaluates citation weight across different fields A SNIP score of 1.0 indicates that a journal's articles are cited at the average rate for its field, while a score above 1.0 signifies above-average citation rates Journals with a SNIP greater than 1.5 are considered to be very well-cited This important indicator can be accessed through Scopus.
The h-index is a metric used to evaluate the productivity and citation impact of a scholar or publication It indicates that a researcher or journal has published (h) articles, each of which has been cited at least (h) times This valuable indicator can be accessed on Scopus.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Scientometrics
In 1917, Cole and Eales pioneered the use of scientific literature to assess scientific activity by analyzing publications on anatomy from 1543 to 1680, employing a straightforward methodology that involved counting titles and categorizing them by country Subsequent studies, such as those by Hulme (1923) and Gross & Gross (1927), further explored scientific literature across various research fields.
In 1926, Lotka established a pivotal law for measuring scientific productivity, laying the groundwork for modern scientometrics De Solla Price further advanced the field by pioneering the quantitative approach in science studies The discipline gained significant attention with Eugene Garfield's work in the 1950s, where he emphasized the importance of citation in scientific literature and introduced the citation index as a tool for tracking citation activity Additionally, the term "naukometriya," the Russian equivalent of scientometrics, was coined by Vassily V Nalimov and Z M Mulchenko in 1969 Despite its initial obscurity due to technological limitations and restricted access, scientometrics eventually gained widespread recognition as a foundational discipline.
“Scientometrics Journal” by Tibor Braun in Hungary during 1978 (Hood & Wilson, 2001; Garfield, 2007)
To visualize the whole picture of scientometrics evolution, Brindha & Murugesapandian (2016) summarized the scientometrics timeline as follow:
Origin of bibliometric research in area such as law and psychology
Lotka’s Law, Zif’s Law and Bradford’s Law developed
In 1955 Eugene Garfield first describes the impact factor
In 1961 Publication of the Science
In 1978 Launch the first dedicated journal, Scientometrics
Growth of database make widespread citation analysis in real possibility
(Source: Brindha, T & Murugesapandian, N (2016) Scientometrics tools and techniques: an overview
Shanlax International Journal of Arts, Science & Humanities, 4(2), 90-92.)
This summarized the significant actions regarding scientometrics evolution through time started from the first appearing of bibliometrics in the early 19 th century to the widespread citation analysis in the 1790s
Scientometrics, a term first coined by Nalimov and Mulchenko in 1969, is defined as “the quantitative method of research on the development of science as an informational process.” Tague-Sutcliffe (1992) expanded this definition, describing scientometrics as the study of the quantitative aspects of science as both a discipline and an economic activity, linking it to the sociology of science and its relevance to science policymaking This field involves the quantitative analysis of scientific activities, including publication metrics, and shares some overlap with bibliometrics Additionally, Van Raan (1997) emphasized that scientometrics pertains to the quantitative studies of science and technology.
It aims to advance knowledge and develop science and technology, which also relates
11 to social and political issues In the same year, Hess (1997) also defined scientometrics as “the quantitative study of the science, communication in science, and science policy.”
The article focuses on a statistical analysis of measurable elements within research activities, particularly as documented in scientific literature, to enhance and optimize operational systems (Schubert, 2001).
Additionally, Brooke (1990) further proved the insight into the definition and application of scientometrics as:
Scientometrics, a term introduced by Tibor Braun, has gained prominence in the study of science policy, with dedicated research units in Budapest and Leiden leading its development Recently, additional research groups across Europe have begun to contribute to this field Scientometrics has established a vital role in social science, primarily focusing on the analysis of citation data from ISI, while ongoing refinements are being explored Although scientometrics and bibliometrics share similar techniques, they are distinguished by their unique contexts.
Another statement stated by Ivancheva (2013) about the current application of scientometrics as:
“Nowadays, the scientometrics, studying mainly the quantitative aspects of science (in cognitive, as well as social context), has strengthened its
The field of science has evolved into a distinct discipline characterized by well-defined research topics, established methodologies, and a robust community of researchers and institutions As noted by Ivancheva (2013), this growth highlights the importance of a comprehensive understanding of science as a significant area of study.
Scientometrics encompasses the identification of emerging scientific research areas, the analysis of research development over time, and the examination of geographic and organizational distributions It also reveals trends in subjects, authorship, and collaboration, as well as the core periodicals and dispersion of scientific literature This information is essential for evaluating the comprehensiveness of secondary periodicals, research productivity, and the impact of research (Glossary of Thompson scientific terminology, 2008; Brindha & Murugesapandian, 2016).
This literature review focuses on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), using the research productivity of these countries as a benchmark to analyze the research trends in Lao PDR.
Scientific research productivity of ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising 10 countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, is emerging as a global hub for research and innovation A report by Thompson Reuters (2016) highlighted the growing research productivity within these nations, showcasing a significant increase in research outputs.
Between 2006 and 2015, ASEAN countries nearly doubled their contribution to global scientific literature, increasing from 1.37% to 2.43% A report categorized ASEAN's research performance into four groups, with Singapore leading, followed by Thailand and Malaysia in the second tier Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines were placed in the third group, while Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Brunei ranked fourth due to their minimal output Notably, Singapore was the only nation in the region whose scientific impact surpassed the global average.
Research outputs in ASEAN nations are closely linked to the knowledge economy, with economically developed countries excelling in engineering and high technology research Singapore and Malaysia are at the forefront of advancements in nanotechnology, engineering, and energy, while Thailand and Malaysia lead in agricultural and biological sciences Vietnam is making strides in mathematics, computer science, and biomedical science, and the Philippines is developing its environmental and agricultural science sectors.
Recent evidence indicates that scientific research outputs in ASEAN nations are on the rise, highlighted by a notable increase in publications across various disciplines, including plant biotechnology, language and linguistics, mathematics, and STEM fields Notably, Singapore has emerged as the most productive country in terms of scientific publications.
Research across various fields, including energy and fuel (Sombatsompop et al., 2011), economics (Kumar et al., 2014), psychology (Tam et al., 2016), and mathematics (Ho-Le & Nguyen, 2018), shows that Malaysian scholars are the most productive (Ramos-Eclevia et al., 2018) However, Barrot (2016) noted that ASEAN scholars have made a minimal contribution to language and linguistics, accounting for only 1% of global publications Additionally, studies by Arunachalam & Garg (1986) and Cao et al (2020) reveal that many ASEAN scholars tend to publish in journals with relatively low impact factors.
A significant portion of scientific publications in ASEAN countries results from international collaborations, which enhance research outputs across various disciplines (Beaver, 2001) Countries with lower research output, such as Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, exhibit a higher tendency for international collaboration (Haustein, 2011) Research by Ho (2015) and Nguyen, Ho-Le, and Le further supports these findings.
In 2016, a study highlighted the significance of collaborative publications in Vietnam, revealing that they accounted for approximately 77% of the total publication output While international collaboration among ASEAN nations has been on the rise, Kumar et al (2014) and Payumo & Sutton (2015) pointed out a notable deficiency in regional collaboration, which they identified as a contributing factor to the slow advancement of scientific research in Vietnam.
In line with Vinker (1988), Glọnzel and Moed (2002), Fiala (2013), and Elango
Rajendran (2015) categorizes scientometrics into three levels: macro (countries and specific disciplines), meso (research centers, institutions, universities, and sub-disciplines), and micro (individual papers and researchers) Despite this framework, research focusing on micro-level scientometrics in ASEAN countries remains largely unexplored Consequently, this literature review specifically addresses the meso- and macro-level scientometrics of ASEAN nations.
2.2.1 Meso-level Scientometrics studies of ASEAN nations
Recent studies on the research productivity of institutes, universities, journals, and research centers in ASEAN nations have received limited attention Only a few countries within the ASEAN region have explored research trends using meso-level scientometrics and bibliometrics.
In Thailand, research by Sombatsompop et al (2002) revealed that only 6 out of 68 academic journals published between 1996 and 2000 were consistently cited, exhibiting low impact factors and immediacy indices A subsequent study by Sombatsompop et al (2010) assessed the research performance of public universities from 2007 to 2009, identifying Mahidol, Chulalongkorn, Chiang Mai, Prince Songkla, Kasetsart, and Khon Kaen University as the top six institutions in terms of published articles and citations Similarly, Darmadji et al (2018a) evaluated research productivity among leading Indonesian universities using the Scopus database, highlighting Bandung Institute of Technology, University of Indonesia, and others as the most productive institutions.
Gadjah Mada University has made strides in research, but Darmadji et al (2018b) highlighted the slow progress in scientific research productivity at the Islamic University of Indonesia, indicating a need for significant resources and collaborations for improvement Additionally, Lee (2003) assessed the research performance of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) in Singapore, noting that the institute produced 33 book chapters within its first decade.
359 scientific papers, 24 conference papers, and 4 monographs, graduated 46 PhDs and
Between 2008 and 2014, the Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science experienced its peak productivity in 2011, as reported by Velmurugan and Natarajan (2016) The majority of articles during this period were authored by scholars from Malaysia, Iran, India, and China A subsequent study in 2017 assessed the research productivity of the Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Science from 2012 to 2016, revealing that 2013 was the most productive year, with the University of Putra Malaysia's department of pathology being the leading contributor.
2.2.2 Macro-level Scientometrics studies in ASEAN nations
Recent studies utilizing scientometrics to assess the scientific research productivity of ASEAN countries have gained considerable attention over the years Each ASEAN nation has exhibited unique performance levels in scientific research development Notably, Thailand has experienced a remarkable increase in research across various disciplines, such as the economic valuation of health technology and translation studies, alongside a significant rise in total research outputs, although there are exceptions in areas like orchid and seed research.
Yuthavong et al (1993) highlighted the inadequate written communication in 17 industries, while Sombatsompop et al (2006) conducted a scientometric analysis comparing the productivity of four research disciplines Their findings revealed that clinical medicine was the most researched field, surpassing chemistry, material science, and engineering This trend is also observed in Thailand, as noted by Ho (2015) and Nguyen, Ho-Le & Le.
(2016) shown the advancement of scientific research in Vietnam in terms of research outputs as more than 77% of the papers were international co-authored Vuong et al
Scientific publications in Vietnam remain under-developed due to an unbalanced research priority, with certain topics overlooked while others are neglected Vietnamese scholars primarily focus on mathematics, social sciences, and humanities, which yield greater domestic outputs than international ones In contrast, Malaysia shows ongoing development in scientific research, with disciplines like business, clinical medicine, and engineering experiencing growth in research outputs and international collaborations, although agricultural literature received less attention in the 1990s Similarly, Indonesia has reported progress in research advancement, particularly in areas such as dengue and mathematics, with over 90% of publications concentrated in social sciences.
Environmental management
The growing urgency of environmental issues worldwide has heightened the need for effective environmental management According to Kolk and Mauser (2002), environmental management encompasses complex mechanisms that address critical aspects such as technologies, operations, products, services, functional strategies, and management systems This methodology aims to align organizational operations with environmentally responsible practices while promoting the sustainable use of environmental resources (Hale, 1995) Numerous environmental management tools have been developed to support these efforts.
21 information and assist environmental management, such as the environmental impact assessment, environmental auditing, environmental management systems, substance- flow analysis, and life-cycle assessment (Emilsson & Hjelm, 2002; and Ramos et al.,
Evidence-based management, which evolved from medical management, is a crucial tool for integrating scientific knowledge into decision-making processes across various fields, including education, social work, and policing This approach is particularly significant in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management By relying on scientific evidence rather than personal preferences or anecdotal experiences, evidence-based management aims to enhance management practices and outcomes.
2011) This is mostly applied to the decision-support framework (Cook et al., 2016), adaptive management (Holling, 1978), and conservation project at all scales (Salafsky et al., 2019)
Lao PDR, known for its diverse landscapes and ecosystems, has made significant strides in environmental management over the past several decades The Laotian government is dedicated to international commitments for environmental protection, actively engaging in agreements such as the UN Convention on Biodiversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change This commitment is supported by legal frameworks and targeted strategies aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the country's natural resources and ecology.
The government of Laos is committed to sustainable development and clean technology by fostering partnerships with development organizations and engaging local communities in natural resource management and conservation This approach aims to enhance local participation, allowing communities to benefit from natural resources Since the 1990s, Laos has implemented a comprehensive legal framework for natural resource management, including key laws such as the Law on Water and Water Resources (1996), Law on Forestry (1996), Land Law (1997), Law on Agriculture (1998), and the Environmental Protection Law (1999), which serves as the cornerstone for environmental protection efforts.
Despite the availability of anecdotal evidence on the scientometrics and research productivity in Lao PDR, a comprehensive study utilizing the Scopus database, which is the largest abstract and indexing database, is still lacking Furthermore, evaluations of journal articles focused on environmental studies are limited This highlights the urgent need for detailed investigations into scientific articles in Lao PDR to assess research productivity, identify research trends, and analyze the mainstream production of both total and environmental articles Additionally, this study aims to address the potential challenges facing scientific research development in the region.
This study explores the connection between environmental articles and environmental management in Lao PDR, highlighting the productivity of journal articles indexed in Scopus from 1996 to 2020 It aims to serve as a foundation for enhancing scientific research development in the region.
METHODOLOGY
Study Design
This study aims to analyze the publication outputs of Lao PDR from the Scopus database between 1996 and 2020, focusing on the evolution of science and technology development, patterns of scientific production, and constraints faced in scientific output The findings will address key questions regarding these aspects of research in Lao PDR.
(1) how the scientific publication has been produced during the last 25 years period, (2) what could be the potential challenges towards the production of scientific paper, and
The impact of scientific literature on environmental development in Lao PDR is significant To explore this, various theories related to scientific publications were considered Hood and Wilson (2011) identified bibliometrics, scientometrics, and informetrics as valuable tools for analyzing scientific literature productivity Although there is considerable overlap between scientometrics and bibliometrics (Brooke, 1990), this study primarily employs scientometrics as it effectively facilitates the exploration and evaluation of scientific research (Minger & Leydesdorff, 2015) Scientometrics is defined as the quantitative study of science, science communication, and science policy (Hess, 1997).
This quantitative study, based on Schubert (2001), analyzes research activity elements by utilizing secondary data sources for output and citation analysis The findings reveal the current state of science and technology development in Laos, highlighting challenges and informing better development strategies Furthermore, the research explores the connection between environmental publications and environmental management in Lao PDR, providing valuable insights into the environmental perspective.
Data collection
By adopting from the study of Ho (2015), the dataset collection was implemented as follow:
Scopus is recognized as the largest abstract and indexing database, having been launched in 2004, but it does not include references prior to 1996 This study analyzes the total journal article outputs from Laos, covering the period from January 1996 to December 2020 The focus is on articles published in English, with the affiliation country specified as Laos The query used for this analysis includes filters for publication years from 1996 to 2020, document type as articles, and language as English.
(SRCTYPE, “j”)))” The total of 2666 documents were exported from Scopus on 19/02/2021
The data collection process was enhanced to gather information on environmental publications using the query string “(AFFILCOUNTRY (Laos) AND (LIMIT-TO (PUBYEAR,2020) OR LIMIT-”.
TO ( PUBYEAR,2019) OR LIMIT-TO (PUBYEAR,2018) OR LIMIT-TO (PUBYEAR, 1998) OR LIMIT-TO (PUBYEAR, 1997) OR LIMIT-TO (PUBYEAR, 1996)) AND ( LIMIT-TO ( DOCTYPE, “ar” ) ) AND ( LIMIT-TO ( LANGUAGE,
“English” ) ) AND ( LIMIT-TO ( SRCTYPE, “j” ) ) AND ( LIMIT-TO ( SUBJAREA,
“ENVI” ) )” The total of 479 documents were exported from the Scopus in the same date as mentioned above
The data was filtered using the Scopus tool to gather information on authors, titles, and journals It was exported in two ways: first, to focus solely on domestic articles by including only "Laos" as the affiliation country, and second, to assess total publications by including both "Laos" and other countries This method allowed for the evaluation of both total and environmental publications Subsequently, domestic documents were removed from the total publications to exclusively analyze collaborative articles The search results were then exported in CSV format for further analysis.
After downloading the data, it is essential to clean it for accurate analysis Errors in the extracted file, such as duplicated affiliations like "University of Health Science," "Mahosot Hospital," and "Ministry of Health," were corrected To focus exclusively on environmental articles related to Laos, the author meticulously reviewed all abstracts and titles, identifying 219 out of 479 publications that specifically studied environmental issues in Laos.
Data analysis
The analytical techniques utilized to assess publications in Laos included general statistics to quantify data such as publication frequency, subject areas, accessibility types, and production trends Key metrics for journals and authors, including CiteScore, h-index, SNIP, and SJR (Quartile), were sourced from Scopus and Scimago, reflecting the metrics for the year 2020.
Moreover, in order to calculate the average annual growth rate of journal articles output, the AARG formula is used as follow:
Equation 1 Average Annual Growth Rate
Where GRA = Growth rate in period A GRB = Growth rate in period B
GRn = Growth rate in period n N = Number of periods
In which each period is calculated as:
Equation 2 Growth Rate per Period
Data Visualization
This study utilized Microsoft Excel 2016 for data visualization, employing various functions to create a line graph for publication and citation trends, a pie chart to illustrate publishing models, a bar chart to represent output numbers and subject areas, and a radar graph to highlight the most productive mainstreams.
Data Interpretation
The data interpretation process will be described in the result and discussion part below
RESULT
Research productivity of Lao PDR from 1996-2019
4.1.1 Scientific research articles in Lao PDR, as seen from Scopus during 1996-
In Laos, collaboration articles dominate the scientific output, comprising approximately 96.36% with a total of 2,569 articles In stark contrast, domestic publications represent a mere 3.64%, totaling only 97 articles Overall, the country's scientific publication output stands at around 2,666 articles.
Table 2 the number of publications of Lao PDR from 1996-2020
Over the past 25 years, the trend in journal article output from Lao PDR has shown significant changes From 1996 to 2005, the number of articles remained limited, but a notable increase began in 2006, continuing until 2012 Although there were fluctuations in growth between 2013 and 2016, a significant decline occurred in 2017, followed by a peak in 2020 Overall, the output of journal articles in Lao PDR has demonstrated an upward trend, with an average annual growth rate of 0.15%.
Figure 1 the publication’s trend of Lao PDR indexed Scopus from 1996-2020
The most productive year of the domestic articles was in 2018 when 13 articles were published while zero articles were ever indexed in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, and
Between 1996 and 2020, the number of collaboration articles saw significant growth, increasing from 9 articles in 1996 to a peak of 272 articles in 2020, representing a more than thirtyfold surge In contrast, domestic article output experienced gradual and fluctuating growth, with 1999 marking the lowest productivity year, recording only 6 collaboration articles The year 2020 stands out as the most prolific for collaboration articles, highlighting a notable trend in publication over the 25-year period.
Figure 2 the count distribution of the Lao's publications
Scientific articles from Lao PDR are classified into two categories: open access and non-open access Non-open access articles significantly outnumber open access articles, with 1,478 (55.44%) compared to 1,180 (44.56%) Additionally, non-open access articles have a slightly higher average citation rate, with approximately 18.44 citations per article, compared to 17.78 for open access articles Notably, collaborative articles receive more citations, averaging 18.48 citations per article, while domestic publications average only 9.29 citations per article.
Figure 3 the proportion of the model of publishing
4.1.2 Domestic and collaboration journal articles output by field
In Lao PDR, the medical field has the highest total output among various subject areas, followed closely by research in life sciences, which includes agricultural and biological studies This output encompasses both domestic and collaborative articles.
Open-accessNon open-acces
33 comprehended more than 27 subject areas in which the collaboration articles contributed more than 70 to 100 % of the article’s output in each discipline
Figure 4 illustrates the distribution of scientific articles by subject area Among the 97 domestic publications, the majority focused on social science (30 articles), environmental science (29 articles), medicine (24 articles), agricultural and biological science (23 articles), and economic, econometrics, and finance (17 articles) In contrast, collaborative publications were predominantly in medicine (1,013 articles), agricultural and biological science (948 articles), environmental science (450 articles), immunology and microbiology (390 articles), and biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology (314 articles).
Figure 4 the publication's output by field
4.1.3 A citation count of the publications in Laos
Table 3 illustrates the citation numbers for both domestic and collaborative articles, revealing that collaborative articles significantly outnumber domestic ones in citations Specifically, domestic articles received 901 citations, whereas collaborative articles garnered over 47,470 citations, highlighting their dominance While the overall citation index tends to rise over time, a notable decline occurred in the last four years from 2016 to 2020, warranting further investigation.
Table 3 the number of citations of Lao's publication
4.1.4 Journal impact indicator of the Lao’s publication
Table 4 highlights the 20 most popular journals for domestic articles in Laos, with the "Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal (WPSRA)" from the Philippines leading the list with four articles Following closely are other notable journals in the top 15.
The "Journal of Hydropower and Dams" from the United Kingdom and "Mountain Research and Development" from Switzerland each published three articles Despite this, the overall number of articles from these journals was limited, with the highest count being four and the lowest just one paper.
A total of 67 journals published one paper each, with domestic authors primarily contributing to Q1 (5 journals), Q2 (1 journal), Q3 (7 journals), and Q4 (2 journals) Notably, three journals achieved an h-index exceeding 100: “Journal of Hydrology” (226), “Agricultural Systems” (107), and “Malaria Journal” (101) In terms of SNIP scores, seven journals fell below 1.0, indicating below-average citation rates, while two journals scored between 1.0 and 1.5 (average citation rate), and four journals exceeded 1.5, reflecting a very high citation rate Furthermore, according to Citescore percentiles, the top 15 journals excelled in animal science and zoology (99%), water science and technology (95%), aquatic science (92%), and political science and international relations (89%).
In parallel with the domestic, Table 5 also provided the top 20 popular journals for the collaboration articles The most popular journal was “Livestock Research for
Rural Development,” from Colombia which published 113 articles This is followed by the open-access journal “PLoS ONE (United State)” (108 articles), “Plos Neglected
The analysis of tropical disease research in the United States reveals a significant number of publications, with 68 articles in "Tropical Disease" and 64 in the "American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene." Notably, authors predominantly chose to publish in high-ranking journals, with 8 in Q1, 4 in Q2, 2 in Q3, and 1 in Q4 Among the 15 journals examined, 10 achieved an h-index score exceeding 100, including "Plos One" with an impressive score of 332, "Emerging Infectious Diseases" at 226, and "Scientific" journals.
The analysis reveals that several journals, including "Reports" and "American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene," have varying SNIP scores, with four journals scoring below 1.0, eight between 1.0 and 1.5, and three above 1.5, indicating a range of citation impact This suggests that authors collaborating with Lao PDR have successfully published in high-impact journals Notably, the journals listed excel in areas such as agronomy and crop science (98%), multidisciplinary studies (93%), public health, environmental and occupational health (93%), infectious diseases (92%), and insect science (91%).
Table 4 top 15 popular journals of the domestic publications
Source Nationality Number CiteScore SNIP h-index Quartile Subject area
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal:
WPDR (open access) Philippines 4 73rd (212/793) N/A 16 Q3 Medicine (miscellaneous)
Development (open access) Switzerland 3 75th (64/257) 0.687 57 Q2 Development
Kingdom 2 48th (344/661) 0.549 14 Q3 Economics and Econometrics
Kingdom 2 53rd (260/556) 0.316 15 Q3 Political Science and International
Journal of Hydrology Netherlands 2 95th (11/225) 1.869 226 Q1 Water Science and Technology
Economies Singapore 2 55th (246/556) 0.532 4 Q3 Political Science and International
Development (open access) Colombia 2 23rd (319/416) 0.578 28 Q3 Animal Science and Zoology
Malaria Journal (open access) United
Taiwania (open access) Taiwan 2 39th (244/400) 0.829 17 Q3 Ecology
Water Alternatives (open access) France 2 89th (59/556) 1.103 42 Q1 Political Science and International
Journal Pakistan 2 N/A N/A 35 Q4 Multidisciplinary (discontinued in
Kingdom 1 99th (3/416) 2.241 107 Q1 Animal Science and Zoology
Agris On-Line Papers in
Czech Republic 1 58th (66/159) 0.686 16 Q3 Economics, Econometrics and
Table 5 top 15 popular journals of the collaboration publications
Source Nationality Number CiteScore SNIP h-index Quartile Subject area
Development (open access) Colombia 113 23rd (319/416) 0.578 28 Q3 Animal Science and Zoology
Plos One (open access) United
United States 68 93rd (35/526) 1.774 135 Q1 Public Health, Environmental and Occupational health
Health (open access) Thailand 61 21st (227/288) 0.255 51 Q4 Infectious Diseases
Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
United Kingdom 29 51st (256/526) 0.832 105 Q2 Public Health, Environmental and Occupational health
Zealand 29 54th (189/416) 1.005 87 Q2 Animal Science and Zoology
Acta Tropica Netherlands 25 91st (14/153) 1.264 101 Q1 Insect Science
Field Crops Research Netherlands 25 98th (6/347) 2.354 150 Q1 Agronomy and Crop Science
Kingdom 25 79th (109/526) 1.219 114 Q1 Public Health, Environmental and Occupational health
Production Netherlands 18 61st (162/416) 1.039 49 Q2 Animal Science and Zoology
4.1.5 Scientific articles by research contributors
Lao PDR has established significant collaboration with various countries worldwide, as highlighted in Table 6, which lists the top 15 countries contributing to collaborative articles Thailand emerged as the largest partner, contributing 714 articles, representing 26.78% of the total The United Kingdom followed as the second-largest partner with 531 articles, accounting for 19.92% Other notable contributors include the United States with 515 articles (19.32%), Australia with 447 articles (16.77%), and France with 416 articles (15.60%) Additionally, three ASEAN countries—Thailand (26.78%), Vietnam (11.67%), and Cambodia (8.81%)—ranked among the top ten collaboration partners.
Table 6 top 15 largest collaboration partner countries
Table 7 highlights the affiliations of authors involved in research articles in Laos, revealing that the National University of Laos was the leading contributor with 411 articles (15.42%) Mahosot Hospital followed closely with 369 articles (13.84%), while the University of Oxford from the United Kingdom also made significant contributions.
The top contributors to the research output include three institutions: the first with 323 articles (12.12%), followed closely by Mahidol University from Thailand with 322 articles (12.08%), and the University of Health Science in Laos with 282 articles, representing 10.58% of the total output This list features a total of six domestic research institutes and nine international research institutes.
1 National University of Laos Laos 411 15.42
3 University of Oxford United Kingdom 323 12.12
5 University of Health Sciences Laos 282 10.58
7 Nuffield Department of Medicine United Kingdom 280 10.50
10 CNRS Centre National de la
Environmental journal articles of Lao PDR: Small scale analysis
A total of 479 journal articles focused on environmental research, representing 17.96% of all published articles As illustrated in Fig 6, the output of these articles was relatively low from 1996 to 2010, but experienced a significant increase thereafter.
2011 to 2013 However, the articles’ output appeared unstable since the fluctuation was spotted during 2014 and 2020 This increased with the average annual growth rate of 0.13% per year
Figure 5 the environmental publication trend during the 25 years period (1996-2020)
Table 9 highlights the top 10 journals publishing environmental articles in Laos, with the "Journal of Hydrology" from the Netherlands leading with 15 articles, followed closely by "Hydroecologie Appliquee" from France, which published 12 articles.
The analysis of environmental research publications reveals a significant trend among authors favoring high-impact journals, with contributions from "Water International (UK)" (11 articles), "Agriculture Ecosystem and Environment (Netherlands)" (10 articles), and "Water (Switzerland)" (10 articles) Notably, eight journals are classified as Q1, three as Q2, one as Q3, and three as Q4 The Citescore percentile indicates exceptional performance in animal science and zoology (99%), geography planning and development (96%), water science and technology (95%), forestry (91%), and nature and landscape conservation (88%) In terms of SNIP scores, six journals fall below 1.0, five range between 1.0 and 1.5, and four exceed 1.5 The h-index analysis shows that six journals have scores above 100, with the "Journal of Hydrology" leading at 226, followed by "Biological Conservation" (199) and "Forest, Ecology and Management" (178) The prevalence of foreign researchers among authors may explain the high-ranking publications of environmental articles from Laos, with only two local authors contributing.
10 most productive authors (Fig 7) and the supports from international partner countries such as United State, France, Australia, Thailand, and United Kingdom, especially from
3 ASEAN countries (Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia) (Fig 8)
Table 9 top 15 popular journals for the environmental publications of Laos
Sources Nationality Number CiteScore* SNIP* h-index** Quartile** Subject Area
Journal of Hydrology Netherland 15 95th (11/225) 1.869 226 Q1 Water Science and Technology
Appliquee France 12 N/A 0.084 9 Q4 Water Science and Technology
Water International UK 11 69th (70/225) 0.859 49 Q2 Water Science and Technology
Environment Netherland 10 99th (4/416) 1.896 174 Q1 Animal Science and Zoology
Water (open access) Switzerland 10 82nd (125/704) 1.179 55 Q1 Geography, Planning and Development
Sustainability (open access) Switzerland 9 84th (110/704) 1.242 85 Q1 Geography, Planning and Development
Research Quarterly Japan 8 30th (276/400) 0.601 31 Q4 Ecology
Land Use Policy UK 8 96th (27/704) 1.908 115 Q1 Geography, Planning and Development
Conservation Netherland 7 95th (28/647) 2.125 199 Q1 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and
Hydrological Processes UK 7 88th (26/225) 1.247 161 Q1 Water Science and Technology
Report Sri Lanka 7 N/A 0.287 7 Q4 Water Science and Technology
ORYX UK 7 81st (34/117) 1.061 69 Q2 Nature and Landscape Conservation
Taiwania (open access) Taiwan 7 39th (244/400) 0.829 17 Q3 Ecology
Figure 6 the most collaboration partners contributing to the environmental publication of Laos Table 10 the most productive authors of environmental articles
Name of author Number Affiliation Percent
Pavelic, P 24 International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 5.56
Ribolzi, O 23 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement 5.32
19 National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute of Laos 4.40
Suhardiman, D 16 International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 3.70
Castella, J C 15 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement 3.47
Hoanh, C T 14 International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 3.24
Pierret, A 14 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement 3.24
Soulileuth, B 14 National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute of Laos 3.24
4.3 Environmental management through the lens of environmental scientific paper
Throughout 479 environmental articles retrieved from Scopus during 1996 to
2020, there are only 219 articles studied related and/or about Lao PDR In other word,
Only 8.21% of total publications on environmental management in Laos are applicable, covering over 10 subject areas The research priority indicates that biodiversity is the most studied topic, with 44 articles, followed by water science (37 articles), environmental and natural resources economics (22 articles), and agriculture (21 articles) Among these, approximately 8.6% focus on hydropower (Nam Theun 2), 4.52% on species discovery in Laos, 6.33% on general pollution, 8.14% on biodiversity conservation, and 7.69% on forestry.
Figure 7 subject categories of environmental articles conducted in Laos
Figure 8 articles’ output by location
The research on Laos reveals a significant focus on the central region, with 80 articles published, followed by the northern area with 75 articles In contrast, the southern part of the country has seen limited research activity, with only 24 articles Additionally, 40 articles addressed the entire country as a research location Specifically, the central region includes Kham Mouan province, Vientiane capital, and Bolikhamsay, while Luang Prabang in the north is the most studied area In the south, Champasak province received the most attention, while other provinces were relatively overlooked.
Figure 9 research method of environmental articles conducted in Laos
Figure 9 highlights the primary research methodologies employed in Laos, with surveys being the most prevalent at 41% This is followed by observation at 19% and experiments at 18% Additionally, other methods such as secondary data analysis, interviews, focus group discussions, and mixed approaches (combining surveys and interviews) are occasionally utilized in research.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
DISCUSSION
3.1.1 Scientific journal articles of Laos as seen from Scopus from 1996-2019
The number of journal articles in Lao PDR has shown a gradual increase, as illustrated in Figure 1 However, the growth rate of just 0.15% per year indicates a concerningly slow acceleration Notably, over 96% of these publications resulted from international collaborations, with only 3.6% authored by researchers from Laos This significant disparity highlights the strong influence of international partnerships on the scientific output of Lao PDR.
In 2001, Steve Lawrence stated that articles freely available online receive more citations; however, this does not hold true for Lao's publications, where non-open access articles averaged 18.44 citations compared to 17.78 for open access articles In Lao PDR, 44.56% of articles are freely accessible online, while 55.44% are from non-open access sources The limitations in funding, particularly for article processing fees associated with many open access journals, may explain why many domestic Lao authors prefer to publish in non-open access models.
The scientific articles in Lao PDR were conspicuously dominated by research related to medicine and life sciences (Fig 4) The medical research
Evidence-informed policymaking has significantly supported healthcare and medical education development in Laos (Jửnsson et al., 2007; Wittick et al., 2019) The agricultural sector remains a vital part of Laos' economy, prompting active research in agricultural sciences (Ministry of Health Lao PDR et al., 2014) To maximize profits, there is a pressing need for studies focused on agricultural and biological sciences However, research priorities in Laos predominantly favor medical, agricultural, and environmental studies, while fields such as immunology, biology, and economics receive comparatively less attention.
In Lao PDR, social science research productivity is a key focus, with domestic authors often addressing topics that do not heavily depend on advanced scientific infrastructure due to limited technological skills, modern equipment, and research funding Most collaborative publications from the country are centered on medicine, which, as highlighted in Ho’s (2015) study on Vietnam, necessitates significant human resources, complex instrumentation, and thorough biochemical assessments These intricate methodologies place considerable pressure on research applications in developing nations Similar to Vietnam, medical research in Laos relies on support from international partners and institutions.
The number of the cited papers of Lao’s research articles experienced a fluctuated increase from 1996 to 2015, yet a suspicious drop was spotted from
Between 2016 and 2020, there was a notable decline in the citation count of Lao's research papers, with collaborative articles being cited nearly fifty times more than domestic ones This disparity may stem from the limited number of domestic publications and varying publishing models However, many researchers argue that citation indexes do not accurately reflect research quality Mingers & Yang (2017) highlighted that total citation counts are inadequate indicators of publication quality, as citation rates differ significantly across research fields To better assess research impact, this study utilized various journal impact indicators, including CiteScore, SNIP, h-index, and SCImago Journal Rank, focusing on the top 15 journals where Lao's work was published Domestically, authors favored moderate impact journals, with seven in Q3 and five in Q1, while three journals had an h-index exceeding 100 In contrast, collaborative publications appeared in higher impact journals, with eight ranked in Q1, four in Q2, and two in Q3.
1 journal in Q4 Moreover, 10 journals in the list received the h-index greater than
100 which is considered the exceptional journals However, only 3 journals were
According to the SNIP indicator, 52 journals are classified as very well-cited, suggesting that co-authored publications tend to exhibit higher quality compared to domestic ones This is attributed to adherence to international standards and the collaborative efforts involved in each paper.
Research collaboration has significantly influenced scientific publications in Lao PDR, with Thailand emerging as the largest contributor, followed by the UK, US, Australia, and France Thailand's advancements in science and technology have notably enhanced research productivity in Laos, supported by educational cooperation that has prioritized scholarships for Lao students since 1992 This collaboration is exemplified by partnerships between research institutions, such as the Mahosot Hospital in Laos and Oxford University, which established the Laos-Oxford-Mahosot-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU) in 2000 Funded primarily by the Wellcome Trust, LOMWRU focuses on infectious disease diagnostics and research into fever causes and epidemiology.
The optimum treatment and disease prevention strategies in Lao PDR are significantly enhanced by international collaboration, as highlighted by LOMWRU (2018) Additionally, development projects funded by international partners foster research opportunities, further strengthening cooperation in the region.
Most researchers contributing to scientific articles in Laos are affiliated with the National University of Laos (NUoL), recognized as a center of excellence in higher education with a strong faculty and the capacity for high-quality research This focus on research significantly enhances the research performance in Laos Additionally, Mahosot Hospital is crucial for the country's research output, particularly in the medical field Notably, Paul Newton, director of the Laos-Oxford-Mahosot-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, is the leading author in Laos with over 194 publications in the last decade, followed by Mayfong Mayxay The majority of the top domestic authors, including Rattanaphone Phetsouvanh and others, are also engaged in medical research, primarily focusing on tropical diseases, indicating that many prominent researchers in Laos are health professionals According to Hirsch, an h-index of 20 after 20 years of research is considered good, while 40 is outstanding.
The analysis of the top 15 authors reveals a remarkable distribution of performance: 5 authors achieved moderate rankings with fewer than 20 contributions, 4 were classified as good, 2 demonstrated outstanding performance, and 3 excelled exceptionally in their research endeavors.
3.1.2 Potential challenges towards the development of scientific research
Despite the increase in scientific outputs in Lao PDR over recent decades, the number of domestic authors remains disappointingly low, with some articles authored by foreign researchers affiliated with the country at the time of publication This limited contribution from local researchers is a significant factor hindering the advancement of scientific research in Laos, a lower-middle-income country that has received substantial support from development partners to enhance human resource capacity and foster economic integration The transition to a market-oriented economy through New Economic Mechanisms has further facilitated international investment, highlighting the crucial role of global partners in the nation's research and economic development While collaboration is essential for scientific progress, it is imperative for Lao authors to recognize and improve their contributions to both domestic and collaborative research efforts.
55 and therefore should be proactive in not only conducting research but as well communicating relevant findings in the scientific community
Scientific research in Lao PDR is heavily dependent on international collaboration, yet internal factors significantly hinder research productivity, particularly socio-economic issues Key constraints include insufficient research funding, a lack of qualified personnel, inadequate equipment, and limited domestic research institutions Additionally, barriers such as poor access to resources, insufficient incentives, and inadequate foreign language skills contribute to the slow development of research in the country The absence of effective policies to promote scientific research further exacerbates these challenges, as existing incentive structures are limited and often fail to align with Laos's unique economic, social, and cultural context This disconnect creates an epistemological gap between researchers and policymakers, leading to a lack of motivation among researchers to produce high-quality work Furthermore, the scarcity of domestic journals restricts the dissemination of scientific outputs in Laos.
56 only a few journals of Lao PDR appeared in the last decades For instance, the Lao
The Medical Journal, a biennial publication from the University of Health Science, along with the Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry by the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, the Journal of Agricultural Science, Technology and Development from the National University of Laos, and the Journal of Lao Studies, serves as a platform for diverse research fields However, these domestic journals face challenges with infrequent publication.
The Lao Medical Journal has not published since 2012, which negatively impacts the scientific research capabilities and motivation of Lao researchers To enhance scientific research and management strategies, it is essential to implement appropriate policies and strengthen human resources in Lao PDR Additionally, many higher education students in Laos are unfamiliar with scientific journal articles, unlike their peers in other countries who rely on these resources for academic tasks This lack of familiarity may stem from inadequate foreign language skills, hindering students' ability to understand and produce research papers.
3.1.3 Scientific papers and environmental management
Throughout 25 years (1996-2020), the number of articles output is gradually increasing (Fig 5) According to Table 9, the authors tended to publish their works on relatively high influential journals, (8 journals belonged to Q1 and 4 journals were considered very well-cited in the top 15 popular journals list) The table could
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the annual growth of scientific articles in Laos is gradual, indicating that the country's scientific publication efforts are lagging behind research development While international collaborations significantly boost the number of journal articles, it is crucial for Lao researchers to increase their contributions to domestic research, as the current level of domestic publications remains unsatisfactory Notably, international cooperation, particularly with Thailand and the UK, plays a vital role in enhancing collaborative articles.
Collaboration among researchers from the US, Australia, and France has led to a higher citation index for articles, indicating their greater output and influence in prominent journals While most researchers in Laos are affiliated with the National University of Laos (NUoL), it is the medical doctors who are the most influential, making medical research the dominant field in Lao research articles However, research priorities in Laos are unbalanced, heavily favoring medical and life sciences while neglecting other fields Internal factors such as socio-economic challenges, lack of research funding, qualified personnel, research equipment, domestic research centers, and proficiency in foreign languages significantly constrain research efforts Additionally, cultural factors further complicate the research landscape in Laos.
Incentive policies are hindering the advancement of scientific research, with a limited number of environmental studies slowing down effective evidence-based conservation and environmental education Additionally, the imbalance in environmental research topics, locations, and inadequate methodologies may result in misunderstandings and a lack of accurate information for effective management.
This pioneering scientometric study for Laos PDR aims to lay the groundwork for effective strategies to tackle challenges related to human resources, research production, and funding opportunities, which have hindered scientific development in the region It is crucial for Lao policymakers, both in government and non-government sectors, to address these challenges and enhance scientific publication and knowledge dissemination within the scientific community This message particularly encourages talented Lao researchers to publish their environmental research in reputable journals, contributing to improved environmental management in Laos.
This study has notable limitations, including the author's inexperience with advanced data analysis software, resulting in simplistic data presentations Additionally, the identification of subject areas may be imprecise, as a single paper can encompass multiple topics, leading to only superficial insights.
The citation output from the Scopus database lacks a specified citation time frame, which may limit the comprehensiveness of the citation index in this study These limitations highlight areas for further research.