Factors affecting research productivity: a bibliometric and altmetric investigation

Purpose This study aims to explore the influencing factors of research productivity through a bibliometric analysis of literature published between 2000 and 2024. Design/methodology/approach A systematic data collection approach was used to retrieve literature from SCOPUS and Web of Science (WoS) databases. The research analyses, publication trends, citation impact using the Field Weighted Citation Indicator (FWCI) and the impact of altmetrics in capturing online engagement. Findings The FWCI analysis identified 2006 as the year with the highest citation impact, with publications from multiple years outperforming the global average. Altmetrics analysis showed a positive relationship between publication year and Attention Scores. A shift in research focus is observed through the thematic analysis, and the trend indicates that research interest has shifted from traditional citation analysis to institutional factors, research funding, collaboration and the impact of COVID-19 on research productivity. The dendrogram study reveals the connection between various core concepts, such as gender and funding, while topics such as faculty productivity and gender disparities attracted greater audience interest. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to English-language publications indexed in SCOPUS and WoS with a valid DOI for measurement of social media engagement. Originality/value This study provides a comprehensive overview of research productivity factors, combining citation-based metrics and altmetrics to capture the evolving trends and impact of research over two decades. The findings offer practical information for policymakers, academic institutions and researchers who want to better understand and improve research productivity in a dynamic scholarly landscape.