Citation Patterns and Resource Availability in Undergraduate Theses: Insights from a Philippine Academic Library

Abstract

Statement of the Problem / Objectives. This study examines how undergraduate students in the College of Science at a private higher institution in the Philippines use information sources in their theses. It analyzes the types, age, and availability of cited materials to assess how well the library supports student research and to identify collection and instruction needs.

Methods. Using proportional stratified sampling, 194 theses (2022–2024) were selected from the institutional repository. A total of 15,012 citations were extracted, coded by source type and publication year, and checked for availability via the library discovery system and open access. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patterns.

Results. Journal articles dominated citations (77.6%), especially in Biology and Chemistry, while Mathematics and Physics showed lower citation volume and more varied formats. 57.76% of sources were published within the past 10 years, indicating a strong preference for current literature, with foundational works retained in some disciplines. Overall, 89.25% of sources were accessible either through the library or open access, yet only 26.02% were available directly through the library's holdings, underscoring reliance on open access to fill gaps.

Conclusion. Library resources support significant portions of undergraduate research, but subscription and monograph gaps remain. Targeted acquisitions, discovery optimization, and discipline-tailored citation instruction are recommended.

Originality. This is among the first large-scale, discipline-specific citation analyses of undergraduate science theses in the Philippines that links use patterns to availability, highlighting open access as a critical complement to local holdings.