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1 – 10 of over 86000
Article
Publication date: 18 July 2023

Ricardo Dantas and Denise Fleck

This paper aims to check the fragmentation of knowledge across multiple sources of evidence, identifying, scrutinizing and outlining suggestions concerning the challenges…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to check the fragmentation of knowledge across multiple sources of evidence, identifying, scrutinizing and outlining suggestions concerning the challenges researchers face when using multiple sources of data to identify studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study produced a comprehensive database of 15,848 items from Scopus, Web of Science and EBSCO on the organizational growth and decline topics. The analyses carried out to check the fragmentation of scientific knowledge and the challenges in identifying studies have made use of the basic data frame functions in R’s language and the Bibliometrix and Corpus R’s packages.

Findings

This study confirms the fragmentation of scientific knowledge as well as it identifies the following challenges: missing information in key fields, nonexistence of standards in terminology, limitations on data extraction, duplicates and multiple formats of cited reference. Additionally, it suggests practical coping procedures and advances implications for stakeholders and an agenda for future research.

Originality/value

This study provides valuable and practical examples with empirical confirmation of scientific knowledge fragmentation and offers an integrated view of many challenges in the process of identifying studies. Moreover, by offering suggestions to address these challenges, this study not only offers a practical guide to scientific researchers but also initiates a wider discussion regarding knowledge organizing in social sciences.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2001

Thomas Schaffer

To date, librarians have not produced a study comparing databases that are appropriate for political science research. This study compares the coverage, content, and retrieval…

1141

Abstract

To date, librarians have not produced a study comparing databases that are appropriate for political science research. This study compares the coverage, content, and retrieval methods for nine databases. The study uses sampling to evaluate search results for six topics, providing relevancy percentages for each database. The article also reviews the types of documents cited in these samples, and provides recommendations for matching each database to particular research needs.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 April 2008

Cemal Atakan, Doğan Atılgan, Özlem Bayram and Sacit Arslantekin

The purpose of this paper is to encompass the assessment of the effectiveness of the digital library and the value of multidisciplinary databases in terms of user preferences and…

2410

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to encompass the assessment of the effectiveness of the digital library and the value of multidisciplinary databases in terms of user preferences and use frequency by academic ranking.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper compares the results of two survey questionnaires carried out in 2002 and 2005. It examines the level of awareness by academic staff of digital library resources along with their use rate and to evaluate the preferences of faculty for specific electronic databases case studies were undertaken by means of separate questionnaires in both years.

Findings

Findings were consistent that positive results have been observed in two studies conducted in two years, 2002 and 2005. According to the results of the current survey, increased numbers of the faculty members of Ankara University know about the existence of the digital library. Another result of the survey is that many of the faculty members, although not all, use electronic databases. The most preferred databases have been Web of Science, Science Direct and Ebsco. When use of the electronic databases is analyzed, in respect of faculty rank and level of awareness, associate and assistant professors, assistants are ranked first.

Originality/value

The study presents the first case study in the field in Turkey that compares the current situation of the digital library usage with the initial survey data.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 26 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1996

Peter Zhou

This paper is a study of the current trends and conditions of electronic resources for Chinese studies, based on a recent survey on the Internet of 29 Chinese libraries in North…

Abstract

This paper is a study of the current trends and conditions of electronic resources for Chinese studies, based on a recent survey on the Internet of 29 Chinese libraries in North America and eight Chinese libraries in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The survey discussed current electronic resources for Chinese studies, with a union list of major Chinese language databases currently used in libraries in Asia and the US. Current views on the use and development of electronic resources for Chinese studies were summarised.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2005

Samuel Kai‐Wah Chu and Nancy Law

This paper sets out to report on a study of 12 postgraduate research students' development of information search expertise. It focuses on students' perceived importance and growth…

2040

Abstract

Purpose

This paper sets out to report on a study of 12 postgraduate research students' development of information search expertise. It focuses on students' perceived importance and growth of knowledge of different databases as they progress through their studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking an in‐depth longitudinal approach, this study makes use of surveys, direct observations of students' searching of various databases, students' verbalization of their thoughts while searching databases and interviews during a one‐year period. The paper focuses on analyzing the data from surveying and interviewing the students with regard to their use of databases.

Findings

It was found that many students were initially unfamiliar with many of the databases important to them and that the familiarity developed during the year contributed importantly to their development of information search expertise. This suggests that much work has to be done to inform and instruct students about these “treasures”.

Research limitations/implications

This study adopted an in‐depth longitudinal approach to study 12 students. Although it reveals various interesting observations and findings, it lacks the power of generalization due to its small sample size. Based on the results of this study, it would be meaningful to carry out further studies with a bigger sample to see whether the findings identified in this study will still hold true.

Originality/value

Based on the findings, this paper further identifies features that may increase the usefulness of a journal database and makes suggestions on ways to improve library support for the effective use of databases.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 29 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 February 2024

Azra Rafique, Kanwal Ameen and Alia Arshad

This study aims to explore the evidence-based usage patterns of higher education commission (HEC) subscribed e-journal databases in the university digital library used by the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the evidence-based usage patterns of higher education commission (HEC) subscribed e-journal databases in the university digital library used by the scholarly community and the academics’ online searching behaviour at a higher education institution in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach. Raw transaction log data were collected for quantitative analysis, and the interview technique was used for qualitative data collection and thematic analysis.

Findings

Log analysis revealed that HEC subscribed databases were used significantly, and among those, scholarly databases covering various subjects were more frequently used than subject-specific society-based databases. Furthermore, the users frequently accessed the needed e-journal articles through search engines like Google and Google Scholar, considering them sources of free material instead of the HEC subscribed databases.

Practical implications

It provides practical implications for examining the evidence-based use patterns of e-journal databases. It suggests the need for improving the access management of HEC databases, keeping in view the usage statistics and the demands of the scholars. The study may also help create market venues for the publishers of scholarly databases by offering attractive and economical packages for researchers of various disciplines in developing and underdeveloped countries. The study results also guide the information professionals to arrange orientation and information literacy programs to improve the searching behaviour of their less frequent users and enhance the utilization of these subscribed databases.

Originality/value

The study is part of a PhD project and, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is the first such work in the context of a developing country like Pakistan.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2011

Kelly Dermody and Norda Majekodunmi

The purpose of this paper is to present findings of a study which examined the searching experience of university students with a print disability and their use of screen reading…

3931

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present findings of a study which examined the searching experience of university students with a print disability and their use of screen reading software to navigate three proprietary databases.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants completed a series of tasks in three different online databases using their screen‐reading software. Screen‐recording software provided video and audio documentation of the process. Survey data were collected pre‐ and post‐study as well as after each database search session.

Findings

The paper provides insights on the information‐seeking behavior of students with print disabilities as well as the barriers encountered while navigating online databases using screen‐reading software.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses only on a small sample of university students with print disabilities and therefore lacks a control group of non‐print‐disabled students against which the results could be measured.

Practical implications

Database vendors are aware of the barriers their databases pose for users of screen readers. It is in the best interest of vendors to assist libraries in promoting the accessible features that already exist in their databases. Libraries can assist students by providing database instruction tailored to users of screen readers and by assisting database vendors in usability feedback and in marketing options.

Originality/value

Participants consisted of students with learning, visual and mobility disabilities and who were native users of screen‐reading software. There is a lack of research on the intersection of databases design and its impacts on the information literacy skills of students with print disabilities. This paper provides some insights on the first step in the information‐seeking process (gathering information) by students with a print disability and the barriers encountered.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 29 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 November 2010

Jennifer Tatomir and Joan C. Durrance

The purpose of this study is to address problems associated with the accessibility of academic library databases.

2676

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to address problems associated with the accessibility of academic library databases.

Design/methodology/approach

This study evaluates 32 databases and measures their accessibility to users of adaptive technology.

Findings

Based on the results of this study, 72 percent of the evaluated databases were rated as marginally accessible or inaccessible, reflecting a low level of compliance to federal web accessibility legislation and international web accessibility standards. To measure database accessibility to adaptive technology users, this study operationalized accessibility into ten component parts as the Tatomir Accessibility Checklist (TAC) and tested each database on each component.

Originality/value

Findings of this study can be used both by those who purchase and manage databases in libraries to identify the most accessible databases and by designers of the databases to improve specific features.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 February 2008

Ylva Gavel and Lars Iselid

The purpose of this research is to provide the scientific community with some quantitative data of relevance to the evaluation of two major citation databases. In addition…

12125

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to provide the scientific community with some quantitative data of relevance to the evaluation of two major citation databases. In addition, various aspects of the methodology of database coverage comparisons are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

Calculations of the overlaps between the journal lists of Web of Science and Scopus and some other major scientific databases are presented.

Findings

The results provide some measures of the overall title coverage as well as the amount of unique material in the sources studied.

Research limitations/implications

The journal title overlap calculations are based on journal lists provided by the database producers rather than searches in the databases themselves. Any inaccuracies in the lists may be reflected in the results. Also, the lists do not provide any information about the depth and consistency of the coverage. The nature of possible error sources is discussed.

Originality/value

The methodology chosen allows comparatively quick comparisons between the contents of databases. This makes it suitable for analysis of trends in database coverage.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 July 2018

Izabella Taler

This study aims to report on the findings of a detailed analysis of the collection development tools of use to subject bibliographers in meeting the challenges of the ongoing…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to report on the findings of a detailed analysis of the collection development tools of use to subject bibliographers in meeting the challenges of the ongoing changes within the broad discipline of area studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Select online and print resources are examined for their treatment of specific area studies subjects.

Findings

This study identifies the benefits of subject resources, points out inconsistencies with the use of the controlled vocabulary and notes subject access limitations.

Practical implications

The analyzed resources will assist library professionals in identifying and selecting relevant sources.

Originality/value

The detailed analysis of how this subject is treated by numerous resources is unique to the field of library science.

Details

Collection and Curation, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9326

Keywords

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