Search results

Digital libraries promote and accelerate scientific research in academic institutions. The subscribed database resources of digital libraries have become an increasingly valuable asset for researchers. Database resources help generate new ideas, determine research directions and promote productive academic interaction between teachers and students in the information age. The purpose of this study is to examine the use of electronic resources by students in various databases, the research productivity of the faculty in the science network and the number of students who graduate each year.

This study uses a quantitative method to collect secondary data from the central database of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the population of 26 universities for 2 years (2015–2016). In addition to the HEC digital library, data was also collected from the Web of Science to determine the quality academic performance of faculty and researchers. Moreover, in the study, the total strength of teaching staff and doctoral faculty was extracted from the HEC website for investigation. The authors applied the Spearman’s correlation test to the secondary data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.

The correlation results of the enrolled students and the downloaded papers from various databases were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). However, the result showed a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the use of selected/known databases from a number of databases accessed by the HEC. More importantly, it turns out that the faculty’s productivity in the scientific network and the number of students who graduated from public and private universities are found to be insignificant (p > 0.05). However, the authors found a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between doctoral and non-doctoral faculties, which show that a significant number of non-doctoral faculties are still actively involved in teaching and research.

Research based on academic activities by faculties and students, performed for the first time on the basis of secondary data, will help the HEC and university management to determine the right direction and develop plans to improve academic performance and research quality.

The purpose of the study is to ascertain whether or not faculty members would be motivated to use e-Databases for research considering the impact of the Technology Acceptance Model2 (TAM2) cognitive instrumental processes of job relevance, output quality and result demonstrability.

The survey research design was applied. The selection of samples was based on a multistage sampling technique involving; purposive, simple/systematic random and total enumeration procedures. Five colleges and departments each were selected from the three universities that provided the setting for the conduct of this study, out of which a sample of 135 was drawn from the total population of 209. The questionnaire method was used for data gathering. Ninety-five percent return rate of the administered instrument was observed. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were employed for data analyses.

Job relevance, output quality and result demonstrability are motivators of faculty use of e-Databases for research with result demonstrability wielding the strongest influence. Use of e-Databases for research is based on the usefulness level perceived of them. Faculty are highly predisposed to using the technology for research with the chances of getting published in reputable journal outlets ranked highest among other factors that influence faculty use of e-Databases.

The conceptualization of TAM2 cognitive instrumental processes as system characteristics and motivators of e-Databases use among faculty towards research engagement advances the understanding of intention to use e-Databases for research.

This article provides an account of how databases can be effectively used in entrepreneurship research. Improved quality and access to large secondary databases offer paths to answer questions of great theoretical value. I present an overview of theoretical, methodological, and practical difficulties in working with database data, together with advice on how such difficulties can be overcome. Conclusions are given, together with suggestions of areas where databases might provide real and important contributions to entrepreneurship research.

This paper seeks to address scholarly concerns related to the performance of the “new” Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) database and provides education researchers and those who teach education research (at the Reference Desk, in a lab or “chatting” with a student at 2.00 am) a means of evaluating and selecting alternative databases based on their relative coverage of major education journals. Alternative research strategies are discussed in light of ERIC's loss of position and importance as a single, comprehensive education resource. Broader implications regarding the role of librarians as educators are presented.

The journal indexing coverage of ERIC (old and new) and alternative databases were checked against two recent Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) Journal Citation Reports (most cited journals in 2004 and 2005) in three categories: Education and Educational Research, Special Education, and Educational Psychology. The results are presented to show the percentage of journals indexed by each database in each of these three categories.

The “new” ERIC database is not indexing and keeping up to date with the same number of major education journals as the “old” ERIC. Other databases are performing better and provide researchers with more comprehensive coverage of scholarly education sources.

Aimed at academic reference librarians and those who teach research methods to education students, this comparative study provides an objective scale to assess the current state of education research indexing and offers advice to meet the information needs of education students and scholars at all levels. It is intended to answer these practical questions: will education researchers need to use other databases to supplement or replace the “new” ERIC? And, if so, what are the better options for varying research needs?

The intersection of persuasive technology and personalization features in enterprises such as Amazon.com delivers familiar consumer web interactions related to the purchase of goods. This paper aims to describe the intersection in terms of academic library database personalization features, persuasive technology, and student research.

The paper compares personalization features in popular academic library databases and a case study of usage in a university system provides a perspective on use in the academic community. Research on student use of technology related to databases and Web 2.0 provides information on potential and actual use of personalization features.

Personalization and filtering features of research databases and the evolving Web 2.0 technology platform offer helpful tools to researchers, but the technology may not be persuasive enough to make significant changes in research behavior. Usage statistics indicate that personalization features are used, but compared to total enrollment, use is not high. There is much room for extension of persuasive elements in library databases.

There are many areas for exploration in determining how personalization may best be used in the future. This includes observing trends in usage, understanding users and their needs, and future technology changes.

Librarians can provide instruction about personalization in library databases in multiple forms. Suggestions for extensions of technology provide a view of possible personalization enhancements including persuasive elements.

The description of the intersection of personalization and persuasive technology in the academic library database environment is unique. The paper's comparison of personalization features of academic library databases provides a view of features and options within popular library databases.

Digital library database resources have a significant impact on stimulating the research culture in higher education. The use of digital databases makes it possible to understand intellectual growth, research productivity, planning and identification of user information needs. Evaluating the effectiveness of user database resource utilization and research, the purpose of this study is to assist management in developing an excellent academic policy.

This study establishes a quantitative method to analyze the productivity of academic research using digital databases. The secondary data extracted from the databases of 52 universities provided by Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the literature published on the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science. The statistical technique simple linear regression was used to analyze the data for understanding the impact of independent variables the “digital databases” on the dependent variable “research productivity”.

The result of the coefficient of multiple determination, R-squared, R² 0.679, indicated 67 per cent impact of the predictor on the outcome variable. However, the standardized coefficient Beta 0.824 revealed 82 per cent impact of the individual predictor on the outcome variable. Overall, the result of linear regression showed a significant effect of independent variables on the dependent variable. Besides, the result of correlation and the strength of association between the database resources and the academic publication was significant (p < 0.005).

This research work is a supportive tool for managing gaps and promoting the development of necessary measures to develop strategies and solutions to create a better academic environment. The ultimate use of standard database resources can foster higher academic research to develop innovative ideas and improve researchers’ cognitive abilities.

From Pakistan’s point of view, this study is the first one that gives insight into the intellectual growth of young researchers in higher education. The study provides first-hand information on the use of database resources and their significant impact on the productivity of academic research.

Digital humanities database is one of the essential tools in digital humanities research area. Therefore, examining the usage of digital humanities database in academic papers is conducive to assessing the value of digital humanities database for scientific research activities and improving the construction of digital humanities infrastructure.

This paper constructs an evaluation system of digital humanities database from the perspective of academic influence and social influence, with mention frequency, usage motivation, platform access data, usage region and usage discipline as indicators and takes China Biographical Database Project as the empirical object to explore the usage of digital humanities database in China.

The data analysis result demonstrates that digital humanities databases are widely used and recognized in China. However, the problem of low actual usage remains.

This paper constructs the digital humanistic database's evaluation system and discusses applying the digital humanistic database in China, which provides a new perspective and method for the influence evaluation study of the digital humanistic database.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

Observes that, despite the prevalent use of customer databases, very little academic research has examined the practice. Discusses the plethora of research opportunities in database marketing. First, defines database marketing, and second, promotes organizational learning theory as a useful tool by which database marketing research can advance. Finally reviews prior research, and presents research questions related to the design, maintenance and applications of customer databases.

To address the issue of the low take‐up of available ethnic business support the article proposes the composition of a database for Scotland, thereby providing baseline data on minority businesses and hence providing a sampling frame for future research. The database will hold the following information: name and gender of the business owner, sector, location, number of employees as an indicator of company size, generation, the year in which the business was established, as well as the legal form of ownership of businesses.

The database draws from the concept of mixed embeddedness as well as the political agenda of the Scottish Executive for the sector. Data sources used are commercial databases, the Yellow Pages of Scotland, local business registers across Scotland, a telephone survey and personal contact/networking with businesses.

In order to facilitate the composition of a Scottish database of minority businesses, this article has looked at existing theories of minority business support and issues currently considered in the literature. Based on the literature underpinning research on ethnic minority firms, a justification for the proposed database has been developed, which provides a sampling frame in the Scottish context and allows for new approaches to research.

Though 100 per cent coverage of minority businesses in Scotland is a desired target, complete coverage may not be achievable. Some business might simply not be interested in participating in the research and cannot, therefore, be included in the database despite the multi‐facet methodology applied.

By proposing a methodology for composing the database, the article tackles a long‐standing issue in the area of ethnic business research. It is hoped that the database will improve understanding among policy makers and support organisations, in terms of the particular needs of individual businesses. Consequently, the better understanding should account for a more tailored and more attractive support, which, in turn, improves the take‐up of existing mechanisms.