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Researchers' use and perceptions of discovery services
Author(s) -
JUBB Michael,
LOOK Hugh,
SPARKS Sue
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
learned publishing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.06
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-4857
pISSN - 0953-1513
DOI - 10.1087/174148507x185126
Subject(s) - point (geometry) , set (abstract data type) , perception , process (computing) , computer science , data science , knowledge management , world wide web , psychology , geometry , mathematics , neuroscience , programming language , operating system
This article describes a study investigating how academic researchers in the UK use discovery services to find different kinds of information resources relevant to their research. The study shows that they use a very wide range of services, from Google to highly specialized databases, to find information relevant to different stages in their research. Researchers treat searching an integral part of the research process; their central concern is that they might miss something, and they tend to refine down from a large set of search results. Most are confident in their skills, though librarians see them as conservative in the tools they use and unsophisticated in their methods. Finally, we point to some gaps in provision as reported by researchers.