Information needs of academic medical scientists at Chulalongkorn University

The information needs of scientists in English-speaking countries have been studied and reported in the library literature. However, few studies exist on the information-seeking patterns of scientists in developing countries, and no study has examined the information needs of medical scientists in developing Asian countries. This study investigated the information needs of academic medical scientists at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. The results indicate that medical scientists have three types of information needs: identifying up-to-date information, obtaining relevant studies and data, and developing research topics. Thai scientists' information-seeking behavior was different from that of scientists in developed countries. The study shows a high use of libraries as information providers; Thai medical scientists rely heavily on information from abroad.     

Scholarly journal use and reading behavior of social scientists in Taiwan

This paper reports on a study of social scientists’ information seeking and use of scholarly journals to support scholarly communication and information needs. The goals of the study are: to explore the characteristics of information needs for social scientists; to discuss the importance of scholarly journals to social scientists and their information seeking and access means; to identify article reading patterns of social scientists; and to make comparisons between scholarly journals use and reading patterns of social scientists and other scientists in Taiwan and the USA. The author used a questionnaire survey and interview methods to investigate the information seeking, use and reading of scholarly journals, and article deep reading patterns of social scientists. The target population was social science faculty members from National Cheng-chi University in Taiwan. The article explores the characteristics of information needs for social scientists and shows that scholarly journals are important information resources for university social science faculty. Social science faculty in Taiwan use scholarly journals in multiple languages, mainly English, Chinese, German, and Japanese, which is different from scientists in the United States. In addition, they use electronic journals more than print journals. The number of article readings by social science faculty members was approximately 195 readings per year and nearly 440 h were spent reading per year. In contrast to scientists in the United States, the social scientists in Taiwan read fewer readings, spent more time reading, and read older articles. In addition, the study identifies article reading patterns of social scientists and proposes a six-type taxonomy of article deep reading. The study reports the scholarly journal use and reading behavior model of social scientists and shows there are some differences in scholarly journal seeking and use by social science faculty in Taiwan and scientists in the United States. Further studies of scholarly journal and electronic journal use and reading by social scientists across countries, subject disciplines, and languages of journals are needed.     

顶尖科学家的学术影响力变化规律研究进展

[目的/意义] 综述目前顶尖科学家的学术影响力变化规律研究,为发现顶尖科学家学术成长规律提供研究方向。[方法/过程] 首先界定顶尖科学家的范围,总结个人学术影响力的内涵及其定量测度方法,然后重点从学术影响力测度方法、规律研究方法、规律研究结果和顶尖科学家学术影响力变化规律假说这4个角度对顶尖科学家学术影响力的变化规律研究现状进行综述。[结果/结论] 认为顶尖科学家的学术影响力变化规律现有研究中存在数据处理过于笼统等问题,指出今后5个可能的研究方向。     

Research complexity increases with scientists’ academic age: Evidence from library and information science

With the continued aging of the scientific workforce, the impact of this trend on scientists’ research performance has attracted increasing attention. The literature has predominantly focused on the productivity, impact, and collaboration pattern of scientists of different ages. A research gap is found in investigating the differences in the research topics studied by junior and senior scientists. This study focuses on the complexity of a scientist's research portfolio (RPC). Based on the concept of economic complexity, RPC was measured to characterize the capability of scientists to study complex research topics. An economic algorithm was adopted to estimate RPC on heterogeneous author-topic bipartite networks using bibliographic data from the field of Library and Information Science between 1971 and 2020. Through comparisons among scientist groups, RPC shows promise in distinguishing outstanding scientists from peers who have similar values of other indicators (e.g., citations and H-index). The change in RPC was further probed across scientists’ careers and an increasing trend with academic age was found, even after removing the accumulated advantages of senior scientists. Moreover, top-ranked scientists distinguish themselves from their peers by a higher RPC in the first year and a greater growth rate during their careers. While many researchers have their highest RPC in the first year, most top-ranked scientists reach their peak RPC later in their careers. The results provide helpful references for studies on the aging effect in academia.     

Exploring scientists’ working timetable: A global survey

In our previous study (Wang et al., 2012), we analyzed scientists’ working timetable of 3 countries, using realtime downloading data of scientific literatures. In this paper, we make a through analysis about global scientists’ working habits. Top 30 countries/territories from Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, Latin America and Africa are selected as representatives and analyzed in detail. Regional differences for scientists’ working habits exists in different countries. Besides different working cultures, social factors could affect scientists’ research activities and working patterns. Nevertheless, a common conclusion is that scientists today are often working overtime. Although scientists may feel engaged and fulfilled about their hard working, working too much still warns us to reconsider the work–life balance.     

Movers’ advantages: The effect of mobility on scientists’ productivity and collaboration

With the rapid globalization of science, mobility is perceived as an important driver of scientific progress and innovation success. However, we have little knowledge about whether and how scientists’ mobility influences their career development, especially scientists’ productivity and collaboration. In this case study, using the data on 62,330 scientists, the Chinese computer scientists who published at least one computer science paper and published no fewer than 10 papers in total from 2000 to 2012, we apply difference in differences models in conjunction with PSM methods to show the effect of domestic mobility (i.e., moving inside China) on scientists’ research quantity and quality by distinguishing the direction of mobility. In contrast to the existing literature that documents a short-term negative effect due to adaption costs or disruption of routines and social capital, we do not observe an initial detrimental impact of following moves on productivity and collaboration, even for non-upward moves. We further find that mobility leads to increased collaboration with new partners without dampening scientists’ collaboration with previous collaborators. However, scientists have a higher probability of collaborating with new collaborators, as evidenced by the decreased share of previous collaborators to the total co-authors after they move. The findings of this case study imply that the benefits of mobility might outweigh its costs and that mobility improves scientists’ productivity and collaboration for prolific scientists in emerging countries.     

Investigating the mentorship effect on the academic success of young scientists: An empirical study of the 985 project universities of China

This study intends to uncover the mentorship effect by investigating the impact of mentors’ academic titles and research performance on the academic success of young scientists. Drawing on the data of chemical scientists from China's 985 project universities, we demonstrate that the probability of young scientists acquiring academic success increases if their mentors are qualified Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) or Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) academicians. However, this positive effect may be insignificant or negative for improved academic performance. Additionally, the role of the mentors’ research performance in moderating the relationship between the young scientists' research performance and the probability of acquiring an academic title is not significant and may even be negative. Remarkably, our empirical results suggest that mentors with a CAS or CAE academician title and an increase of the young scientists’ H-index by 20 have equal effects on the probability that young scientists win an Excellent title. This raises concerns about the mentorship effect in China. The results have solid practical implications that are clarified at the end of this research.     

Exploring scientists’ working timetable: Do scientists often work overtime?

A novel method is proposed to monitor and record scientists’ working timetable. We record the downloads information of scientific papers real-timely from Springer round the clock, and try to explore scientists’ working habits. As our observation demonstrates, many scientists are still engaged in their research after working hours every day. Many of them work far into the night, even till next morning. In addition, research work also intrudes into their weekends. Different working time patterns are revealed. In the US, overnight work is more prevalent among scientists, while Chinese scientists mostly have busy weekends with their scientific research.     

我国科研人员对科技信息开放获取的态度————以中国科学院科研人员为例

文章以对中国科学院部分科研人员的访谈和问卷调查为基础,调查我国科研人员对科技信息开放获取的态度及意愿,并从开放获取资源、科研机构和科研人员自身特点等角度分析了科研人员参与科技信息开放获取的影响因素,建议政府、科研机构和科研资助机构要积极扶持开放获取期刊的发展,将开放获取期刊纳入科研评价体系之中,支持学术论文的自存储。     

我国科研人员自存储态度调查－以中国科学院科研人员为例

以对中国科学技术大学和中国科学院部分科研人员的访谈和问卷调查为基础,调查我国科研人员对自存储的态度及意愿,从自存储资源的学术质量、版权、政策或组织方面、技术方面出发分析影响科研人员参与自存储的因素,并建议政府、科研机构建立宣传与教育政策机制、管理政策机制、强制政策机制和技术政策机制,建立OA仓储,引导科研人员自存储。     

Scientists’ genders and international academic collaboration: An empirical study of Chinese universities and research institutes

In the previous literature, no clear conclusions have been reached about the effect of gender differences on research performance (RP) in science, as measured by publication productivity, number of citations, and academic awards. Meanwhile, a gap also exists in the research regarding gender differences in international academic collaboration. To complement the existing literature, this study investigated the achievements of scientists engaged in international academic collaboration, which places heavy demands on language and communication skills and in which female scientists appear to have more advantages than male scientists. We investigated the effect of international collaboration carried out by chemists from China’s Project 985 universities and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and compared the extent to which the international collaboration improved female and male scientists’ academic performance. The results indicated that, compared to male scientists, female scientists performed better and significantly improved their academic performance through international collaboration. This conclusion was valid for different periods throughout chemists’ academic careers. The policy implications are discussed at the end of this study.     

Science and policy: scientific expertise and individual participation in boundary management

Boundary theory has assumed that two distinct organizations—scientists and policy-makers—can interface with one another via an external boundary organization, yet boundary management contexts often call for different strategies where a neutral third party is not involved. Recent scholarship has highlighted alternative models for boundary organizations, including the emergence of boundary organizations within universities. Most of these studies have taken an organizational perspective, yet as universities increasingly fulfill the role of boundary organizations by direct engagement with policy-makers, we need a deeper understanding of the roles scientists should play within this context. This study highlights the need to understand context before designing and implementing boundary management strategies, and considers the complexities of direct engagement between scientists and policy-makers. We draw from a case study conducted in Maine to argue that there are contexts in which scientists need to manage and span the science–policy boundary. The complexities involved in preparing scientists to engage more thoroughly in policy activities and the challenges in garnering institutional support for advancing the participation of scientists in boundary-spanning activities are explored.     

非政府组织在天文学科普方面的作用

古代伊朗科学家曾对科学,特别是天文学做出过重大贡献。当代的伊朗科学家继承了这一传统,并致力于向公众传播科学。21世纪初,由一批科学家、热心科学传播的社会人士和私营企业组成的非政府组织积极筹建马什哈德天文馆、科学中心等科普场馆。本文通过这一案例,讨论了非政府组织在科普场馆建设和科学传播中的作用、问题和可行性,并介绍了马什哈德天文学会为此采取的相应对策。     

Exploring the influence of coauthorship with top scientists on researchers’ affiliation,research topic,productivity, and impact

Research studies have found that coauthorship with top scientists positively correlates with researchers’ career advancement. However, the influence of different proximities and types of coauthorship with top scientists on their performance has rarely been discussed. We identified the winners of four awards as top authors. We also evaluated the effect on the researchers’ affiliation change, research topic, productivity, and impact before and after three top-ordinary scientist coauthorship types (strong, moderate, and weak), examining the effect after top-top and ordinary-ordinary scientist coauthorships. Additionally, a coauthorship closeness indicator was proposed, considering the team size and author role to measure the collaboration relationship between coauthors. The results reveal that the top scientist in strong coauthorship obtained the highest affiliation change rate. For the top-ordinary coauthorship, the affiliation change rate for top scientists is higher than for ordinary scientists. For other aspects (the coauthor number, research topic, productivity, and impact), the rate after strong and moderate coauthorships increases compared to weak top-ordinary coauthorship type for top and ordinary scientists. Therefore, top scientists obtain a partner with skills, and ordinary scientists obtain more guidance. Strong and moderate coauthorships are win-win relationships for top-ordinary coauthorship types.     

人才计划与科学家职业流动:以长江学者为例

[目的/意义]科学家的职业流动容易受到政策的影响。本文旨在通过回归模型分析人才计划与科学家职业流动的关系,特别是与其职业流动方向的关系。对于我国未来的人才政策制定具有参考价值。[研究设计/方法]本文以入选长江学者特聘计划的科学家为样本,构建其职业经历数据,并通过双重差分模型分析入选人才计划对职业流动行为的影响。[结论/发现]研究发现,入选长江计划促进了科学家的职业流动。在入选长江计划5年内,科学家更多地从东部地区向中西部地区流动,也更多地向排名级别更低的高校流动。[创新/价值]在研究方法上使用了回归模型而非描述性分析;研究结论为认知人才计划对科学家职业流动的影响提供了新的角度。     

Are Researchers Reading the Journals they Publish in? A Case Study of Icahn School of Medicine

In this study we sought to find whether there is a correlation between the journals that scientists read to those that they publish in. For the analysis, we selected the journals that include at least 10 articles authored or coauthored by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai scientists and journals that were used at least 10,000 times in 2015. For each of the journals we also collected the Journal Impact Factor value for 2015. Our results show that Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai scientists do not necessarily publish in and read the same journals at the same rate. The data also shows that scientists tend to read journals with higher impact factor.     

Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior of Agricultural Scientists in Malaysia

Knowledge about the information needs and seeking behavior of scientists could play a vital role in meeting their information needs effectively. Libraries can use this knowledge for re-orienting their collections and facilities to attune them to the needs of the scientific community. This study explores information needs and seeking behavior of Malaysian agricultural scientists. It was found that research scientists spent 16% of their office time on reading and literature searching, whereas academicians spent 9.3% of their time for this purpose. The study also revealed that scientists preferred using primary sources of information, particularly journal and review articles. Informal communication with professional colleagues was also considered important for exchanging current research information. A large number of the participants felt that they had not been keeping in touch with scientific literature due to deficient library collections and services. This article recommends that science and technology libraries should periodically survey the information needs of their users, assess their collections and facilities, and strengthen their promotional activities.     

The h-index: Advantages,limitations and its relation with other bibliometric indicators at the micro level

The relationship of the h-index with other bibliometric indicators at the micro level is analysed for Spanish CSIC scientists in Natural Resources, using publications downloaded from the Web of Science (1994–2004). Different activity and impact indicators were obtained to describe the research performance of scientists in different dimensions, being the h-index located through factor analysis in a quantitative dimension highly correlated with the absolute number of publications and citations. The need to include the remaining dimensions in the analysis of research performance of scientists and the risks of relying only on the h-index are stressed. The hypothesis that the achievement of some highly visible but intermediate-productive authors might be underestimated when compared with other scientists by means of the h-index is tested.     

Multimedia Science Kits: A Museum Project on Women Scientists and Their Research

The University of Nebraska State Museum (UNSM) is creating multimedia outreach kits on the research of women scientists. The collaborative effort has included Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, curricula developers, biographers, graphic designers, and evaluators. The goal of the project is to increase the number of girls interested in pursuing careers in science, and to this end, women scientists are presented as role models. Wonderwise kits target students in grades four through six through student-centered, inquiry-based activities, specimens and tools, videos of the scientists working in the field, resource-based CD-ROMs, and short biographies of the scientists. This project presents a model of how museums can collaborate with schools to improve science education on a statewide basis.     

Nemo iudex in causa sua?

Newly introduced bibliometric indices may be biased by the preference of scientists for bibliometric indices, in which their own research receives a high score. To test such a hypothesis, the publication and citation records of nine scientists who recently proposed new bibliometric indices were analyzed in terms of standard indicators, their own indicators, and indicators recently proposed by other scientists. The result of the test was negative, that is, newly introduced bibliometric indices did not favor their authors.