ICT‐supported communication of scientists and teaching staff at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb

Abstract

PurposeInformation and communication technology (ICT) has a great influence on the global system of scientific communication. The existing system is changing towards a new communication paradigm based on the exchange of scientific information in electronic information environment. Scientists are already experiencing changes in the ways they create, find, share, process, store and use scientific information. The aim of this paper is to present results from the research among scientists and teaching staff at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb (Croatia), regarding changes they experienced during the use of ICT in scientific communication.Design/methodology/approachThe first part of the paper offers an introduction followed by a view on the impact of ICT on scientific communication in the second part. The third part presents the research among scientists and teaching staff at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia, and the findings of that research. An online survey consisting of 37 closed and open‐type questions was used as a method of research after an e‐mail invitation calling for participation was sent to scientists and teaching staff at the Faculty.FindingsParticipants in the research used ICT for the communication with their colleagues in Croatia and abroad and for the preparation of research, although much less for publishing of the results of their work.Practical implicationsThe outcome of the research will serve as an orientation for the planning of a future research on communication into the electronic information environment among the members of the Croatian academic community.Originality/valueThe paper aims to demonstrate the influence of ICT on scientists and teaching staff at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia. As ICT has become more prevalent at universities in Croatia, it is necessary to investigate how it really influences daily activities of academic community members. Each new research contributes to a better understanding of the change of the old communication paradigm based on paper publications under the influence of ICT.