Keeping up to date: An academic researcher's information journey

Sheila Pontis,Ann Blandford,Hesham Attalla,David Neal,Elke Greifeneder

doi:10.1002/asi.23623

Abstract

Keeping up to date with research developments is a central activity of academic researchers, but researchers face difficulties in managing the rapid growth of available scientific information. This study examined how researchers stay up to date, using the information journey model as a framework for analysis and investigating which dimensions influence information behaviors. We designed a 2‐round study involving semistructured interviews and prototype testing with 61 researchers with 3 levels of seniority (PhD student to professor). Data were analyzed following a semistructured qualitative approach. Five key dimensions that influence information behaviors were identified: level of seniority, information sources, state of the project, level of familiarity, and how well defined the relevant community is. These dimensions are interrelated and their values determine the flow of the information journey. Across all levels of professional expertise, researchers used similar hard (formal) sources to access content, while soft (interpersonal) sources were used to filter information. An important “pain point” that future information tools should address is helping researchers filter information at the point of need.

Highlights

Conducting and delivering up-to-date research is key to academic work, but keeping up to date is becoming more challenging: Researchers have to locate relevant information within a body of literature that is growing by millions of new articles per year (Björk, Roos, & Lauri, 2009; Khabsa & Giles, 2014)
We initially identified 10 categories: (a) type of information sources used, (b) how well defined a domain/ community is, (c) state of the project, (d) familiarity with the research topic, (e) type of needs, (f) type of relevant information, (g) years working in an academic context, (h) types of information actions, (i) types of information needs, and (j) information uses
This study explored the information journey of researchers when keeping up to date from a holistic perspective

Summary

Introduction

Conducting and delivering up-to-date research is key to academic work, but keeping up to date is becoming more challenging: Researchers have to locate relevant information within a body of literature that is growing by millions of new articles per year (Björk, Roos, & Lauri, 2009; Khabsa & Giles, 2014). Social Science Engineering Science Natural Science Medical Science Natural Science Natural Science. Natural Science Natural Science Natural Science Natural Science. Natural Science Natural Science Engineering Science Field. Arthritis Human Computer Interaction Clinical Neurologist Medical Physics Pharmacy Chemical Engineering Economics Alzheimer Fluid Dynamics Deafness Bioinformatics, Evolutionary and Population Biology Psychology Medical Physics Biomaterials Neurology Nanoscience Analytical and Environmental. Chemistry Chemistry Agriculture Computational Properties of Single Neurons Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Computer Science Psychology Psychology Neurobiologist Analytical Doctor Geography Nutrition Neuroscience Biological Psychology and Psychophysiology Agriculture Agriculture Agriculture Biomaterials and Modification of Biomolecules Particle Physicist Virology Electrical and Computer. Engineering Nuclear Physics Chemistry Chemistry, Biochemistry Civil engineering Literary, Culture and History Psychology Psychology Psychology English Computer engineering Mechanical and Aerospace. Key for table abbreviations: Gender: Male (M), Female (F).

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Discussion

Conclusion