Using Google Trends to analyze trends in user queries in ecology

Abstract

In 2007, Google introduced its Google Trends service to assess statistically users queries. However, despite some success in using Google Trends data for forecasting, most researchers think that without them they can obtain approximately similar results based on other models. Nevertheless, other researcher have been still exploring forecast functionality of the service.The authors analyze Google Trends’ estimates of queries in ecology. Their goal is reveal general trends and contradictions and to analyze RNPLS&T resources’ meeting global trends in ecology and sustainable development information.Google Trends data is about similar to the current user activity idicators for the Library’s e-catalog and do not allow forecasting rise of or decrease in user demands. Google Trends enables to make some, rather approximate estimations of thematic information flow. Therefore it may be used by librarians as a source to evaluate interest users are expected to take in ecological information when the Library is planning for events or collection development. Further research is needed for advanced service application in user demand forecasting.The paper is prepared within the framework of the State Order № 075- 01300-20-00 “Development and improvement of the system of Open Archive of integrated information and library resources of Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology as modern knowledge management system in digital environment: On the way to Open Science” for 2020–2022.