Core Journal Lists Research Articles

Developing a Core List of Journals in an Interdisciplinary Area

Faculty who publish in interdisciplinary areas may be faced with the challenge of justifying research published in journals that are not considered important by their home department. This paper uses corporate governance (an academic area in business) as an example of an interdisciplinary research area. A core list of journals is developed using citations from Corporate Governance: An International Review, that demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of corporate governance research. This core list can be used by both corporate governance academics and business librarians to help justify faculty publishing decisions. The process devised for developing a core list is applicable to other interdisciplinary areas. The paper concludes by exploring the implications of departmental journal lists and provides suggestions for both faculty and librarians.

Journal based current awareness services for systems librarianship

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the effective ways to utilize current awareness services (CAS) for library and information science (LIS) professionals. It seeks to identify core journals for systems librarianship based on Bradford analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe study explored the methods for CAS based on literature review, followed by Bradford analysis of systems librarianship literature, which was conducted by the quantitative analysis approach.FindingsA core journal list for systems librarianship was built based on Bradford analysis. Three effective ways to utilize CAS by table of contents (TOCs) alerts were identified.Originality/valueTo keep up to date with the latest literature in the field of interest, LIS professionals should take advantage of CAS. The study found three effective ways to utilize CAS by TOCs alerts and identified core journals for systems librarianship. The research can help LIS professionals efficiently navigate the information tsunami to obtain the reliable and relevant information that deserves their time and attention, and stay aware of new developments in their area of interest.

A citation study of public health Masters' theses

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to devise methodologies and attain results that would allow the author to evaluate local collections that support public health users.Design/methodology/approachThe largest available source of data was local Masters' student theses. The methodology is a case study employing citation analysis of Masters' theses.FindingsThe study provided a list of the journals most used by Masters' students in their theses to be compared to currently subscribed titles to evaluate local holdings. It confirmed that ISI journal rankings were not a useful tool for local collection building.Originality/valueThe study provides a methodology for evaluating and improving the local journal collection and could be combined with further studies to create a core list of public health journals locally. It also provides guidance on types of resources to buy and confirmed the importance of journals to the collection. The study could be combined with similar studies at other institutions to create a broad‐based core journal list.

Five Years Later: Predicting Student Use of Journals in a New Water Resources Graduate Program.

Using citation analysis, the authors examined the journals cited in theses and dissertations over the first five years of the Water Resources Graduate Program at Oregon State University. These journal titles were compared to the titles predicted as being important in the 2003 Oregon State University Libraries new program (Category I) review. A preliminary core list of journals for this highly interdisciplinary program had been created for the Category I review from faculty publications, Journal Citation Reports, and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) requests. Through comparison of the citations in the students' works with the data compiled for the Category I, and a review of current ILL requests, the authors address whether the initial review predicted student use, which sources were most valuable for predicting use, and how analysis of student citations can add to the strength of the original core journal list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local Citation Analysis of Graduate Biology Theses: Collection Development Implications.

This paper will focus on the citation analysis of graduate masters theses from Carleton University's Biology Department with implications for library collection management decisions. Twenty-five masters theses were studied to determine citation types and percentages, ranking of journals by frequency of citation and by number of authors citing, and by age range of journal citations. The researcher examined what percentages of journals were accessible through the local catalogue and conducted further analysis of specifics regarding unavailability. Journals were also ranked by subject specialty. Results indicate that although the library has many of the journal articles cited, knowing why a citation was unavailable is useful for establishing future purchasing needs. Although journal rankings are traditionally performed using total number of citations, the ranking by number of authors citing a source can make a difference when compiling core journal lists. The researcher concludes by discussing implications for collection development in times of fiscal constraint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core Journal Lists: Classic Tool, New Relevance

Reviews the historical context of core journal lists, current uses in collection assessment, and existing methodologies for creating lists. Outlines two next generation core list projects developing new methodologies and integrating novel information/data sources to improve precision: a national-level core psychology list and the other a local institutional core list for the interdisciplinary field of urban studies and planning. The paper is based on the authors’ panel presentation at the 2009 ACRL National Conference (Seattle, Washington) titled “Core Journal Lists Re-viewed and Re-imagined.”

An analysis model of creating a core journal collection for academic libraries

This study presents an analysis model for setting up a core journal collection for academic libraries. The model uses multiple factors based on the concept that convergence of data from all available sources should be used in core journal selection due to the inherent limitations of each source. The factors considered in the study are locally collected citations, local use, impact factor, and subscription price. The scores of journals range from ‘0’ to ‘400’ with about 20% of the total collection representing the core list. This study also conducts a case study to demonstrate how academic libraries could apply the model to formulate a list of core journals for their collections.

An analysis model of creating a core journal collection for academic libraries

This study presents an analysis model for setting up a core journal collection for academic libraries. The model uses multiple factors based on the concept that convergence of data from all available sources should be used in core journal selection due to the inherent limitations of each source. The factors considered in the study are locally collected citations, local use, impact factor, and subscription price. The scores of journals range from ‘0’ to ‘400’ with about 20% of the total collection representing the core list. This study also conducts a case study to demonstrate how academic libraries could apply the model to formulate a list of core journals for their collections.

Agricultural Energy Crops and the Search for Alternative Energy: Analysis of the Current Research and Core Journal Literature on Biofuels and Bioenergy

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the agricultural research output on energy crops and bioenergy for the period 2000–2005. Seven hundred eighty-three (783) articles gathered from CAB s from this period were analyzed to determine which disciplines have been publishing the most on this subject. The findings show that engineering-related research is most prevalent but that twelve distinct agricultural disciplines produced research on the subject during the study period, with varying degrees of productivity for each discipline. The actual agricultural energy resources being researched were determined by examining the 783 articles. The resources were divided into woody crops, non-woody crops, and animal-based resources, and the number of articles for each was tabulated. The three resource types were further examined to create a list of the individual crops or animal-based resources under investigation, along with the number of articles for each individual crop or resource. The core journal literature dealing with energy crops and bioenergy was determined by doing searches in both CAB s and Web of Science and tabulating the number of articles appearing in each journal. This allowed for the creation of a core journal list, ranked by the number of appropriate articles appearing in each journal.

Journals in the Core Collection

ABSTRACT This overview of the core concept applied to journals defines the relevant terminology and cites specific examples of core lists. Ten approaches for determining core journals (subjective judgment, use, indexing coverage, overlapping library holdings, citation data, citation network/co-citation analysis, production of articles, Bradford's Law, faculty publication data, and multiple criteria methods) are reviewed and the practical applications of core journals lists are explained. Theoretical and practical problems associated with the core concept and core journal lists are discussed and a taxonomy for classifying core journal lists is outlined.

The randomised controlled trial in medical research: using bibliometric methods to identify core journals

A review of:
 
 Tsay, Migh-yueh, and Yen-hsu Yang. “Bibliometric Analysis of the Literature of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Journal of the Medical Library Association 93.4 (October 2005): 450-58. 
 
 Objective – To explore the characteristics and distribution of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the medical literature. The study aims to identify the growth patterns of the RCT, key subject matter, country and language of publication, and determine a list of core journals which contain a substantial proportion of the RCT literature.
 
 Design – Retrospective analysis of RCTs. 
 
 Setting – Medical journal literature.
 
 Subjects – A total of 160,213 articles published between 1965-2001. Detailed analysis of a subset numbering 114,850 articles published from 1990-2001.
 
 Methods – The study seeks to identify all RCTs in MEDLINE from 1965-2001, and examines the growth rate of the RCT. The authors then do a more detailed analysis on a subset of data from 1990-2001, using Access database and Excel spreadsheet software, and PERL programming language. The references were analyzed by five fields within MEDLINE; publication type, source, language, country of publication, and descriptor (subject index).
 
 Main results – An exponential growth rate for the RCT is demonstrated, suggesting that in the medical literature development has not yet matured and that research using this method continues to grow. A growth rate for the RCT of 11.2% per annum is identified.
 
 The most common form of publication is the journal article, making up approximately 98% of the RCT literature. Approximately 75% of the RCTs are multicentre trials indicating that this is the design of choice adopted by researchers.
 
 The United States proves to be the greatest source of RCT literature, with 39.9% of journals and 50.6% of articles originating there. After the USA, the most productive countries are England (15.8% of journals and 21.7% articles) and Germany (6.5% journals and 6.1% articles). As might be expected, English is the predominant language providing 92.9% of the total publications. Of the remaining 7%, German is the most common language accounting for 2.2%.
 
 The top three areas being researched are:
 
 1. Drug therapy for hypertension - 2291 citations
 2. Anticancer drug combinations - 2140 citations
 3. Drug therapy and asthma - 1397 citations
 
 Bradford’s law of scattering is successfully applied, identifying four zones of journals which each publish approximately 26,000 articles. 
 
 Conclusion – The results indicate that bibliometric methods can be applied to the medical literature, and highlight those disciplines in which RCTs more often occur. A core list of 42 journal titles is presented, providing busy practitioners with invaluable guidance as to which journals are most likely to publish the greater number of RCTs.

Materials Used by Master's Students in Engineering and Implications for Collection Development: A Citation Analysis

The purpose of this study is to determine the materials used by graduate students in engineering and to guide library collection development decisions. A literature review shows citation studies are useful in developing core journal lists and determining appropriate allocations between journals and monographs. This case study found that journals (38%), conference papers (19%), and books (18%) are the most heavily used formats, with books aging more slowly than other formats. Core journal lists are developed by total citations and by number of citing authors. Variations among engineering disciplines were identified, including variations in format, age, and subject classification of journals. Areas for further research are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(De)constructing a Core List of Serials

ABSTRACT The task of managing the serials collection for a specific discipline could be made easier if it were possible to establish a list of core journals. To date, no one has produced a core list of journals for German Studies; the very concept begins to seem illusory. This study explores the use of WorldCat holdings to measure consensus, defined as those journals that are the most widely held within the field of German Studies. Final results are useful specifically to Germanic bibliographers who are working with different budget considerations or faced with a mandated cancellation. This model could be applied to other disciplines. A visual presentation of serials holdings, shown in the Appendix, will be a useful tool for collaborative work in building serials collections.

Intellectual structure and subject themes in information systems research: A journal cocitation study

AbstractInformation Systems (IS) is a discipline in which research and practice are closely intertwined. IS is also closely related to and overlapping several other disciplines, including Information Science. Thus, IS provides an excellent case for examining the interplay of research and practice in a rapidly changing discipline. We explore the intellectual structure and subject themes in Information Systems (IS) research for 1990 to 1999 through the identification and analysis of the field's core journal literature. A core journal list of 100 titles was created and examined with journal cocitation analysis (JSA). JSA demonstrates that IS is a coherent discipline with research ranging from technology‐oriented software and hardware to the application of IS in business and organizations. Journals are grouped into seven subject clusters: computer science, computer networking, computer engineering, information science, software engineering, human‐computer interaction, and management information systems. Information Science journals occupy a bridging position between technically oriented and application‐focused clusters. ASIST publications, JASIST, ARIST, and PASIS, figure prominently in the Information Science cluster.

Instructions to authors for case reporting are limited: a review of a core journal list.

BackgroundCase reports are frequently published in the health care literature, however advice on preparing such reports using the "instructions to authors" pages of journals is alleged to be limited. However, to our knowledge, this has not been formally evaluated. As roles of case reports may vary according to the case and the clinical specialities, one might expect the advice to authors to vary according to journal clinical grouping.MethodsWe surveyed the current advice available to authors of case reports from 'instructions to authors' pages of a core collection of 249 journals ('Hague' list). These were examined and compared for advice or recommendation on writing case reports. Of these, 163 (65%) published case reports and provided instructions on this publication type. Data were extracted on items of style and content of case reports, using a piloted data extraction form.ResultsJournals that published case reports were grouped into medical (n = 81, 50%), surgical (n = 38, 23%) and generic or multidisciplinary (n = 44, 27%) categories. There was a difference among the medical, surgical and generic or multidisciplinary journals in the maximum number of words and pages allowed but no difference in the number of figures, tables, references, authors, abstract or synopsis, indexing or key words and consent. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference among the three different categories of journals regarding the content of the case reports.ConclusionsOf the journals reviewed, we found that 'instructions to authors' pages provided limited and varied information for preparing a case report. There is a need for consensus, and more consistent guidance for authors of case report.

Establishing a Core List of Journals for Forestry: A Citation Analysis [Abstract only

Citations of articles published from 1990-2002 of faculty teaching at selected southern universities were counted and analyzed to form a core list of the most highly cited journals for the field of forestry. The core list of journals was compared to the list of primary forestry serials compiled by the Cornell Core Agricultural Literature Project. Core lists were also developed for professors, associate, and assistant professors, and citation differences among the three groups were analyzed. The study also categorized the journals cited by Agricola Subject Codes, and provides the total percentage of publications appearing in journals assigned forestry codes and the percentage published in non-forestry journals. The study revealed that interdisciplinary journals play a significant role in the research conducted by forest science faculty. The analysis also provides a list of the citing journals containing the most publications from faculty chosen for the study. The contributed paper will present the results of the study and summarize the methodology used in the analysis. The methodology can be applied to establish core journals in other areas of the agricultural sciences.

プリント版から電子ジャーナルへ切り替える外国雑誌タイトルの選定：コア雑誌タイトルを考慮した検討

The Medical Information Center of The Jikei University School of Medicine subscribes to 410 foreign print journals, of which 320 can also be accessed via the university network. Due to increases in subscription fees and to budget constraints, subscriptions to print journals must be canceled if electronic versions are available. Although the transition from print to electronic journals is under way, we cannot change our journal collection exclusively to the electronic form, because perpetual access to the content is not ensured and the print form is still favored by most users. Therefore we have decided to retain the print subscriptions of core titles defined in our library's core journal list and to select electronic-only titles from non-core journals according to budget conditions.

Establishing a Core List of Journals for Forestry: A Citation Analysis from Faculty at Southern Universities

Citations of articles published from 1990 to 2002 of faculty teaching at selected southern universities are counted and analyzed to form a core list of the most highly cited journals for the field of forestry. Core lists are developed for assistant, associate, and full professors; and citation differences among the three groups are analyzed. The core list of journals is compared with the list of primary forestry serials compiled by the Cornell Core Agricultural Literature Project. The analysis focuses on the similarities and differences of both studies, and discusses the importance of ecological and interdisciplinary journals to forestry research.

Constructing Core Journal Lists: Mixing Science and Alchemy

Via an overview of core journal studies, emphasizing the social sciences and education, this review looks for best practices in both motivation and methodology. Selection decisions receive particular focus. Lack of correlation between methods is indicative of the complexity of the topic and the need for judgment in design and use.

Defining an Undergraduate Core Journal Collection

The authors outline a multiple-methodology process to develop locally relevant core journal lists for undergraduate research. Criteria were inclusion in major aggregator databases, in expert lists, and comparison with similar collections. They conclude with a list of almost 2100 journals that support undergraduate education at the institution at which they were then employed, and outline other considerations when adding or canceling these titles.