Laboratory on Digital Libraries and Electronic Publishing
Archive and Library Sciences Department, Ionian University
Information seeking behavior
of astronomers
Hara Brindesi, Head librarian, Eugenides Foundation Library
Sarantos Kapidakis,
p
Professor of Ionian Universityy
Aims of the study
• Study of the astronomy knowledge-domain
(domain-analytic
(domain
analytic paradigm)
– restriction of our research focus on Greek astronomers,
for in-depth
in depth domain study
• Maximization of the efficiency of information
services provided
• Introduction of instruction programs in information
lit
literacy,
d
designed
i
d specifically
ifi ll ffor astronomers
t
Objectives of the study
• Investigation of similarities and differences in the
information seeking behavior among astronomers with
different characteristics, including academic status, age,
or affiliated institution.
• Investigation of similarities and differences in the
information seeking behavior among astronomers with
different information needs.
• Investigation of the ways astronomers use the digital
library of ADS in general and the arXiv (the e-print
division of ADS)) in p
particular.
• Identification of the barriers and difficulties confronted.
Population
• 151 astronomers in the area of Athens
– the scholars of the Department of Physics and
Astronomyy of the University
y of Athens
– the PhD and MSc students of the University of
Athens
– the researchers of the Academy of Athens
– the
th researchers
h
off th
the Ath
Athens National
N ti
l
Observatory
Methodology
• 13 fface-to-face
t f
semi-structured
i t t d interviews
i t i
• analysis of the interviews
• online questionnaire, which was filled in by 71
recipients (response rate 47%)
– The questionnaire was divided into 8 sections and
consisted of 29 questions
– Main topics of the questionnaire: (1) Information needs
needs,
(2) Methods of research and use of sources in the online
environment, (3) Astrophysics Data System (ADS, the
most well-known database for astronomers), (4)
Problems, (5) Working in groups, (6) Publishing behavior,
(7) Students and their information needs
needs, (8)
Demographics
Main results
Main results
Greek astronomers spend a lot of time in electronic environment
Time spent in electronic environment
21%
4%
75%
1 to 2 hours a week
3 to 20 hours a week
more than 20 hours a week
Time in electronic environment according to status
100%
12,5%
9,1%
14,3%
83,3%
90,9%
76,2%
90%
80%
70%
58,3%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
41,7%
10%
0%
0,0%
Professors
1 to 2 hours a week
4,2%
Researcher
0,0%
MSC
3 to 20 hours a week
9,5%
PHD
more than 20 hours a week
Question: How many hours a week do
you spend for the following?
• Observations: The majority
j y of
astronomers replied 0 hours.
• Research: about 24 hours a week
• Keeping up-to-date with current
developments: mean =7,20
• Writing: mean =9
• Personal information: mean =4,78
Keeping up-to-date with the latest papers is absolutely important for the
majority of the astronomers
Importance of keeping up-to-date
52 1
52,1
60
50
40
A little important
26,8
30
18,3
0
Quite important
Absolutely important
20
10
Somewhat important
2,8
1
The importance of keeping up-to-date is strong mostly among
the professors and researchers
researchers, less among the PHD students
and even less among the MSc students.
Importance of keeping up to date/Status
A little important
80,0%
Somew hat important
Quite important
70,0%
Absolutely important
60,0%
50,0%
40,0%
30,0%
20,0%
10,0%
0,0%
Prof essors
Researcher
MSC
PHD
The more important astronomers feel it is to keep up to date, the more
hours they spend for research
research.
earch
ours/week for rese
ho
60
$
40
20
0
A little important
Quite important
Somewhat important
Absolutely important
Keeping
p g up
p to date (information
(
for new articles))
Methods
considered
important
keepingawareness
up-to-date
Necessary
methods
forforcurrent
Methods
90,0%
81,2%
80,0%
81,2%
71,0%
70,0%
68 1%
68,1%
62,3%
63,8%
55,1%
60,0%
50,0%
,
40,0%
31,9%
31,9%
24,6%
30,0%
17,4%
20,0%
5,8%
10,0%
0,0%
B
se
ro w
AD
S
B
iv
s
s
rs
rs
s
s
rts
nce
gue
o gs e min a
e rts slet te
ch e
l
l
e
nal
a
a le
r
r
r
a
a
l
e
a
t
i
e
u
l
w
a
S
jo
nf
se
ca
a il
Co
Ne
Co
em
rint D S e m
in e
e rs
l
se
p
h
s
n
l
w
s
O
A
bli
rn a
wse
B ro
Pu
Jo u
Bro
se
ro w
a rX
u rn
e -j o
a ls
Resources usage at least 2 to 3 times a week
89,39%
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
68,12%
66,15%
62,69%
58,82%
60,00%
,
54 41%
54,41%
53,97%
50,00%
38,46%
40,00%
30 00%
30,00%
21,21%
16,18%
20,00%
10,00%
32,81%
29,03%
20,90%
19,70%
7,46%
4,48%
0,00%
l
l
k
s
s
s
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ks
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es
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d
cr
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te
ni
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Pr
ec
El
at least 2 to 3 times a week
Professors
El
Researchers
ef
nc
e
ni
ou
als
ls
lar
ag
us
ag
us
e
e
e
e
ge
us
ag
sa
us
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rn
a
rn
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u
m
cj
ed
oo
su
e
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us
ag
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ag
vu
Cs
si t
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ho
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eb
PA
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en
at
ag
e
c e er ia
lu
m
Pr a
sa
in te r
g
te i a
d lu
El
bo s
ec
tr o o k s a g
ni
c b u sa
ge
oo
ku
sa
C i ge
ta
tio
ns
er
re
ec
tr o
fe
El
re
cr
ed
ni
in
t
ec
tr o
Pr
gle
in
t
oo
Pr
G
W
O
Ar
AD
Resources usage according to status
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
MSC
PHD
Resources usage according to age
100%
5545-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
S
AD
e
e
e
ns
e
ge
ge
ag a tio
ag
ag
ag u sa
sa
s
s
s
s
u
t
u
u
u
lu
s
v
Ci
ok
C
lar
i a l o ok
gle
a ls
als
te s
Xi
ria
o
r
o
i
A
r
o
n
n
e
r
s
b
e
t
r
h
A
t
b
OP
Go
eb
Sc
jo u
ma
j ou
ni c
m a t ed
W
o
d
e
c
l
e
r
e
i
e
n
t
i
c
n
nc
og
in t
Pr
l ec
en
tr o
re
r
E
c
Go
Pr
e
e
f
e
f
re
El
re
ic
ed
t
n
in
tr o
Pr
ec
l
E
ag
us
e
a
us
ge
g
sa
su
According to choice 5=daily
e
a
us
ge
ag
us
e
a
us
ge
Greek astronomers deposit most of their papers in
e-print archives like arXiv.org, particularly after
the paper has been accepted by the journal
Depositing : When
9%
%
29%
62%
before submission
at the time of submission
when paper accepted
Depositing in e-print archives according to age
70,00%
60,00%
66,70%
50,00%
60,00%
55,60%
40,00%
30,00%
25,00%
20,00%
10,00%
,
0,00%
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-
Depositing in e-print archives according to Institution
100,00%
100,00%
90,00%
80,00%
70,00%
60,00%
57 10%
57,10%
50,00%
40,00%
30,00%
58 10%
58,10%
42,90%
41,90%
20,00%
0,00%
10,00%
0,00%
1
Athens University
2
Academy of Athens
National Observatory of Athens
What contributes most to the effectiveness of
online searching?
Factors contributing
to the effectiveness
Effectiveness
of searchesof online searching
3
10,4
34,3
52,2
familiarity with DB΄s characteristics
technology development
familiarity with subject area
terminology understanding
Main Problems
• The majority of our respondents said that a
serious p
problem for them is when they
y don’t
have online access to scientific journals, for
example when subscriptions have not been
paid.
• Serious problems are also caused
– When backfiles and older issues of journals are not
available online
– When
Wh th
there iis diffi
difficulty
lt off accessing
i di
digital
it l resources
from home.
Professors and students
• The 57,1% of the respondents answered “no” to
the question: “Have your students the necessary
knowledge to seek information correctly?” The
42,9% answered “yes” to the same question.
• The 94,3% of the respondents help their
students in their effort of seeking information,
mainly by giving them instructions of how to use
ADS, specific websites, specific articles and
keywords. Less emphasis is given to specific
book titles and criteria for evaluation of websites.
Some thoughts for further
investigation
• Do professors that assume their students
can search efficiently, make much
searching themselves?
• What do p
professors teach their students in
relation to searching?
• What is the basic background needed to
search the usual databases?
Th k a lot
Thanks
l t