Abstract

We present and discuss some differential aspects of scientific publications on mathematics in relation to other sciences. This discipline should be treated as a distinct case from the point of view of bibliometrics, information science, and productivity assessment of mathematics researchers.

Abstract

In recent years academic librarians have focussed their activities on supporting researchers in various aspects of their scientific activity. In this scenario of support for research and bibliometric studies, librarians increasingly need to know, test, experiment with, use and disseminate altmetrics (alternative metrics). A review of altmetrics indicators is presented, and the role of librarians is considered, particularly university librarians, who should be active and engaged in this area. Steps that librarians should take to incorporate almetrics into their daily work routine are proposed.

Abstract

The main aspects of how to create a CRIS (current research information system) are discussed. From several points of view, CRIS addresses the following: knowing an institution’s scientific impact; simplifying and improving institutional management; having a suitable tool for researchers to elaborate their curriculum vitae; and having a global research database, etc. To get a CRIS it is necessary for collaboration between different professional types, including librarians –who should be heavily involved-, in order to have the best and most complete information available.

Abstract

Reference managing tools are one of the most useful devices for researchers and librarians due to their ability to compile, storeand format information related to different products, sources and types of records. In recent years a new generation of reference-managing software has appeared. These new tools include applications from the new technological context that have contributed to reinforcing their capacity and potential. An overview of these tools and their applications is offered. We also makes a comparative analysis of the different products with a view to highlighting their strengths as well as the elements that could be improved in each tool.

Abstract

The more structured is a scientific system and the greater the degree of integration of its entities the more efficient is its management. Curricula vitae (CV) of researchers are documents that collect data on individuals, institutions and works, and seen as a whole, are a potential source of inside information about the scientific activity of a country. But if they are not stored properly it is not possible to use this knowledge to conduct studies on them. Moreover, the absence of a single standardized CV requires the researchers to fill in multiple versions along their professional practice. The Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (Fecyt), together with the entities belonging to the Spanish system of science, technology and enterprises (Secte), have initiated the project Standard Curriculum Vitae. This article describes its operation and underlines the benefits of its implementation.

Abstract

The emergence in the scientific community of an initiative known as data sharing, consisting of sharing research data among researchers and aiming to maximize efforts and resources, is analysed. First, the concept of research data and the related technical difficulties depending on the discipline are reviewed. We also examine the motivations, origins and growth of this movement, which has had an important impact on the scientific community’s behaviour through the creation of repositories and data banks, raising both technical and social challenges. Then we discuss leading funding agencies’ initiatives and scientific journals’ editorial policies promoting these practices. Finally, we examine the impact these major changes in researchers’ habits have for librarians, including the emergence of new professional profiles.

Abstract

The open access (OA) movement has exploded in the last few years. In 2016 we invited 1,896 researchers based in Spanish institutions to fill in a survey on their opinion, attitudes and practices towards OA. We analysed the 554 responses received from researchers in all fields of knowledge (29% response ratio). Most researchers are aware of OA outlets in their fields (86%) and believe OA is beneficial (76%). There isn’t a clear position on the quality of OA journals among Spain-based researchers and there are differences between disciplines. Almost 70% of researchers have published at least one OA article in the last 5 years. Half of them had to pay article processing charges (APCs) that were covered with research funds.

Abstract

A survey conducted among 5,500 professors and researchers from the three Galician universities received 463 answers. The results reveal a rise in popularity of professional and scientific digital social networks, but it also shows a lack of knowledge about them and inefficient use of them. Ninety percent of Galician university professors are present in a professional or academic network, but only 8.64 percent consider themselves experts. LinkedIn and ResearchGate have the largest number of members, although their average use is medium or low. Biomedical, engineering, and natural sciences scholars use more networks than the two previously mentioned; and social sciences and humanities scholars prefer Academia.edu. In total, 32.8 percent of the three universities’ scholars that answered the survey use social networks at least once a month. Social networks are used primarily to disseminate and follow publications, and, secondly, to get citations and improve reputation.

Abstract

The prevalence of the pressure to publish and its effects on the professional career of researchers in Communication sciences in Spain is explored. The data collected through an online survey of 290 scholars from public and private universities shows how the pressure to publish in scientific journals affects almost all respondents. Also, the main causes of this pressure come from the evaluation systems and the researchers themselves. The fundamental motivations for publishing are to increase the professional reputation and leave a mark in the field of expertise, while the most prominent effects of the pressure to publish are stress, emotional fatigue, and frustration over publication failures. Regarding the perceived conflict between teaching and research, the study warns of a scenario in which research excellence may be at the expense of, or be disconnected from, teaching excellence. The prevalence and effects of each of these dimensions is explored according to the age, gender, academic range, researches’ years of professional experience, and the nature (public or private) of the university.

Abstract

The creation of an academic accreditation system for university researchers in Spain has led to the universalization of the pure and experimental sciences indicators. This universalization is questionable for the assessment of certain areas of knowledge such as communication science. This article provides a critical analysis of scientific evaluation indicators from a minority field of communicative research: radio studies. For this purpose, a multidimensional approach has been developed: bibliometric analysis of articles in Spanish academic journals, a survey of researchers, a study of the presence of authorities (most productive authors) in WoS-Scopus-Google Scholar, and the resolution of the main calls for national competitive fundings. The study has confirmed the inappropriate use of certain indicators –visibility and impact, internationalization, cooperation, or funded projects- for the evaluation of Spanish radio research, even more adverse than their use in other areas of communication. The adoption of mixed systems that make it possible to better evaluate the real impact of radio research is proposed.