63rd IFLA General Conference - Conference Programme and Proceedi... https://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63layp.

htm

63rd IFLA General Conference - Conference Programme and Proceedings - August 31- September 5,
1997

The Nature of UK Research Literature: Some

Thoughts Arising from a Bibliometric Study
Patricia Layzell Ward,
Department of Information and Library Studies,
University of Wales Aberystwyth,
U.K.

ABSTRACT

This paper reports part of an investigation into the UK research literature 1965-1995, and follows the
methodology developed by Jarvelin and Vakkari. The ultimate aim of the project is to examine trends in UK
research from 1965 (selected because it was a time of growth in UK LIS education and research), and to
consider the influences that determined the nature of research and development in LIS in the UK.

PAPER

Introduction

This project has emerged from two interests. The first, as a researcher, lay in replicating a method and
applying it to a different set of data. One of the characteristics of research in the LIS discipline has been a
lack of testing of methods, but the IFLA Section on Theory and Research has encouraged the emergence of
a set of papers which examine LIS research (for example Cheng,1996) using the bibliometric methods
developed by Jarvelin and Vakkarri (1990;1993). The second interest comes from a curiosity about the
nature of R & D. Do we examine similar problems in the different parts of the world? Do we import
methods from other disciplines? What effect has R & D had on professional practice? How far do we
communicate with researchers from outside our principal discipline? If so, do we take their findings into
account in designing research strategies? In short, the interest centres on the sociology of information
transfer within the discipline, and the profession. The results that will be reported today are a first
contribution to this larger picture.

Method

In order to make a comparison between the research carried out in different countries, the method of
Jarvelin and Vakkari was adopted (1990). The data were collected and classified using the classification
scheme they devised. Whilst their research focused on international journals reporting research in the field,
this study concentrated on the research reported in UK research journals at ten year intervals - 1965, 1975,
1985 and 1995. Not all of the current journals identified as being of a scholarly or research nature had been
published in the earlier years.

1 de 5 08/02/2022, 11:20
63rd IFLA General Conference - Conference Programme and Proceedi... https://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63layp.htm

Table 1. Source journals 1965 1975 1985 1995

Aslib Proceedings * * * *
Int. Journal of Information Management * *
Int. Journal of Information & Library Res. *
Journal of Documentation * * * *
Journal of Information Science * * * *
Journal of Librarianship & Information Sci. * * *
Library & Information Research News * *
New Review of Academic Librarianship *
Research in Librarianship * *

Notes: * = year available for analysis

The International Journal of Information Management was formerly Social Science Information Studies
and the Journal of Librarianship and Information Science was formerly the Journal of Librarianship.

The findings are necessarily presented as an overview, further detail is available from the author.

A comparison between research and professional articles

For each of the serials selected, all full-length articles were analysed. Following the methodology, research
articles were those which reported a systematic inquiry designed to elicit new facts, concepts or ideas:
professional articles were reviews, discussions or bibliographies. The table below indicates a systematic
and considerable growth in the number of research articles published in 1965 and 1995, whilst the number
of professional articles remains fairly constant.

Table 2. The distribution of research and professional articles

1965 1975 1985 1995

n= n= n= n=
Research articles 10 46 62 116
Professional articles 34 33 33 37

Totals 44 79 95 153

The distribution of library and information science topics in research articles and
professional articles

The greatest number of the articles were classified under the heading of LIS activities which includes
circulation, collections, information services, administration etc. There has been a growth of interest in
information retrieval, and in information seeking and the professions. There has been limited interest in
scientific and professional communication. One could speculate that the more recent growth emerged from
the impact of electronic publishing.

Table 3. The distribution of LIS topics in research and professional articles

Topics 1965 1975 1985 1995

n= n= n= n=
The professions 2 1 6 12
Education in LIS 5 7 10 8
LIS activities 12 39 32 62
Information storage and retrieval 10 20 21 34
Information seeking 11 4 21 25
Scientific and prof. communication 4 8 5 9
Other aspects of LIS 2
Other discipline 1

2 de 5 08/02/2022, 11:20
63rd IFLA General Conference - Conference Programme and Proceedi... https://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63layp.htm

Totals 44 79 95 153

The most frequent topic changed during the 30 year period. Information retrieval headed the list in 1965,
this changed to information and reference service in 1975, and for 1985 and 1995 the preoccupation has
been in administration and planning.

Table 4. Most frequent LIS topics in research and professional articles

1965 1975 1985 1995

1. inf. retrieval 1. inf. & ref. service 1. admin & planning 1. admin & plan
2. use of inf. channels 2. bib. databases 2. automation 2. inf. retrieval
3. inf. & ref. service 3. inf. retrieval 3. inf.retrieval 3. automation
3. admin & planning 3. admin & planning
3. educ. In LIS

Note: some topics recorded similar scores

Viewpoint on information dissemination

Jarvelin and Vakkari introduced this interesting field in their classification.

It is perhaps to be expected that the majority of the articles were written from the viewpoint of the
intermediary organisation�s viewpoint, but there has been a growth in the number written from the end-
users viewpoint, particularly in 1995. This may well result from the growth in the market of electronic
information services and the growth of the Internet.

Table 5. Viewpoint on information dissemination

Phase of information dissemination 1965 1975 1985 1995

n= n= n= n=
Several interconnected phases - 1 2 2
Producer�s viewpoints - 11 10 15
Seller�s viewpoint - 2 1 1
Intermediary�s viewpoint 12 22 22 9
Intermediary organisation�s viewpoint 13 24 35 48
End-user�s viewpoint 16 13 17 55
End-user organisation�s viewpoint - - 5 15
Developer�s viewpoint - - - 1
Educator�s viewpoint 3 6 2 5
Other viewpoint - - 1 2

Totals 44 79 95 153

Research strategies and methods

Surveys dominate the research strategies. An increase in the use of the case or action approach , content or
citation analysis and evaluation. Bibliometrics and experiment are less likely to be used in research in the
UK.

Table 6. Research strategies in the articles

1965 1975 1985 1985

Research strategies n= n= n= n=

3 de 5 08/02/2022, 11:20
63rd IFLA General Conference - Conference Programme and Proceedi... https://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63layp.htm

Empirical research strategy

Historical method - 1 4 1
Survey method 7 15 19 44
Qualitative method - - - -
Evaluation method - 3 - 8
Case or action research method - 2 1 11
Content or protocol analysis - 2 4 10
Citation analysis 2 5 6 10
Other bibliometric method - 1 - -
Secondary analysis - 2 1 -
Experiment - 2 5 4

Conceptual research strategy

Verbal argumentation, criticism - 3 12 22
Concept analysis - 3 9 12
Mathematical or logical method - 4 7 4
System/software analysis design - 1 5 8
Literature review 3 8 12 11
Discussion paper 32 27 10 8
Bibliographic method - - - -

Totals 44 79 95 153

Given the results above, it is to be expected that questionnaires and interviews are frequent methods of data
collection. �Thinking aloud� or �verbal argumentation� - the latter term also being used by Jarvelin
and Vakkari, is the most frequent method. The historical method and observation are less frequently
reported in 1995.

Table 7. Data collection methods in the research articles

Method 1965 1975 1985 1995

n= n= n= n=
Questionnaire, interview 7 12 13 44
Observation - 6 5 4
Thinking aloud 35 33 38 48
Content analysis - 4 15 23
Citation analysis 2 6 6 10
Historical source analysis - 14 9 5
Several methods of collecting - 1 1 8
Use of data collected earlier - 2 - 3
Other methods of collection - 1 8 6
Not applicable - - - 2

Totals 44 79 95 153

Comparison with earlier studies

Even if a common methodology is employed, it is still difficult to make comparisons with earlier studies,
so the comments that follow are offered with a degree of hesitation. Cheng (1996) reported a difference
between the focus of research in China with that of Scandinavia. In China the concentration had been on
theory and history, whilst that in Scandinavia and in the UK was on practice. Comparing the Scandinavia
studies with this preliminary study indicates broadly similar findings.

Discussion

One of the surprising outcomes of this study was the comparatively small number of articles in the UK
refereed journals. This may be due to the wide range of journals in the English language to which UK
authors can submit their articles, and it may be considered prestigious to submit copy to a major US
journal. Indeed, the research assessment exercise now conducted in UK university departments places an
emphasis on research of international standing.

4 de 5 08/02/2022, 11:20
63rd IFLA General Conference - Conference Programme and Proceedi... https://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63layp.htm

The published output from research projects is, of course, not limited to articles in journals, and Kajberg�s
study (1996) covers reports, conferences and other relevant sources. The UK study is to be extended to
cover the report literature.

Whilst there is a clear indication of growth in the number of articles published, this was not as great as
expected. During the period under examination higher degrees had been introduced in the majority of the
UK schools, and there had been a noticeable growth in the volume of students studying for masters
degrees. In the UK there are two types of masters degree - the taught and research. The taught masters
students will outnumber the research students, but for the majority of the taught masters students, a
dissertation is a requirement for the award of the degree. The question is raised as to whether the
dissertation contains an element of original research, or if it does, whether the students are not necessarily
publishing their findings. So, in common with any investigation, the preliminary findings raise a number of
interesting questions which will take the study forward together with a citation analysis.

References

Cheng, Huanwen (1996). A bibliometric study of library and information research in China . A paper
presented at the 62nd annual conference of IFLA. Beijing, 1996. 068-LTR-I-E

Jarvelin, K. and Vakkari, P. (1990). Content analysis of research articles in library and information science.
Library and Information Science Research , 12, pp. 395-421.

Jarvelin, K. and Vakkari, P. (1993). The evolution of library and information science 1965-1985: a content
analysis of journal articles. Information Processing and Management , 29, (1), pp.129-144.

Kajberg, L. (!996). A content analysis of LIS serial literature published in Denmark 1957-1986. Library
and Information Science Research , 18, pp. 25-52.

5 de 5 08/02/2022, 11:20