Purpose -The purpose of this study is to examine different aspects of information seeking behaviour, and specifically the information seeking behaviour and information needs of Indian astronomy/astrophysics academics, including the relationship between various variables such as academic, rank-wise statuses, age-wise of characteristics, and methods for keeping their knowledge up-to-date. Design/methodology/approach -A stratified random sample survey was used for gathering data. However, to support and authenticate the data quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. The questionnaire was mailed and was also available online. Some 400 academics from 12 astronomy and astrophysics information centres and libraries were surveyed using the questionnaire and were interviewed. The questionnaire response rate was 72 percent (288/400). Findings -The study findings show: differences in information seeking behaviour and needs for various academic is sub-fields of Indian astronomy/astrophysics, and highlights the value of information seeking behaviour to scientists working in astronomy/astrophysics. The study concludes that astronomy/astrophysics academics were making use of Astrophysics Data System followed by their use of e-archives for education and research. Astronomy/astrophysics academics work in a unique setting with specialized needs. The study findings underscored the need to continue accessing specialized needs to find innovative solutions. There are challenges and opportunities for exciting new initiatives. Originality/value -This is the first in-depth study in India exploring the information seeking behaviour and information needs of astronomy/astrophysics academics. It also gives the latest account of information seeking behaviour of information users in astronomy/astrophysics discipline. The study is also expected to guide other information service organisations to cope with their users' needs, by adopting survey methods, tools, protocols used in this study.
IntroductionInformation behaviour involves people using various resources for information various forms, formats for information seeking, information foraging, sense making, information use and information organising. Spink and Cole (2004) state that information behaviour is a broad term covering information seeking, information foraging, sense making, information use, and information organisation. This paper reports the results from a study focusing on the information seeking behaviours of Indian astronomy and astrophysics scientists. Academics are independent individuals and human beings, who use tools and techniques, especially information technology, during their information seeking behaviour. The organisation and management of such information systems requires up to date knowledge of users' information seeking behaviour, which is only achievable by studying this area. Understanding the information needs and information seeking behaviour of academic science scholars is challenging. This task becomes more complicated when we consider that scientist...
This paper highlights qualitatively and quantitatively research and presents a valuable overview of new citation enhanced databases in the context of research evaluation for the productivity of Prof. Jayant V. Narlikar. He has total 472 research publications in the fields of Astronomy and Astrophysics (AA) published from 1961-2015. In addition, this paper provides an overview of the citation-enhanced databases viz Astrophysics Data System Beta: A powerful new interface for performing citation analysis. Previously, scientometrics had been used to measure the publication productivity of Prof. Jayant V. Narlikar using the Astrophysics Data System (ADS). The scope of this paper is limited to Astrophysics Data System Beta. The result indicates that most of his papers are published in peer reviewed journals having the highest Impact Factor. The average number of publications per year is 8.74 and with the maximum papers published during
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