Scientific communication in Libya in the digital age

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the scientific communication activities of Libyan scientists, and their engagement with scientific publishing. The research embraces both formal and informal communication, and explores that behaviour in the context of a developing country, Libya. A mixed methods approach including desk research, a bibliometric study of recent scientific output, interviews with key informants, and a questionnaire survey with scientists is used to gather rich data and to generate deep insights into scientific communication behaviours. Findings suggest that Libyan scientists affirm the centrality of scientific communication to successful science, but that the nature of communication is influenced by national and other cultures, and in particular, Libyan scientists value informal scientific communication. They also both access and publish in e-journals and in open access sources but are aware of a range of barriers to scientific communication in the digital age.

Perceived Effect of Accessibility and Utilization of Electronic Resources on Productivity of Academic Staff in Selected Nigerian Universities

“…The finding of the study is consistent with the global trend reported by scholars (Costa & Meadows, 2000;Heterick, 2002;Jankowska, 2004;Mahajan, 2006;Mahmood et al, 2011;Vakkari, 2008) that electronic resources have a perceived positive effect on research productivity at universities around the world. In the Nigerian context, the finding of the study affirms recent research findings by Ajala et al (2010), Nwezeh (2010, and Popoola (2008) but contradicts results of some studies that were conducted in the early 2000s (Ehikhamenor, 2003a(Ehikhamenor, , 2003bJimba & Atinmo, 2000).…”

“…With a possible perceived positive effect of electronic information resources on the research process in developed countries (Brittain, 1989;Heterick, 2002;Jankowska, 2004;Mahmood, Hartley, & Rowley, 2011;Meadows, 1989;Vakkari, 2008) and a few contradicting research findings in Nigeria, Africa (Ehikhamenor, 2003a(Ehikhamenor, , 2003bJimba & Atinmo, 2000), Duque et al (2010) raised the poser of whether the "process of knowledge production is similar in the developed and developing worlds" (p. 4). In other words, if it is substantiated that there is a perceived positive effect due to accessibility and use of electronic resources on research productivity in developed countries, would the situation be the same in Nigerian universities?…”

“…As indicated earlier in the literature study, researchers have shown keen interest in the perceived effect of e-resources on research productivity in universities (Costa & Meadows, 2000;Heterick, 2002;Mahmood et al, 2011;Vakkari, 2008). To examine this issue, Vakkari (2008) posed the following question: "In scholars' opinions, does access to electronic literature have a positive influence on their work?"…”

A study of informal communication among fishery scientists

“…Kraut, Fish, Root & Chalfonte () emphasized that informal communication appears to be a dominant activity in organizations. Mahmood, Hatley & Rowley () described the informal communication activities between scientists, in which they interact directly through, for example, face‐to‐face discussion, telephone, fax, post, electronic mail, personal websites, and conferences.…”