Options
The potential use of online tools for scientific collaboration by biology researchers
Date Issued
2014-01
Date Available
2014-01-22T11:36:37Z
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to discover the research practices of biology researchers and to assess the suitability of the OJAX++ Virtual Research Environment (VRE) for these researchers.
Design/methodology/approach – Usability testing was used to evaluate the usability of OJAX++ in relation to biology researchers. Interviews with biology researchers in a large Irish university were conducted to investigate their research information behaviour, to establish user requirements in their discipline and to evaluate the feasibility of using OJAX++ in their research.
Findings – The results show that biology researchers used online tools extensively in their research but do not use social networking tools. Email and phone conversations are the preferred methods of collaborating with colleagues. The biology researchers found that OJAX++ was easy to use, intuitive and professionally presented but in its present format, OJAX++ does not fit in with current research practices as they do not use Web 2.0 tools that facilitate tagging. A list of requirements of a VRE for biology researchers is presented.
Originality/value – The findings of the study will assist developers of VREs and other web tools to better understand how researchers, in particular biologists, collaborate during the research process and what they require from online research tools. This study gives an important insight into the information behaviour of life science researchers.
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
Emerald
Journal
Aslib Journal of Information Management
Volume
66
Issue
1
Start Page
13
End Page
37
Copyright (Published Version)
2014 Emerald
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
File(s)
Owning collection
Scopus© citations
2
Acquisition Date
Mar 19, 2024
Mar 19, 2024
Views
1922
Acquisition Date
Mar 19, 2024
Mar 19, 2024
Downloads
753
Last Week
3
3
Last Month
9
9
Acquisition Date
Mar 19, 2024
Mar 19, 2024