Paper details
Evaluating Research and Research Impact: Open Access Does Not Mean Easy Access
Author
Karen Blakeman, RBA Information Services, United Kingdom
Documents to download
Abstract
Open access, research impact and budgetary constraints affect researchers worldwide. Many academic institutions, research bodies and individual authors are already archiving their documents in repositories and providing access to that material. In some cases access is open to anyone: in others the full document is restricted to those belonging to the institution hosting the repository. In many countries, the decision to provide open access is made at the institutional level, but even when governments and research councils mandate open access for tax-payer funded research there are issues regarding embargoes and the cost of publication. Cuts in research budgets mean that it is more important than ever to demonstrate the value of a group’s research and to have access to the work of others in the field. However, publication fees and the price of journal subscriptions are a major problem. For those unable to pay for access to full text publications open access is not necessarily an easy option. Apart from delays in availability, a paper may be lodged in several different places each with their own usage policies and licenses, and some researchers are using alternative means of publishing. Access to research information is becoming fragmented. Locating relevant papers and evaluating research impact now requires a knowledge of a whole range of specialist search tools, including social networks. This paper will look at the issues involved, the search tools and applications that are available, and how to ensure quality research published via unconventional routes is identified and given full credit.
Author's professional CV
Karen Blakeman started her working life with a degree in microbiology but was soon enticed into the world of electronic information. Prior to setting up her own company she worked as a microbiologist in a government public health laboratory and then spent ten years in the pharmaceutical and health care industry as an information scientist. She moved to the international management consultancy group Strategic Planning Associates before becoming a freelance consultant and setting up her company RBA Information Services in 1989. She now provides training and advice on search, social media and collaborative tools. Karen edits and publishes an electronic newsletter called Tales from the Terminal Room (http://www.rba.co.uk/tfttr/) and her blog can be found at http://www.rba.co.uk/wordpress/. She is an Honorary Fellow of CILIP (The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals).
