The Value of Multiple Database Searching to Scholarly Research Productivity

Abstract

The substantial value of scientific and technical information has been demonstrated in a number of publications. Keeping up with the literature, efficiently finding the most relevant literature, and conducting comprehensive literature searches are extremely important in the highly competitive world of writing grant proposals for scientific and engineering research, and in the subsequent publication of journal articles. In academia, trends of recent years have been toward Web access to single database searches and electronic journals. Multiple database searching has been relegated to a status of lesser importance. This paper supports the thesis that comprehensive multiple database literature searching has major value to graduate students working on their theses and dissertations, and hence, to research productivity. It also argues for support for a centralized collection of databases in support of U.S. research and development.

Key Words:

• Value
• benefit
• cost benefit
• effectiveness
• multiple database searching
• research productivity
• scientific research
• engineering research
• duplication of research
• scholarly research
• dissertation research
• database centralization