CRKN Focus Group Report with Researchers

CRKN Focus Group Report with Researchers

This project was sponsored by the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) as part of its commitment to measuring the outputs and impacts of its pioneering national site licensing activities. CRKN is a partnership of Canadian universities dedicated to expanding digital content for the academic research enterprise in Canada. CRKN collaborates with 75 university members and provides access to over 900,000 researchers and students. CRKN undertakes large-scale content acquisition and licensing in order to build knowledge infrastructure and research capacity in Canada’s universities.

Being able to demonstrate relevance and impact is an important objective of all research-oriented organizations. Especially so when the key indicators are not always self-evident and are as likely to be qualitative as quantitative.  This CRKN exploration was undertaken to determine what impact access to digital research content has had on the research community in Canada. Since CRKN is not the only source of digital research content in Canada, the findings are correlated to CRKN’s work, not causal.

Highlighted findings:

• Research practices have become more productive as digital research content provides convenience of access, better selection, lower cost and higher researcher satisfaction.
• The interdisciplinarity of research has been augmented as more publications are monitored, gray literature is included, cross-disciplinary connections are made through keyword searches and links, related fields of research are accessible, and systematic reviews are more timely and of higher quality.
• Research collaboration has expanded networks of researchers in Canada and abroad, cross-disciplinary networks and co-authorships expand, and Canada gains an international reputation for leadership through superior knowledge resources.
• Teaching and learning practices are more effective and more efficient as they take advantage of expanded and timely learning resources.

Many of those who donated their time to participate in the focus groups have been working in academe for long enough to have witnessed the transition from paper to electronic research content. Although they agree that digital information has introduced some new challenges, no one could envisage abandoning the ease and range of access they currently enjoy to return to the constraints of the print era. Canada’s research community has adapted to and embraced digital research content so seamlessly that it is completely integrated in the national research infrastructure. Withdrawing or curtailing these services would lead to some major changes in the practice of research and learning in Canada.

Six case studies were identified during the course of the research that describe innovative ways in which research practices have changed since the introduction of digital research content.

Case Studies:
 
The Impact of Digital Content on Interdisciplinary Systematic Reviews
Sacha Bailey, Research Assistant and PhD student, Centre for Research on Children and
Families, School of Social Work, McGill University

 
Impact of Digital Content on Quantum Materials & Physical Properties
Patrick Fournier, Full Professor, Department of Physics, Université de Sherbrooke

The Impact of Digital Content on the Changing Role of Librarian
Jim Henderson, Liaison Librarian, Life Sciences Library, McGill University
 

The Impact of Digital Content on Dynamic Mathematical Modeling
John Joseph McPhee, Professor and NSERC/Toyota/Maplesoft Industrial Research
Chair in Mathematics-based Modelling and Design, Systems Design Engineering,
University of Waterloo

The Impact of Accessing Digital Content on Patterns in Complex Natural Systems
Dr. Cristian Suteanu, Associate Professor, Geography Department and Environmental Studies Program, Saint Mary’s University

 The Impact of Digital Content on Refocusing a Career Post-Retirement
M. Michael Yovanovich, FRSC, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor,
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering,
University of Waterloo