Das Research Information Network (RIN) und das Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) haben eine lesenswerte Studie zum wissenschaftlichen Publikationsverhalten in Großbritannien veröffentlicht: Communicating knowledge. How and why UK researchers publish and disseminate their findings (Website).

Die Studie widmet sich folgenden drei Themenfeldern (S. 9):

1. Publication and dissemination behaviour
2. Citation behaviour
3. The perceived influence of research assessment (past and anticipated)

Die Ergebnisse der Studie werden in vier Kernaussagen zusammengefasst:

1. Researchers need better guidance on the value of different communication channels

2. The attribution and listing of multiple authors varies widely between disciplines

3. Citation behaviour and motivations are related to research discipline and the researcher’s age or experience

4. The influence of the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) is a major concern for researchers

Auch die Themen Blogging und Open Access werden unter die Lupe genommen:

Only a relatively small minority of researchers, however, as yet make much use of open access repositories, or of blogs, wikis and other web-based tools to publish and disseminate their work. For those who do use open access repositories, it is notable that the key influences are the desire to reach key audiences speedily: funder requirements have relatively little influence. (S. 42)

Eine Zusammenfassung der Studie gibt es auch als Podcast.