Journal Description
Publications
Publications
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on scholarly publishing, published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), RePEc, dblp, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Information Science and Library Science) / CiteScore - Q1 (Communication)
- Open Peer-Review: authors have the option for all reviewer comments and editorial decisions to be published along with the final paper. For more, see: Editorial, Paper with Review Comments.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 35.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.4 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
4.6 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.1 (2023)
Latest Articles
Format-Free Submissions in Psychology-Related Journals
Publications 2024, 12(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030029 - 19 Sep 2024
Abstract
Scientists have a duty to spend their time, and hence public money, in an efficient manner. One particularly wasteful task concerns the formatting of articles submitted to academic journals. Around a decade or so ago some academics began to challenge this inefficiency and
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Scientists have a duty to spend their time, and hence public money, in an efficient manner. One particularly wasteful task concerns the formatting of articles submitted to academic journals. Around a decade or so ago some academics began to challenge this inefficiency and a small number of articles have been published advocating for change. There has, however, been little progress, particularly within psychology. In the present article, we advocate for what is sometimes referred to as the Format-Free Submission. In order to quantify progression, we also examined a sample (n = 500) of psychology-related journals to determine which offer this. Results showed that only 73 (i.e., 14.6%) have formatting requirements that are relatively flexible for initial submissions. We suggest that the current system within psychology publishing is unethical, in that it wastes a huge amount of taxpayers’ money, and that change is needed.
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Open AccessArticle
Evaluating Policy Efficacy in Higher Education: A Synthetic Control Analysis of Ecuador’s Higher Education Law on Research Productivity
by
Patricio Álvarez-Munoz, Marco Faytong-Haro, Dennis Alfredo Peralta Gamboa, Angelo Marcos Aviles Valenzuela and Fernando Pacheco-Olea
Publications 2024, 12(3), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030028 - 15 Sep 2024
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Background: This paper investigates the impact of Ecuador’s Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), enacted in 2010, which mandated comprehensive reforms in higher education. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether the implementation of the LOES has led to a
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Background: This paper investigates the impact of Ecuador’s Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), enacted in 2010, which mandated comprehensive reforms in higher education. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether the implementation of the LOES has led to a significant increase in academic publications in Ecuador, thereby contributing to sustainable educational practices and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, sustainability refers to the ongoing capacity of higher education institutions to generate research that contributes to the long-term development of knowledge, aligns with global sustainability goals, and ensures educational practices that are responsive to societal needs. Methods: Using a synthetic control method, this study evaluates the impact of the LOES on the number of academic publications recorded in Scopus. A synthetic control consisting of data from countries with similar educational and economic profiles serves as a counterfactual to Ecuador’s situation. Results: Before the LOES, the average annual number of publications was stable at 253.4 per year. Post-2010, this number surged, reaching an average of 3645.84 publications per year, representing a 358.41% increase. By 2023, the actual number of publications in Ecuador rose to approximately 6584, significantly surpassing the synthetic control estimate of 1431 publications. Conclusions: The findings confirm that the LOES has been effective in increasing research output and advancing educational sustainability in Ecuador. This analysis not only contributes to the literature on the impact of educational policies but also demonstrates the utility of synthetic control methods in assessing policy effectiveness, underscoring the potential of targeted interventions to promote academic excellence and sustainability in education.
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Open AccessArticle
ISO Standards in Healthcare Organizations: Research Evolution and Trends from a Bibliometric Analysis
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Jazmín Eliana Villa-Gallón, Jorge Alberto Valencia-Bernal and Yeison Alberto Garcés-Gómez
Publications 2024, 12(3), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030027 - 9 Sep 2024
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This study provides an overview of trends and evolution in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) implementation in healthcare over the past three decades, useful for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the sector. As an additional contribution, we propose the NU-index, which allows the
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This study provides an overview of trends and evolution in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) implementation in healthcare over the past three decades, useful for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the sector. As an additional contribution, we propose the NU-index, which allows the evaluation of authors’ scientific output in a comprehensive way that will be valuable for researchers, institutions, and funding agencies seeking to assess researcher performance more accurately and understandably. A bibliometric analysis of 476 scientific articles from the Scopus Database was conducted, examining the scientific output, key authors, high-impact journals, and frequent keywords using VOSviewer, Bibliometrix library, and statistical analysis. Results reveal a significant increase in publications on ISO standards in healthcare since 2009, particularly in areas such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and information security. The emergence of ISO 11073 (health informatics) and ISO 13606 (electronic health records) highlights a growing trend towards information and communication technologies. Despite reported implementation barriers, such as lack of top management commitment and associated costs, adoption of these standards is increasing due to the demand for high-quality healthcare services and the need to comply with regulatory requirements.
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Open AccessCase Report
FAIR as a Journey: Lessons Learned from Building the GoTriple Discovery Platform for Social Sciences and Humanities
by
Luca De Santis
Publications 2024, 12(3), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030026 - 29 Aug 2024
Abstract
This report describes the experience in implementing the FAIR principles for the GoTriple Discovery Platform for Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). It shows how adherence to FAIR should be considered as a continuous process throughout the entire lifespan of any information management system,
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This report describes the experience in implementing the FAIR principles for the GoTriple Discovery Platform for Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). It shows how adherence to FAIR should be considered as a continuous process throughout the entire lifespan of any information management system, including GoTriple, rather than a static goal with decisions only made at the design time. This report presents an introduction highlighting the importance of the FAIR principles, indicating how they can be assessed in data management systems. Then, the GoTriple case is presented, with a general overview of this discovery platform before describing some of the implemented practices in support of FAIR. The Discussion Section shows, on the one hand, some virtuous reuse of GoTriple data, together with one major pitfall in the platform’s FAIR implementation. In this sense, this report serves as a case study that can offer insights and actionable advice for those implementing information systems aligned, from the very outset, with the FAIR principles.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary Special Issue "PUBMET2023 Conference on Scholarly Communication in the Context of Open Science")
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Open AccessReview
Beyond Keywords: Effective Strategies for Building Consistent Reference Lists in Scientific Research
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Hisham Abusaada and Abeer Elshater
Publications 2024, 12(3), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030025 - 27 Aug 2024
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Critical to navigating research literature is ensuring the inclusion of relevant sources while filtering out irrelevant ones. Selecting suitable references demands careful attention and methodological rigor. This review article presents a systematic approach consisting of 11 sequential steps for constructing a reference list,
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Critical to navigating research literature is ensuring the inclusion of relevant sources while filtering out irrelevant ones. Selecting suitable references demands careful attention and methodological rigor. This review article presents a systematic approach consisting of 11 sequential steps for constructing a reference list, ranging from broad initial searches to excluding irrelevant references. It emphasizes refining methodologies to develop a coherent list of references aligned with the study’s scope, bolstering the knowledge base, and facilitating subsequent analyses. Urban planners and designers can apply these steps in database searches to create robust reference lists, thereby enhancing the quality and reliability of their research and ensuring future adaptability.
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Open AccessOpinion
It Takes a Village! Editorship, Advocacy, and Research in Running an Open Access Data Journal
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Mandy Wigdorowitz, Marton Ribary, Andrea Farina, Eleonora Lima, Daniele Borkowski, Paola Marongiu, Amanda H. Sorensen, Christelle Timis and Barbara McGillivray
Publications 2024, 12(3), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030024 - 13 Aug 2024
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Partaking in the editorial process of an academic journal is both a challenging and rewarding experience. It takes a village of dedicated individuals with a vested interest in the dissemination and sharing of high-quality research outputs. As members of the editorial team of
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Partaking in the editorial process of an academic journal is both a challenging and rewarding experience. It takes a village of dedicated individuals with a vested interest in the dissemination and sharing of high-quality research outputs. As members of the editorial team of an open access data journal, we reflect on the emergence of data-driven open research, a new journal genre (data paper), and a new journal type (data journal) in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS). Access to data—the currency of empirical research—is valuable to the research community, crucial to scientific integrity, and leads to cumulative advancements in knowledge. It therefore requires significant investment and appropriate venues for dissemination. We illustrate the necessity of raising awareness about data-driven open research and best practices in data-driven publishing. We discuss how it involves building a community of authors and readers, establishing a company of editors, reviewers, and support staff, and passing on the practice, which has been challenging the status quo in research and publishing. Potential future directions are considered, including data peer review and reward, recognition, and funding structures for data sharing.
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Open AccessArticle
Clinical Trials Gone Missing—A Potential Source for Publication Bias in Dentistry
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Justin Tomack, Kathleen Mascardo, Chia-Yu Chen, Tony Chen, Xihao Li, David M. Kim and Eli E. Machtei
Publications 2024, 12(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030023 - 30 Jul 2024
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Background: The aim of this study was to examine publication bias associated with a failure to report research results of studies that were initially posted on the ClinicalTrials.gov registry and to examine factors associated with this phenomenon. Methods: A search was conducted in
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Background: The aim of this study was to examine publication bias associated with a failure to report research results of studies that were initially posted on the ClinicalTrials.gov registry and to examine factors associated with this phenomenon. Methods: A search was conducted in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry using six dental-related topics. Corresponding publications for trials completed between 2016 and 2019 were then searched using PUBMED, EMBASE and Google Scholar. For studies lacking matching publications, we emailed the primary investigator and received some additional data. For included studies, we recorded additional variables: industry funding, site setting (academic, private research facilities or private practice), design (single or multi-center), geographical location and commencement date vis a vis registration and publication dates. Results: A total of 744 entries were found, of which 7 duplicates were removed; an additional 67 entries just recently completed were removed. An additional 7 studies were in different fields and thus removed. Thus, 663 trials were included; of these, only 337 studies (50.8%) were published. The mean registration to publication interval was 29.01 ± 25.7 months, ranging from +142 to −34 months (post factum registration). Less than 1/3 of the studies were posted prior to commencement, of which much smaller proportions were published (37.3%). Studies that were posted after commencement (n = 462) had a much higher publication rate (56.7%), p < 0.001. Multi-center studies and those conducted in commercial facilities had much higher, though non-significant, publication rates (56.5% and 58.3%, respectively). Conclusions: With only half of the studies registered being published, a major source for publication bias is imminent.
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Open AccessArticle
Bibliometric Analysis of Papers Dealing with Dental Videos on YouTube
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Andy Wai Kan Yeung, Maima Matin, Michel Edwar Mickael, Sybille Behrens, Dalibor Hrg, Michał Ławiński, Fabian Peter Hammerle and Atanas G. Atanasov
Publications 2024, 12(3), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030022 - 25 Jul 2024
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The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis to discover what topics of dental YouTube videos have been investigated by the scientific literature, and evaluate how video characteristics were related to citation count. The Scopus electronic literature database was accessed
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The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis to discover what topics of dental YouTube videos have been investigated by the scientific literature, and evaluate how video characteristics were related to citation count. The Scopus electronic literature database was accessed to identify relevant papers. After screening, a total of 128 papers entered the analysis. The bibliographic data were provided by Scopus, whereas content evaluations were manually performed. Most papers evaluated videos recorded in English (85.9%). Each of the 128 papers analyzed a mean (±SD) of 79.2 ± 61.6 videos. Mean journal impact factor was 1.8 ± 1.4, and mean citation count was 13.0 ± 22.4. The preference for publication of papers was inclined towards dental journals (80.5%), with the majority (54.7%) being published without open access. Papers dealing with videos targeting patients/public had higher citations than those targeting dental professionals only (14.1 ± 23.4 vs. 4.0 ± 6.3, p < 0.001). The most represented as well as the most highly cited specialty of the dental YouTube publications was oral and maxillofacial surgery/oral medicine. Some twin or triplet studies published in the same year covering the same topic were identified, but they often covered a different number of videos.
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Open AccessArticle
An Exploratory Comparative Analysis of Librarians’ Views on AI Support for Learning Experiences, Lifelong Learning, and Digital Literacy in Malaysia and Indonesia
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Fitri Mutia, Mohamad Noorman Masrek, Mohammad Fazli Baharuddin, Shamila Mohamed Shuhidan, Tri Soesantari, Helmy Prasetyo Yuwinanto and Ragil Tri Atmi
Publications 2024, 12(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030021 - 19 Jul 2024
Abstract
Various articles suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) in libraries can enhance the learning experience, promote lifelong learning, and strengthen digital literacy. However, it is unclear if practicing librarians agree with these benefits. Malaysia and Indonesia, neighboring countries with similar library practices, may have
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Various articles suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) in libraries can enhance the learning experience, promote lifelong learning, and strengthen digital literacy. However, it is unclear if practicing librarians agree with these benefits. Malaysia and Indonesia, neighboring countries with similar library practices, may have differing or similar views on AI support for learning, lifelong learning, and digital literacy. To this effect, this study was conducted with the aim of assessing librarian perspectives on the support provided by AI in enhancing learning experiences, fostering lifelong learning, and advancing digital literacy initiatives. Additionally, it seeks to compare these perspectives between Malaysia and Indonesia. Using a survey research methodology and an online questionnaire as the data collection technique, the results of the analysis showed that librarians assessed the AI support for learning experiences, lifelong learning, and digital literacy favorably. It was also found that there was no significant difference in the assessments of librarians from these two countries. The contribution of this study is that it has provided empirical evidence regarding AI support in libraries, and developed a scale or measurement for assessing AI support for learning experiences, lifelong learning, and digital literacy. This instrument can be used as a guide when it comes to investing in AI technologies for libraries.
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Open AccessArticle
Practices and Attitudes of the Research and Teaching Staff at the University of Split about the Online Encyclopedia Wikipedia
by
Mirko Duić
Publications 2024, 12(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030020 - 11 Jul 2024
Abstract
The goal of this study was to investigate the practices and attitudes of the research and teaching staff at the University of Split (Croatia) about the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. The method of a questionnaire-based survey was used to gain insights related to this
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The goal of this study was to investigate the practices and attitudes of the research and teaching staff at the University of Split (Croatia) about the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. The method of a questionnaire-based survey was used to gain insights related to this topic. During February 2024, the survey was completed by 226 respondents. The results show that almost all respondents read Wikipedia articles and believe that the level of their accuracy is quite high. Almost half of the respondents strongly agree with the statement that it would be desirable for faculty staff to write Wikipedia articles with the aim of spreading knowledge about topics from their professional fields. However, a very small number of respondents participated in writing articles for Wikipedia. Also, the respondents answered that to them, the greatest motivations to write articles on Wikipedia would be if this activity were evaluated for the advancement to a higher work position and the correction of errors in Wikipedia articles. It was also found that most respondents are not very familiar with how Wikipedia works or how to add new content to it. These and other insights from this study can be used to conceive and initiate various activities that can contribute to greater participation of scientific and teaching staff of higher education institutions in writing quality content on Wikipedia, as well as activities that can contribute to a better familiarization with the principles and procedures to write and enhance its content. Other research methods, such as interviews with scientific and teaching staff of higher education institutions, could be used to acquire further, more detailed answers related to this topic.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary Special Issue "PUBMET2023 Conference on Scholarly Communication in the Context of Open Science")
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Towards an All-Ireland Diamond Open Access Publishing Platform: The PublishOA.ie Project—2022–2024
by
Jane Mahony
Publications 2024, 12(3), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12030019 - 24 Jun 2024
Abstract
The Government of Ireland has set a target of achieving 100% open access to publicly funded scholarly publications by 2030. As a key element of achieving this objective, the PublishOA.ie project was established to evaluate the feasibility of establishing an all-island [Republic of
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The Government of Ireland has set a target of achieving 100% open access to publicly funded scholarly publications by 2030. As a key element of achieving this objective, the PublishOA.ie project was established to evaluate the feasibility of establishing an all-island [Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland] digital publishing platform for Diamond Open Access journals and monographs designed to advance best practice and meet the needs of authors, readers, publishers, and research funding organisations in Irish scholarly publishing. It should be noted in this context that there is substantial ‘north–south’ cooperation between public bodies in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom, some of whom operate on what is commonly termed an ‘all-island’ basis. The project commenced in November 2022 and will run until November 2024, with the submission of a Final Report. This article originated as an interim project report presented in September 2023 at the PubMet2023 conference in Zadar, Croatia. The project is unique in its mandate to report on the feasibility of a shared platform that will encompass scholarly publishing across the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland, which are now, post-Brexit, inside and outside the European Union (EU): the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. The project is co-led by the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), Ireland’s leading body of experts in the Sciences and Humanities, and the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute of Trinity College Dublin. There are sixteen partners and affiliates from universities and organisations from the island of Ireland. The feasibility study will be based on a review of the publishing practices in the island of Ireland, with gap analysis on standards, technology, processes, copyright practices, and funding models for Diamond OA, benchmarking against other national platforms, and specifications of the requirements, leading to the delivery of a pilot national publishing platform. A set of demonstrator journals and monographs will be published using the platform, which will be actively trialled by the partner publishers and authors. PublishOA.ie aims to deliver an evidence-based understanding of Irish scholarly publishing and of the requirements of publishers to transition in whole or in part to Diamond OA. This paper provides an interim report on progress on the project as of September 2023, ten months after its commencement.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary Special Issue "PUBMET2023 Conference on Scholarly Communication in the Context of Open Science")
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Open AccessArticle
GFsa (GF “Scientific Age”) Index Application for Assessment of 1020 Highly Cited Researchers in Dentistry: A Pilot Study Comparing GFsa Index and H-Index
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Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira Fernandes and Juliana Campos Hasse Fernandes
Publications 2024, 12(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020018 - 10 Jun 2024
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Objective: The goal of this pilot study was to present a new index system (GFsa©) based on two variables, the total citations and “scientific age”, to evaluate the best-ranked researchers in dentistry. Methods: All researchers included were cited in the AD Scientific Index
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Objective: The goal of this pilot study was to present a new index system (GFsa©) based on two variables, the total citations and “scientific age”, to evaluate the best-ranked researchers in dentistry. Methods: All researchers included were cited in the AD Scientific Index (2024, dentistry field) and had their Google Scholar page accessible for a manual consultation. Two authors retrieved this information. A dataset was prepared (name, H-index, i10 index, and publications). The formula applied was GFsa = (total number of citations)/(“scientific age”)2. The Pearson correlation statistically evaluated the data obtained; the confidence interval was 95%. Results: A total of 1020 were included. The mean “scientific age” was 34.18 ± 13.34. The GFsa© index was calculated, presenting a minimum value of 0.2186 and a maximum of 154.8. The data were organized and sorted following the ranking obtained. The Pearson correlation showed that the H-index had a weakly positive association with the researcher’s “scientific age”; thus, the H-index increased according to the increase in “scientific age”. By contrast, a moderately negative correlation between GFsa and “scientific age” was demonstrated. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between both indexes. Conclusions: The variable reported (“Scientific age”) provided a better evaluation among the researchers in dentistry.
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Open AccessCommunication
Book Reviews in Medical History Journals
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Ka-wai Fan
Publications 2024, 12(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020017 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
This study explores the realm of book reviews within medical history journals, an area often overlooked in the existing literature. By scrutinizing four prominent journals over a five-year period, encompassing 780 book reviews, this research elucidates prevalent trends and patterns. Findings reveal disparities
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This study explores the realm of book reviews within medical history journals, an area often overlooked in the existing literature. By scrutinizing four prominent journals over a five-year period, encompassing 780 book reviews, this research elucidates prevalent trends and patterns. Findings reveal disparities in review volume and author demographics, underscored by English-language dominance. Challenges such as limited word counts and evaluation dynamics emerge as impediments to review quality. Proposed enhancements include relaxing word limits, conducting reader surveys, and fostering access to non-English literature. These strategies aim to invigorate scholarly discourse, enriching the landscape of medical history research.
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Open AccessArticle
Research Data Management in the Croatian Academic Community: A Research Study
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Radovan Vrana
Publications 2024, 12(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020016 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents the results of an empirical research study of Croatian scientists’ use and management of research data. This research study was carried out from 28 June 2023 until 31 August 2023 using an online questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. The answers
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This paper presents the results of an empirical research study of Croatian scientists’ use and management of research data. This research study was carried out from 28 June 2023 until 31 August 2023 using an online questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. The answers of 584 respondents working in science were filtered out for further analysis. About three-quarters of the respondents used the research data of other scientists successfully. Research data were mostly acquired from colleagues from the same department or institution. Roughly half of the respondents did not ask other scientists directly for their research data. Research data are important to the respondents mostly for raising the quality of research. Repeating someone else’s research by using their research data is still a problem. Less than one-third of the respondents provided full access to their research data mostly due to their fear of misuse. The benefits of research data sharing were recognized but few of the respondents received any reward for it. Archiving research data is a significant problem for the respondents as they dominantly use their own computers prone to failure for that activity and do not think about long-term preservation. Finally, the respondents lacked deeper knowledge of research data management.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary Special Issue "PUBMET2023 Conference on Scholarly Communication in the Context of Open Science")
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Open AccessArticle
Fostering Open Data Practices in Research-Performing Organizations
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Claire Jean-Quartier, Harald Kleinberger-Pierer, Barbara Zach, Ilire Hasani-Mavriqi, Lea Pešec and Clara Schmikl-Reiter
Publications 2024, 12(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020015 - 8 May 2024
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Open data provide the scientific community and other stakeholders with unrestricted access to data. Open data serve as a foundation for reproducing research findings, while also facilitating collaboration and enabling novel discoveries. However, open data practices are still not commonly applied. To contribute
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Open data provide the scientific community and other stakeholders with unrestricted access to data. Open data serve as a foundation for reproducing research findings, while also facilitating collaboration and enabling novel discoveries. However, open data practices are still not commonly applied. To contribute to the implementation of open data strategy in academia in Austria and beyond, a collection of local strategies from regional universities and higher education institutions in the Austrian provinces of Styria and Carinthia was compiled through workshop-based discussions between participants from research support service units at research-performing organizations. The collection was further organized into categories based on application time scenarios, target groups, and involved parties, as well as corresponding thematic focus. A strategic guide consisting of various measures has been developed to encourage the adoption of open data practices from an organizational standpoint. Designed for adaptability, it aims to be applicable and modifiable by all interested research and higher education institutions, regardless of their priorities and resources. Our guideline aids research organizations in crafting a tailored strategy to enhance their data dissemination practices, thereby increasing their research visibility and impact.
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Open AccessArticle
Research on Disinformation in Academic Studies: Perspectives through a Bibliometric Analysis
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Nuria Navarro-Sierra, Silvia Magro-Vela and Raquel Vinader-Segura
Publications 2024, 12(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020014 - 7 May 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
Disinformation is a phenomenon of concern to all political systems, as it poses a threat to freedom and democracy through the manipulation of public opinion aimed at eroding institutions. This paper presents a bibliometric and systematized study which allows the establishment of a
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Disinformation is a phenomenon of concern to all political systems, as it poses a threat to freedom and democracy through the manipulation of public opinion aimed at eroding institutions. This paper presents a bibliometric and systematized study which allows the establishment of a comprehensive view of the research and current state of academic investigations on disinformation. To this end, a content analysis of the scientific articles indexed in Scopus up to 31 December 2023 has been carried out based on three categories of analysis: journals, authors and investigations. Similarly, a systematic study of the 50 most cited articles in this sample was performed in order to gain a deeper understanding of the nature, motivations and methodological approaches of these investigations. The results indicate that disinformation is a research topic which has gained great interest in the academic community since 2018, with special mention to the impact of COVID-19 and the vaccines against this disease. Thus, it can be concluded that disinformation is an object of study which attracts significant attention and which must be approached from transdisciplinarity to respond to a phenomenon of great complexity.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disinformation in Science Communication: Threats, Challenges and Potential Solutions)
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Open AccessArticle
The Time from Submission to Publication in Primary Health Care Journals: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Tsung-An Chen, Ming-Hwai Lin, Yu-Chun Chen and Tzeng-Ji Chen
Publications 2024, 12(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020013 - 28 Apr 2024
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Background: The time from submission to publication can significantly impact the speed of knowledge dissemination and is influenced by multiple factors. This research aims to investigate the time from submission to publication of journals of primary health care and to explore the factors
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Background: The time from submission to publication can significantly impact the speed of knowledge dissemination and is influenced by multiple factors. This research aims to investigate the time from submission to publication of journals of primary health care and to explore the factors that influence this duration. Methods: We selected journals of primary health care and extracted their impact factors, annual publication frequencies, and open access status. The time from submission to acceptance (SA lag), acceptance to publication (AP lag), and submission to publication (SP lag) were calculated. Additionally, we conducted statistical analyses to determine whether impact factors, annual publication frequencies, and journal open access status had an influence on publication time. Results: This study revealed the average SP lag was 243.4 days (interquartile range, IQR 159–306), the average SA lag was 177.8 days (IQR 99–229.3), and the average AP lag was 65.6 days (IQR 14–101). Variations were observed in SP lag, SA lag, and AP lag among different journals. SP lag generally decreased with higher impact factors. Journals with open access had longer SA lag but shorter AP lag. There was a general trend of decreasing SP lag and SA lag with an increasing number of annual publications, but no clear trend was observed for AP lag. Conclusions: Improvements are needed in reducing the duration from submission to publication for primary health care journals. Significant variation exists among journals. Additionally, factors such as the impact factor, open access status, and the number of annual publications may influence publication speed.
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Open AccessArticle
Coping with the Inequity and Inefficiency of the H-Index: A Cross-Disciplinary Empirical Analysis
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Fabio Zagonari and Paolo Foschi
Publications 2024, 12(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020012 - 22 Apr 2024
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This paper measures two main inefficiency features (many publications other than articles; many co-authors’ reciprocal citations) and two main inequity features (more co-authors in some disciplines; more citations for authors with more experience). It constructs a representative dataset based on a cross-disciplinary balanced
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This paper measures two main inefficiency features (many publications other than articles; many co-authors’ reciprocal citations) and two main inequity features (more co-authors in some disciplines; more citations for authors with more experience). It constructs a representative dataset based on a cross-disciplinary balanced sample (10,000 authors with at least one publication indexed in Scopus from 2006 to 2015). It estimates to what extent four additional improvements of the H-index as top-down regulations (∆Hh = Hh − Hh+1 from H1 = based on publications to H5 = net per-capita per-year based on articles) account for inefficiency and inequity across twenty-five disciplines and four subjects. Linear regressions and ANOVA results show that the single improvements of the H-index considerably and decreasingly explain the inefficiency and inequity features but make these vaguely comparable across disciplines and subjects, while the overall improvement of the H-index (H1–H5) marginally explains these features but make disciplines and subjects clearly comparable, to a greater extent across subjects than disciplines. Fitting a Gamma distribution to H5 for each discipline and subject by maximum likelihood shows that the estimated probability densities and the percentages of authors characterised by H5 ≥ 1 to H5 ≥ 3 are different across disciplines but similar across subjects.
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Open AccessArticle
Application of ChatGPT in Information Literacy Instructional Design
by
Jelena Madunić and Matija Sovulj
Publications 2024, 12(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020011 - 15 Apr 2024
Cited by 2
Abstract
Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence tools have prompted immediate reactions in the academic library community. While most studies focus on the potential impact on academic integrity, this work explored constructive applications of ChatGPT in the design of instructional materials for courses in
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Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence tools have prompted immediate reactions in the academic library community. While most studies focus on the potential impact on academic integrity, this work explored constructive applications of ChatGPT in the design of instructional materials for courses in academic information literacy. The starting point was the use of openly licenced information resources or content infrastructure as facilitators in the creation of educational materials. In the first phase, course teaching material was developed using a prompt engineering strategy, predefined standards, and a prompt script. As a second step, we experimented with designing a custom chatbot model connected to a pre-defined corpus of source documents. The results demonstrated that the final teaching material required careful revision and optimisation before use in an actual instructional programme. The experimental design of the custom chatbot was able to query specific user-defined documents. Taken together, these findings suggest that the strategic and well-planned use of ChatGPT technology in content creation can have substantial benefits in terms of time and cost efficiency. In the context of information literacy, the results provide a practical and innovative solution to integrate the new technology tool into instructional practices.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary Special Issue "PUBMET2023 Conference on Scholarly Communication in the Context of Open Science")
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Open AccessArticle
In-Depth Examination of Coverage Duration: Analyzing Years Covered and Skipped in Journal Indexing
by
Eungi Kim
Publications 2024, 12(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020010 - 1 Apr 2024
Abstract
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Journals that have consistently maintained uninterrupted indexing over an extended period can be assumed to possess stability and sustainability in journal indexing. Building on this assumption, the objective of this study is to scrutinize the years omitted in the indexing of Scopus-indexed journals.
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Journals that have consistently maintained uninterrupted indexing over an extended period can be assumed to possess stability and sustainability in journal indexing. Building on this assumption, the objective of this study is to scrutinize the years omitted in the indexing of Scopus-indexed journals. To conduct this study, three coverage duration indicators—nyears-covered (total years covered), nyears-skipped (years skipped), and skipped/covered ratio (proportion of years skipped to total years covered)—were formulated. Data from SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) for 2022, consisting of 16,762 records (62% of downloaded data) with a coverage duration of 25 years or less, were used for this study. The results revealed that around 10% of Scopus-indexed journals experienced exclusions or coverage gaps. Longer coverage correlates positively with documents published, h-index, and citations, while skipped years decrease with these indicators. Open access (OA) journals exhibited a lower skipped/covered ratio than non-OA journals, suggesting a better sustainability of indexing than non-OA journals. Disciplinary differences in Scopus journal coverage duration revealed notable variation, suggesting that coverage duration indicators can be effectively used to evaluate journal stability within Scopus. Overall, the coverage gaps reflect Scopus’s efforts to regulate the journals it indexes. The coverage duration indicators proposed in this study can be applied to assess the stability of periodicals in any database, providing insights into the broader dynamics and quality standards maintained by a database, where the database periodically adds and removes its indexed contents.
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