Researcher needs survey

The survey described here was undertaken in June 2008. Information Services Staff are already addressing the recommendations listed below. Please contact the Research Support Specialist Miggie Pickton, or a member of your Academic Support Team if you wish to know more.

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Executive summary

The purpose of the survey described here was to establish the views and needs of research active staff and research students at The University of Northampton with respect to the resources and services provided by the university's Department of Information Services (IS).

64 researchers completed the online survey; two thirds were members of staff and one third were research students.

The first part of the survey addressed researcher use of existing services. Likert type scales were used to establish whether researchers had used existing services already, and if not, whether they considered them likely to be useful. Some services experienced high levels of usage (e.g. electronic journals indexes and full text databases, printed materials and inter library loans); others were used by relatively few respondents (e.g. the library's research support website, university ISBNs, 24 hour access to computing facilities and Shush! the library blog). In many cases, low usage levels were associated with high numbers of 'could be useful' and 'unaware of service' responses, suggesting that INS could improve usage simply by promoting these services more effectively.

The second part of the survey explored reactions to some potential new services that might be offered by INS. Again, Likert type scales were used to gauge interest. Based on the numbers of 'definitely interested' responses, the top three potential services were the electronic delivery of inter library loans, an online collection of successful research funding bid documents and extended borrowing periods for researchers. Least interest was shown in a research wiki for university staff and research students and other online communities and discussion forums for researchers.

The final part of the survey invited researchers to comment freely on the services provided by IS.

The report includes further data analysis, exploring differences in responses between subgroups of researchers (e.g. staff and students, full time and part time). Some variation was found, but none was statistically significant.

Based on the findings of the survey, a number of recommendations are made.

For immediate action

1. INS staff should actively promote existing INS services to researchers. Promotional activity should demonstrate the value of each service to researchers and should be targeted appropriately at groups of researchers (e.g. distance learners, specific Schools)
2. The current pilot project offering secure electronic delivery of interlibrary loans should be extended to all staff and research students
3. Academic Librarians and the Research Support Specialist should proactively offer one-to-one and group training opportunities to researchers (e.g. using Metalib effectively, advanced search strategies)

Further investigation required

1. INS staff should explore, in conjunction with colleagues from the Knowledge Exchange, the Office of Learning and Teaching and any other interested parties, the viability of an online collection of research funding bid documents
2. The Research Support Specialist and IS Web team should complete the development of the research support website and enhance it to promote the range of research-specific services available from IS
3. The library should consider extending borrowing periods and loan entitlements for researchers. Existing borrowing levels should be examined first, and the various means of renewing items should be promoted
4. All users should receive email notification when the total value of fines on their account reaches a significant level (e.g. £5)
5. INS staff should work with research administrators and research supervisors to produce online guides on research-related topics

Dependent on additional funding

1. The Collections and Learning Resources Manager together with the academic teams should consider purchasing a journal citation database or similar resource to support researchers' increasing interest in bibliometrics and impact factors
2. IS staff are experts in many areas of interest to researchers. They can perform bibliographic searches, create online surveys, provide technical support and offer research-related training. The research community should be encouraged to include IS staffing and resources in their bids for funding so that the department will be better placed to undertake these tasks
3. IS should employ or train up at least one member of staff in the department with expertise in SPSS
4. Consideration should be given to the provision of a quiet research space in the library