LIS659/MLS: RESEARCH PROPOSAL OUTLINE TITLE PAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES/ILLUSTRATIONS ABSTRACT I. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM A. Significance of the topic Why selected; importance; extent of the problem B. Purpose of the proposed study Objectives; hypotheses; research questions C. Definition of Terms D. Assumptions and Limitations II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Identification, discussion and evaluation of related recorded/published research results -- studies, reports, articles, books, documents, etc. Include fields of research related to library and information studies. III. METHODOLOGY A. Overall design and justification B. Population and Sample C. Variables or factors to be studied Dependent/Independent D Method(s) of Data Collection E. Validity and Reliability IV. ANALYSIS OF DATA A. Procedures/Methods to be used B. Presentation of results; Sample charts, graphs, tables V: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS A. Significance of the study B. Possible use of results C. Recommendations for further study APPENDIX SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY [Works cited] TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES/ILLUSTRATIONS ABSTRACT CHAPTER I. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM A. Significance of the topic Why selected; importance; extent of the problem B. Purpose of the proposed study Objectives; hypotheses; research questions C. Definition of Terms D. Assumptions and Limitations CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Identification, discussion and evaluation of related recorded/published research results -- studies, reports, articles, books, documents, etc. CHAPTER Include fields of research related to library and information studies. CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY A. Overall design and justification B. Population and Sample C. Variables or factors to be studied Dependent/Independent D. Method(s) of Data Collection E. Validity and Reliability CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS OF DATA A. Procedures/Methods to be used B. Presentation of results; Sample charts, graphs, tables CHAPTER V: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS A. Significance of the study B. Possible use of results C. Recommendations for further study APPENDIX SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY [Works cited] Problem Statement. Philip McEldowney. Charlottesville, Va. LIS659. Shontz. Spring 1995. Scholarly Electronic Journals: Trends and Academic Attitudes The number of electronic journals has grown steadily in the 1990s. A large part of this increase has been in scholarly or academic electronic journals. Some academics are very aware of these trends in scholarly communication and participate actively in their production. Other academics remain unaware of these new trends. This study examines two related issues -- 1. What is the growth rate of these scholarly electronic journals? 2. What are the factors which affect acceptance or resistance toward electronic journals among academics? Is it possible to discover a difference between disciplines for these factors of acceptance or resistance? Information or answers to these issues might help academic libraries and researchers to anticipate trends in serials collection and subscription, and help in financial planning and budgeting. This research project will collect information on the number of scholarly electronic journals, newsletters, and other electronic communications, as they have changed over time, in order to show trends. A questionnaire will be developed to provide information on the factors of acceptance or resistance among scholars toward electronic journals. CHAPTER I STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM. The number of electronic journals has grown steadily in the 1990s. A large part of this increase has been in scholarly or academic electronic journals. The four issues of the Association of Research Libraries' Directory of Electronic Journals, Newsletters and Academic Discussion Lists from 1991 through 1994 indicates this growth. Some academics are very aware of these trends in scholarly communication and participate actively in their production. Other academics remain fairly ignorant of these new trends and do not participate in their production. Can the generalization be supported that academics in the "hard- science" disciplines participate much more than academics in the humanities and other disciplines? This study examines two related issues -- 1. What is the growth rate of these scholarly electronic journals? 2. What are the factors which affect acceptance or resistance toward electronic journals among academics? Is there a difference between disciplines for these factors of acceptance or resistance? Information or answers to these issues might help academic libraries and researchers to anticipate trends in serials collection and subscription, and help in financial planning and budgeting. This research project will collect information on the number of scholarly electronic journals, newsletters, and other electronic communications, as they have changed over time, in order to show trends. A questionnaire will be developed to provide information on the factors of acceptance or resistance among scholars toward electronic journals. The purpose of this study is to investigate the growth rate of scholarly electronic journals and survey the positive and negative attitudes of academics toward electronic journals. A secondary purpose and priority is to discover any difference between the hard-science and non-hard-science academics in their attitudes and participation in electronic journals. Terms "Electronic journals" are self-defined; those who produce such journals name them in that way. These journals are generally accessed electronically through communication devises or lines. The same definitions are true for electronic "newsletters," "listserves," and other electronic forums. At times the boundaries between these named formats are not as clear as the authors and editors claim. Electronic journals come in many form. Some of these electronic serials are traditional paper journals simply made available electronically; others are samples selections, or just the contents of the paper journal; still others have no equivalent paper copies. Scholarly and academic refers mostly to research, writing, and ideas produced at universities and colleges by faculty members. It, however, can also include graduate students, independent researchers, and researchers affiliated with non-academic institutions such as foundations and laboratories. "Hard- science" disciplines include physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, etc. The "non-hard-sciences" includes humanities such as philosophy, language, history, and the arts, as well as social sciences such as anthropology, sociology, political science, etc. Even here the boundaries are sometimes not completely clear and distinct. Assumptions and Limitations The collection of the number of scholarly electronic journals is based almost solely on the ARL Directory and its affiliated collection forums (New Journals List). It is assumed that this list will continue to be produced in the future in a similar and comparable format. Other lists might complement or support the ARL collection; or even replace it in the future. It is assumed that the electronically archived lists will continue to be accessible. The survey of academics will be limited to institutions of higher education in Virginia and to the directors or their assistants in the hard- and non-hard-science schools or disciplines. If the distinction of attitudes between the hard- and non-hard-sciences is not clear or responses are few from one of the two generalized subject divisions, those distinctions will not be reported. It is assumed that these directors or their assistants will be familiar with the terms "electronic journals" and "scholarly communication" and the reposes will be truthful.