Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science

Impact Factor Based on Logarithmic Correction for Papers’ Citations and Studies on its Category Normalization

2023-08-11T20:53:10+08:00

The objective of this study is to address the disciplinary variations in Journal Impact Factor (JIF), enabling its reasonable application in the evaluation of journals across diverse disciplines. To achieve this, the study utilized journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports and considered papers from eight distinct disciplines as the research subjects. The citations of papers within each academic field were transformed into normal distributions, each with a different base logarithm. Subsequently, the logarithm-corrected impact factor (IF_log) for each journal was calculated. Category normalization for the IF_log (cnIF_log) was conducted by dividing each journal’s IF_log by the logarithmic correction aggregate impact factor of the discipline to which it belongs and the superiorities of cnIF_log in the evaluation of academic journals across different disciplines were demonstrated empirically. The results showed that taking different base logarithms could convert the citations of the journal papers into an approximately normal distribution. The IF_log of the eight disciplines’ journals was normally distributed, and the IF_log1.5, IF_ln, IF_log5, and IF_log10 of the journals were 100% positively related (r=1.000, P=0.000) both in the same and different disciplines. Compared with the impact factor (IF₂₀₁₈), average impact factor percentile (aJIFP), journal index of PR8 (JIPR8), IF_log and relative impact factor (rIF₂₀₁₈), and other indicators, cnIF_log1.5 exhibits the least variation among the journals from the eight different fields. In comparison to aJIFP and JIPR8, it demonstrates the highest correlation, ideal discrimination, and stability. It is concluded that cnIF_log1.5 is an ideal journal evaluation indicator in same or different disciplines.

Characteristics of highly mentioned academic papers in the news

2023-08-21T06:19:24+08:00

The primary objective of this paper was to provide insights into papers that garnered significant attention in news outlets. A sample of seventy academic papers, each with over 500 mentions in news outlets, was chosen for this study via Dimensions. Comprehensive data for each paper was extracted from diverse sources, encompassing the Journal Citation Report (JCR), Scopus, SCImago, Altmetric.com, as well as analyses of the titles and abstracts. Findings concerning the characteristics of these papers revealed that those highly referenced in news outlets tend to be predominantly published in open access within prestigious specialized journals, with a primary focus on medical and health-related topics. The majority of these papers have been published within the last three years, with each accumulating more than 100 citations in Scopus. Additionally, the results indicated that the number of authors and international collaboration does not exert a substantial influence on the frequency of news posts dedicated to highly mentioned papers in news outlets. However, the journal's impact factor, paper citation count, and the alignment of the paper's affiliation country with that of the news outlets displayed a notable correlation with the frequency of news posts pertaining to these papers. Based on the study’s findings, it can be inferred that science journalists place higher emphasis on considerations such as proximity, prestige, timeliness, and relevance in their coverage, prioritizing these factors over other news values.

Research data governance activities for implementation in Malaysia research performing organizations: insights from data practitioners via Delphi study

2023-12-09T10:26:49+08:00

The rapid growth of research data and its influence on research practices has heightened global awareness of the significance of research data governance (RDG). However, there is a lack of literature explicitly outlining the implementation of RDG and the practices adopted by research performing organizations (RPOs). This study intends to bridge this gap by utilizing a three-round modified Delphi method, which involves a systematic solicitation and collection of feedback from a pool of experts comprising research data practitioners. This is accomplished through a series of carefully designed sequential surveys focused explicitly on RDG activities concerning tasks associated with governance roles, areas and decision domains within RPOs in Malaysia. The objective of this study is to develop consensus among research data practitioners on the importance of RDG activities. Statements were evaluated using a 5-point scale, and consensus was determined as an interquartile deviation (IQD) ≤ 0.5, a median ≥ 4, and a consensus level (CL) ≥ 85%. Analysis of the responses revealed a significant consensus among the experts on 106 out of 119 RDG task statements on various roles, nineteen areas, and eight decision domains deemed significant to the RDG implementation within RPOs. This study can potentially develop an RDG framework based on the consensus achieved. By providing an RDG framework that can be used as a set of best practices, this study can assist RPO leaders in considering implementing RDG and its efforts in their organizations.

Comparative bibliometric analysis of leading Open Access journals: a focus on Chinese and non-Chinese journals in science, technology, and medicine

2023-10-22T22:32:16+08:00

The objective of this study was to examine the scientific performance and internationalization of leading Chinese Open Access (OA) journals in the fields of science, technology, and medicine, specifically those published in English (referred to Chinese journals hereafter). Based on data taken from the Clarivate Analytics and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), a comparative bibliometric analysis was carried out. Fourteen Chinese journals were sampled, and a total of 22 non-Chinese OA journals were chosen for comparison. The analysis revealed that the majority of the journals were collaboratively published with large international publishers. While Chinese journals demonstrated a steady increase in publication productivity from 2018 to 2020, it remained noticeably lower than that of international journals. Additionally, Chinese journals received fewer citations from highly ranked journals, as evidenced by the three-fold higher Eigenfactor score observed in international journals compared to Chinese journals. Chinese journals exhibited a higher percentage of domestic manuscripts than international journals, as reflected in their elevated Index of National Orientation (INO) values. This study contributes to a better understanding of the scientific performance and internationalization of Chinese journals in the global publishing landscape, while also identifying potential areas for improvement.

Assessing the readability of open data portals: a case study of Open Data Pakistan

2023-11-20T11:04:22+08:00

Open data portals have been implemented in numerous countries to provide accessible, usable, and reproducible data. This study aims to assess the readability of datasets from Open Data Pakistan. Using the URL (https://opendata.com.pk/) in an online readability checking tool, six well-known readability formulas were employed, including Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease, Flesch Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Score, Smog Index, Coleman Liau Index, and Automated Readability Index. The average score of each formula was calculated to analyze the standard readability of the open data portal. Additionally, the website was explored to evaluate the overall status of open datasets, showcases, and features like "Connect" on Open Data Pakistan. The findings indicated that the Open Data Pakistan website has a reading difficulty, scoring an average of 47.4 out of 100, making it challenging for the general public to read. However, the overall analysis suggested that the readability status of open data in Pakistan is satisfactory. These results offer insights into improving the readability of open data for enhanced citizen participation and informed decision-making. Moreover, the study has implications for policymakers and stakeholders regarding the readability of Open Data Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of considering readability in open data publication policies and guidelines, with a recommendation to decrease the percentage of open data portals categorized as hard to read.

Evolution of strategic issues: a 20-year analysis of public library planning in South Korea

2023-08-29T11:23:13+08:00

This study delves into the strategic issues faced by public libraries in South Korea spanning the period from 2003 to 2022. An extensive examination of 176 strategic planning documents from 17 local governments resulted in the selection and analysis of 75 documents using a strategic planning analysis model. The findings reveal that issues such as staff/training, collaboration/networks, information literacy, digital libraries, physical space, and collection emerged as major concerns in the strategic planning of public libraries in Korea. An analysis of the top issues' distribution over five-year intervals showed that staff/training issues consistently held a high rank over the 20-year period, underscoring their enduring strategic importance. Conversely, collection-related issues started with a low rank between 2003 and 2007 but consistently rose in significance from 2008 to 2022, becoming crucial strategic considerations for public libraries. Notably, these trends align closely with the direction set by the Comprehensive Library Advancement Plan at the national level for each period. The study underscores how the national-level development plan for libraries significantly influences the detailed strategic planning directions of local public libraries.

Cultivating Open Science: a quantitative exploration of leadership practices in Malaysian academic libraries

2023-11-30T09:18:26+08:00

This paper explores the characteristics of open leadership to support academic library leaders in
promoting open science. It also aims to identify the existing leadership practices related to the
implementation of open science from the viewpoint of Malaysian academic library leaders. The
research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing online surveys distributed among 50 leaders
from Malaysian public and private academic libraries. The study is anchored in the Open Leadership
Framework, encompassing three key practices: design (contextualization), build (structure and
system creation), and empower (personal leadership skills). Open leadership, viewed as a response
to technological advancements and the use of multimedia communication tools, is framed within the
principles, practices, and skills that communities can leverage to achieve shared goals. The findings
from the design principle indicate unanimous agreement among respondents on the importance of
collaboration, both internally and externally, for the success of the open science agenda, aligning
with the principles of community interactions. In the build principle, all respondents share the belief
that libraries should implement training and competence development programs, aligning with
mentoring principles. This adherence corresponds to the principles of commons-based production,
emphasizing the encouragement of publication in open-access journals, and project management,
highlighting the pivotal role of libraries in determining the university's open data repository. In the
empowerment principle, a total response of 61.5 percent under the "makes connection" principle,
emphasizes the need for collaboration between the library, the university's Information Technology
Center, and the Research Management Center to provide researcher profiles. This study not only
provides insights into the current landscape of open leadership practices among Malaysian academic
library leaders but also offers valuable implications for fostering collaboration, training initiatives,
and empowerment strategies in the realm of open science. By understanding and embracing these
principles, academic institutions and libraries can navigate the evolving scholarly environment,
effectively contributing to the advancement of open science practices.