Proceedings of the International Conference on Scientific Information Two Volumes (1959) / Chapter Skim
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Summary of Discussion
Summary of Discussion
Pages 301-312
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From page 301... ...
Dr. Morse proceeded to discuss the paper by Halbert and Acko~ which reports on an attempt to see whether the field of operations research can help in this immensely complicated process of transfer of information.
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From page 302... ...
Halbert replied that the Case paper was not meant to convey the impression that scientific productivity is time spent in the laboratory. Scientific productivity is made up of the set of activities categorized in the study, including scientific communication, equipment set-up and use, data treatment, thinking and planning alone, etc.
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From page 303... ...
Dr. Bentley Glass commented that the thing that came out of their little study that is most disconcerting and at the same time illuminating is the fact that the great majority of scientists questioned indicated that general conversation was the most frequent source of information about work that was essential to the development of their own ideas.
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From page 304... ...
This finding among others has relevance to the problems discussed by this Conference. Consideration of sensory processes, central\ nervous system activities, and human motor processes should not be neglected for they are basic in information production and use.
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From page 305... ...
Separate studies of the part scientific communication plays in every scientific discipline are needed. Professor Bernal then said there appears to be a very large disparity between the edifice of scientific communication and the practices of research scientists.
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From page 306... ...
Prompt publication of these issue indexes and of quarterly cumulations of them has been made possible by recent mechanical developments that aid in compiling and publishing indexes. The bibliographic tools, reviews and report services provided by the Atomic Energy Commission demonstrate that the agency recognizes its obligation to make information available in a way in which it can be economically and efficiently used.
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From page 307... ...
Sir Alfred remarked that the study of the use of scientific literature and reference sources in Denmark and Finland by Miss Tornudd contains a great many detailed findings which indicate a neec! for the following: easily filed abstracts appearing with the original papers in periodicals; formal instruction in library use on the undergraduate level; international abstract services in specialized fields; reduction of the number of different abstract journals; more good critical reviews; and stricter editorial policies to prevent the rehashing of olc!
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From page 308... ...
Perhaps a contribution of this meeting would be to declare a moratorium on publication of inconclusive summaries of incompetent opinions based on inadequate samples.
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From page 309... ...
Dr. Fussler remarked that such a technique is clearly feasible if the essential conditions to such a bibliographical approach can be met, namely that a central agency compile the abstracts, or take them from the other sources without impairing the other sources economically, and that there be sufficient funds to sustain this rather expensive form of publication.
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From page 310... ...
There is less assurance concerning peripheral information within a specialized field and still less concerning relevant information from other fields. 4 There is rather substantial evidence that scientists are not in many cases notably systematic in covering the literature, and indeed the existing tools are not exploited by users to anything like their fuh potential.
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From page 311... ...
~ ~ 1 Dr. Eric de Troller stated that the results of a questionnaire survey of 200 scientists in France support very strongly the belief that we have a situation of over-communication and that scientists see a need for stricter editorial policies in order to eliminate papers that are not useful.
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From page 312... ...
Dr. Leake commented that scientific productivity is a creative process, which clepends upon many factors opposed to stereotyping.
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