Patterns of Scholarly Resource Discovery and Use Across Academic Disciplines
Abstract
In different disciplines, scholars have found significant differences in the way academic resources are used. These differences are influenced by multiple factors such as publishing culture, research methods and access to infrastructure. An in-depth understanding of these differences is of great significance to libraries, publishing institutions and policymakers who want to build a fair and efficient academic communication system. Represented by natural sciences, social sciences, engineering and humanities, this article systematically examines the patterns of discovery and use of academic resources in different disciplines. Based on the review of relevant literature and a simulated interdisciplinary data set, this paper analyses the types of resources, commonly used discovery tools and main acquisition strategies preferred by researchers. Research results show that journal papers still occupy a central position in the field of natural sciences, books still have irreplaceable importance in humanities, and the influence of open access platforms in all disciplines is increasing. Finally, the article discusses the inspiration of research findings on open access policies, library services and scientific research equity, and attaches an open peer review report to show the transparent academic evaluation process.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Library Science and Information
scientometrics and bibliometrics research
Library Science and Information Literacy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint