Use of Subject Gateways in Social Science Research: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Internet is becoming one of the most important and frequently used information resources nowadays not only among the general public but also among the researchers. Social science researchers are no exception. They are in search of quick and instant access to quality information to conduct research and Internet can provide this opportunity. Unfortunately, Internet is not well organized and information retrieval often can be difficult and annoying process. Sometimes, internet resources lack quality, authenticity, relevancy and accuracy features. To resolve these issues researchers need more authentic, reliable and effective information system to access networked information, e.g. Subject Gateways. The present study analyses the awareness among the researchers regarding the use and effectiveness of Subject Gateways in Social Science Research. This study is also aimed at understanding the information seeking behavior of the social science researchers which will enable the investigator to discover the extent of awareness and patterns of use of subject gateways, to analyze the relevance of services, to measure service efficiency level and identify what adjustment are needed in successful delivery of services.