DTIC ADA252066: NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Report Number 6. The Relationship between the Use of U.S. Government Technical Reports by U.S. Aerospace Engineers and Scientists and Selected Institutional and Sociometric Variables

352 Pages·14.6 MB·English

by  Defense Technical Information Center

066
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NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge
Diffusion Research Project
NASA Technical Memorandum 102774
Report Number 6
The Relationship Between the Use of U.S. Government
Technical Reports by U.S. Aerospace Engineers and
Scientists and Selected Institutional and Sociometric Variables
DTIC
Thomas E.P inelli 0 ELEC
ELECTE
NASA Langley Research Center
JUN 2 4 1992
Hampton, Virginia C
OW'ThMuMoN ST-A-TMSM A
Appro'vod for public relecmei
Distribution Unmnlted
92-16492
9 2 6 02>
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Department of Defense
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INDIANA UNIVERSITY
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (ion! s, t ba ttn_..-u
Avt olabiliy Cod
LIST OF TABLES ........................................ vii i ari/o
special
LIST OF FIGURES......................................
xiii16
CHAPTER 1 - THE STUDY IN PERSPECTIVE ................. 1 -
BACKGROUND ..................................... 1
Unique Characteristics .............................. 2
Implications For Federally Funded Civilian R&D ............... 3
Supply-Push .................................... 5
Dem and-Pull .................................... 7
Im plications .................................... 9
PROBLEM CONTEXT ................................. 10
An Information Processing Framework ..................... 12
Government Influence on Information Processing ...............1 5
U.S. Government Technical Report ........................ 16
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ......................... 19
Conceptual Framework ............................. 20
The Problem .................................... 21
Research Questions ............................... 23
Hypotheses ..................................... 23
Hypothesis 1 ............................... 23
Hypothesis 2 ............................... 24
Hypothesis 3 ............................... 24
Hypothesis 4 ............................... 25
Hypo thesis 5 ............................... 26
Hypothesis 6 ............................... 26
Hypothesis 7 ............................... 27
Hypothesis 8 ............................... 28
OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY ............................ 28
Significance of the Problem .......................... 29
M ethodology ................................... 30
Lim itations ..................................... 31
Organization of the Study ........................... 31
REFERENCES ...................................... 32
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................... 39
CHAPTER 2 - THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL REPORT
AND THE DIFFUSION OF FEDERALLY FUNDED AEROSPACE R&D 43
INTRODUCTION ..................................... 43
BACKGROUND ..................................... 43
Characteristics of Technical Reports .......... ........... 45
The Role of the Technical Report in S&T Communication ....... 47
History and Growth of Technical Report Literature ............ 48
THE TRANSFER OF FEDERALLY FUNDED R&D ............... 49
DOD STI - Defense Technical Information Center ............. 49
DOE STI - Office of Scientific and Technical Information ........ 51
NASA STI - NASA Scientific and Technical Information Facility . 52
National Technical Information Service ..................... 53
A Review of the Federal STI System ...................... 54
REVIEW OF THE RELEVANT RESEARCH ..................... 57
REFERENCES ...................................... 66
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................... 74
CHAPTER 3 - THE INFORMATION-SEEKING HABITS AND
PRACTICES OF ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS AND THE
DIFFUSION OF FEDERALLY FUNDED AEROSPACE R&D ...... 77
INTRODUCTION ..................................... 77
BACKGROUND ..................................... 77
The Nature of Science and Technology ..................... 80
Distinguishing Engineers From Scientists .................... 88
Influence on Information-Seeking Habits and Practices of Engineers 91
THE INFORMATION-SEEKING HABITS AND PRACTICES
OF ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS ........................ 97
H erner ....................................... 99
Rosenbloom and Wolek ............................. 99
A llen ... . . . .. .. . .. . . .. . .. . . .. .. . . ... . . .. .. . .. 100
Kr em er ....................................... 101
Shuchm an ..................................... 102
Kaufm an ...................................... 103
ii
THE TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS PRACTICES OF U.S.
AEROSPACE ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS .................. 104
Time Devoted to Communicating Technical Information ........ 105
The Use and Production of Technical Information ............. 107
Technical Information and Problem Solving ................. 113
Use of Libraries, Technical Information Centers, and
On-Line Data Bases .............................. 114
Use of Information Technology ........................ 116
REVIEW OF THE RELEVANT RESEARCH .................... 121
REFERENCES ...................................... 140
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................... 153
CHAPTER 4 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN ...... 158
INTRODUCTION ..................................... 158
BACKGROUND ..................................... 158
THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT .......................... 159
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ............................ 160
The Engineer As An Information Processor ................. 162
Dependent and Independent Variables .................... 165
Hypotheses ..................................... 166
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................ 168
Survey Research ................................. 169
Validity and Reliability ............................. 172
Response Rate .................................. 173
Dillman's Total Design Method (TDM) .................... 175
RESEARCH DESIGN .................................. 179
Population and Sample Selection ........................ 180
Questionnaire Development .......................... 182
Data Collection .................................. 183
Data Processing .................................. 186
THE FRAMEWORK FOR DATA ANALYSIS ................... 186
Assum ptions .................................... 187
Data Analysis . ................................... 187
iii
REFERENCES ...................................... 189
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................... 192
CHAPTER 5 - PRESENTATION OF THE DESCRIPTIVE DATA ... 193
INTRODUCTION ..................................... 193
BACKGROUND ..................................... 193
FINDINGS ......................................... 199
Survey Topic 1: The U.S. Government Technical
Report Within a Formal Information Structure ............... 199
Use and Importance ........................... 200
Factors Affecting Use ......................... 203
Purpose .................................. 209
Information Type and Product ..................... 214
Survey Topic 2: The U.S. Government Technical Report and the
Information-Seeking Habits and Practices of U.S. Aerospace
Engineers and Scientists ............................ 219
Project, Task, or Problem Type .................... 220
Information Use and Sequence ..................... 221
U.S. Government Technical Reports and Project, Task, or
Problem Completion ......................... 227
DISCUSSION OF THE DATA ............................ 235
CHAPTER 6 - TEST OF THE HYPOTHESES ................. 237
INTRODUCTION ..................................... 237
BACKGROUND ..................................... 237
PRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS ........................ 238
Institutional or Structural Variables ..................... 239
Sociometric or Source Selection Variables .................. 246
Institutional or Structural and Sociometric or Source Selection
V ariables ..................................... 247
DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS ......................... 248
iv
INTRODUCTRON ....................................... 252
BACKGROUND ....................................... 252
CONCLUSIONS FROM THIS STUDY ........................ 259
The U.S. Government Technical Report .................... 259
The Information Seeking Behavior of U.S. Aerospace
Engineers and Scientists ............................. 260
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ................. 261
REFERENCES ........................................ 262
APPENDIX A - DEFINITIONS OF TERMS ..................... 264
APPENDIX B - ACRONYMS .............................. 267
APPENDIX C - QUESTIONNAIRE AND ASSOCIATED
CORRESPONDENCE ................................... 270
APPENDIX D - DESCRIPTIVE DATA TABLES FOR (1) EDUCATION,
CAREER, AND WORK EXPERIENCE (2) INFORMATION SOURCES USED TO
COMPLETE MOST IMPORTANT TECHNICAL PROJECT, TASK, OR
TECHNICAL PROBLEM .................................. 290
APPENDIX E - DESCRIPTIVE DATA ON SURVEY TOPICS 3 AND 4 ... 312
INTRODUCTION ....................................... 312
BACKGROUND ....................................... 312
PRESENTATION OF THE DATA ...... ..................... 313
Survey Topic 3: The Library and Technical Information Center ..... 314
Survey Topic 4: Computer and Information Technology ........... 320
DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS ........................... 334
REFERENCES ........................................ 336
PROJECT PUBLICATIONS ........................ ..... 337
v
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Role of the U.S. Government Technical Report in the Federal
STI System ..................................... 61
Table 2. Role of the U.S. Government Technical Report in Federal
Mission-Oriented STI Programs ........................ 63
Table 3. Role of the U.S. Government Technical Report in S&T
Communication ................................. 64
Table 4. The U.S. Government Technical Report: Historical Development,
Use in Specific Disciplines, Obsolescence, Problems, Coverage,
and Research Needs .............................. 65
Table 5. Time Spent Communicating Technical Information to Others . . 106
.
Table 6. Time Spent Working With Technical Communications Received
From Others .................................. 107
Table 7. Technical Information Products Produced ................. 107
Table 8. Technical Information Products Used ................... 109
Table 9. Types of Technical Information Produced ................ 110
Table 10. Types of Technical Information Used ................... 111
Table 11. Information Sources Used to Solve Technical Problems ....... 113
Table 12. Use of a Library or Technical Information Center .......... 115
Table 13. Use of Electronic Data Bases ........................ 116
Table 14. How Electronic Data Bases Are Searched ............... 116
Table 15. Use, Nonuse, and Potential Use of Information Technologies . .. 117
Table 16. Knowledge Diffusion and Technological Innovation ......... 126
Table 17. Knowledge Diffusion, Technological Innovation, and
Government Policy ................................ 128
Table 18. Knowledge Diffusion, Technological Innovation, and STI ...... 132
vii
Table 19. Knowledge Diffusion, Technological Innovation, and
Federally Funded Aerospace R&D ..................... 136
Table 20. Technical Information Products Used .................. 200
Table 21. Importance of Technical Information Products .............. 201
Table 22. Frequency of Use of Technical Information Products ........ 203
Table 23. Factors Affecting the Use of Conference Papers ........... 204
Table 24. Factors Affecting the Use of Journal Articles ............. 205
Table 25. Factors Affecting the Use of In-Hoilse, Technical Reports ...... 206
Table 26. Factors Affecting the Use of U.S. Government Technical Reports 207
Table 27. Use of Conference-Meeting Papers ..................... 210
Table 28. Use of Journal Articles ............................ 211
Table 29. Use of In-House Technical Reports .................... 212
Table 30. Use of U.S. Government Technical Reports .............. 213
Table 31. Types of Technical Information Used ................... 214
Table 32. Sources of Basic Scientific and Technological Information ..... 215
Table 33. Sources of In-House Technical Data .................... 216
Table 34. Sources of Computer Programs ....................... 217
Table 35. Sources of Technical Specifications .................... 218
Table 36. Sources of Product and Performance Characteristics ......... 218
Table 37. Type of Most Important Technical Project, Task, or Problem . .. 220
Table 38. Order in Which Information Sources Were Used by Survey
Respondents to Complete Most Important Technical Project, Task,
or Problem ................................... 223
Table 39. Order in Which Information Sources Were Used by
Academically, Government-, and Industry-Affiliated Respondents
to Complete Most Important Technical Project, Task,
or Problem . ................................... 224
viii
Fable 40. Order in Which Information Sources Were Used by Engineers and
Scientists to Complete Most Important Technical Project, Task,
or Problem ................................... 225
rable 41. Order in Which Information Sources Were Used by Managers
and Nonmanagers to Complete Most Important Technical Project,
Task, or Problem ................................. 226
rable 42. UF, of U.S. Government Technical Reports in Completing Most
Important Technical Project, Task, or Problem ............ 227
rable 43. Sources Used by Survey Respondents to Find Out
About U.S.Government Technical Reports Used to Complete Most
Important Technical Project, Task, or Problem ............ 228
Table 44. Sources Used by Academically, Government-, and Industry-
Affiliated Respondents to Find Out About the U.S. Government
Technical Reports Used to Complete Most Important Technical Project,
Task, or Problem ................................. 229
Table 45. Sources Used by Engineers and Scientists to Find Out About
the U.S. Government Technical Reports Used to Complete Most
Important Technical Project, Task, or Problem ............ 230
Table 46. Sources Used by Managers and Nonmanagers to Find Out
About the U.S. Government Technical Reports Used to Complete
Most Important Technical Project, Task, or Problem ......... 232
Table 47. Stage U.S. Government Technical Reports Used in Completing
Most Important Technical Project, Task, or Problem ......... 233
Table 48. Effectiveness of U.S. Government Technical Reports Used in
Completing Most Important Technical Project,
Task Completion, or Problem ......................... 234
Table 49. Efficiency of U.S. Government Technical Reports Used in
Completing Most Important Technical Project, Task
Completion, or Problem ............................ 234
Table D1. Relationship of Education and Technical Information
Products Used ................................... 290
Table D2. Relationship of Career and Technical Information
Products Used ................................... 290
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Table D3. Relationship of Work Experience and Technical Information
Products Used ................................... 291
Table D4. Relationship of Education and Importance of Technical
Information Products ............................... 291
Table D5. Relationship of Career and Importance of Technical
Information Products ............................... 292
Table D6. Relationship of Work Experience and Importance of
Technical Information Products ....................... 292
Table D7. Relationship of Education and Frequency of Use of
Technical Information Products ....................... 293
Table D8. Relationship of Career and Frequency of Use of Technical
Information Products ............................... 293
Table D9. Relationship of Work Experience and Frequency of Use of
Technical Information Products ....................... 294
Table DlO. Relationship of Education and Factors Affecting the Use of
U.S. Government Technical Reports .................... 295
Table DI1. Relationship of Career and Factors Affecting the Use of
U.S. Government Technical Reports .................... 296
Table D12. Relationship of Work Experience and Factors Affecting the
Use of U.S. Government Technical Reports .............. 297
Table D13. Relationship of Education and Use of
Conference-Meeting Papers .......................... 297
Table D14. Relationship of Career and Use of
Conference-Meeting Papers .......................... 298
Table D15. Relationship of Work Experience and Use of
Conference-Meeting Papers .......................... 298
Table D16. Relationship of Education and Use of
Journal Articles ................................ 299
Table D17. Relationship of Career and Use of
Journal Articles ................................ 299
Table D18. Relationship of Work Experience and Use of
Journal Articles ................................ 300
x