The Use of Digital Tools in Scholarly Activities. Empirical Findings on the State of Digitization of Science in Germany, Focusing on Saxony

Abstract

Scholars are only beginning to understand what digitization means for their work, that is, the conduct of science. Taking a broad perspective on e-science, this paper provides empirical insights about two important aspects of the digitization of science, namely the use of digital tools in scholarly activities and scholars’ perceptions of the change such use entails. The results of a German-wide survey of scholars and supplementary qualitative interviews in the years 2012 and 2013 show that the majority of scholars have adopted digital tools and that scholarly practice is affected profoundly by the use of such tools. This does not apply to web 2.0 tools, which remain a niche medium for some scholars. Small but significant differences exist between disciplines, and decisions about individual tool use are utilitarian. Further research is needed to assess the changes from a longitudinal perspective.