Interdisciplinarity has become one of the catchwords in current higher education and science policies, with the underlying rationale being that scientific breakthroughs and solutions to today's global challenges require collaboration across scientific fields. However, several empirical studies have shown that interdisciplinary promises are not…

The randomised controlled trial (RCT) is an evaluative method used by social scientists in order to establish whether or not an intervention is effective. This contribution discusses the fundamental aspects of good RCT design. These are illustrated through the use of a recently completed RCT which evaluated an information and communication…

Analyzes the information-seeking patterns of a group of research physicists and chemists and compares them with the information seeking activities of a group of social scientists obtained from a previous study. The impact of developments in information technology on the information or communication patterns of all of the researchers is considered.…

Describes results of discussions among social scientists reflecting on issues and opportunities related to youth civic engagement in the twenty-first century. Identifies specific forces, such as globalization, that must be considered by educators and policymakers. Outlines responsibilities of schools, governments, the commercial sector, community…

This paper discusses social science information needs and behavior. The first section describes the Bath studies on social science information behavior in the 1970s. The world "after Bath" is considered in the second section, including the development of large databases, information retrieval problems, and scholars' personal information…