Demographic determinants and research productivity implications of bibliographic database use among Taiwanese researchers

As the role of bibliographic databases in academic research continues to expand, understanding how different demographics utilize these tools becomes increasingly important. This study examines the relationship between demographic characteristics, use patterns of bibliographic databases, and research productivity among academics in Taiwan. Based on a survey of 338 respondents, the results reveal that Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed are the most widely used databases. Most respondents frequently use databases for writing journal articles and teaching. Males spent more time using bibliographic databases than females. Younger and junior faculty members reported more frequent and longer use, while part-time staff exhibited significantly lower use. Additionally, researchers in fields like engineering used databases more extensively than those in the arts and humanities. A positive correlation was found between the frequency of database use and research productivity over the past three years. The findings highlight the critical role of bibliographic databases in academic work, with implications for institutional support and digital resource access. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.