Communication Science

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Perceptions and attributes of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs): a South African study
(2006) Evans, Neil Davies; Mersham, G.M.
Ubiquitous access to digital networks and the Internet have revolutionised the way multimedia information is being stored, accessed and disseminated by information services. New technologies have played an important role in redefining preferred information and communication models to facilitate the efficient dissemination and retrieval of information. So has the emergence of electronic publishing and the global trend towards accessing and sharing digital content on the World Wide Web (WWW) led to a greater electronic dissemination of postgraduate academic Theses and Dissertations (TDs). These electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) provide a reservoir of knowledge that can easily be accessed by the international research community and diffused across all fields of research. Some 73 per cent of the study’s e-survey participants found obtaining research material online more efficient than using paperbound sources; 51 per cent were familiar with the concept of ETDs; 87 per cent agreed that adding TDs to an online database would improve the accessibility and use of this research; 65 per cent indicated that they would not have any reservations with adding their TD to an online database; and 48 per cent felt that ETDs should be introduced into their tertiary institutions.