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In the latest development, more than 5 million theses and dissertations are now available in Web of Science’s theses database.
Two years ago, Clarivate Analytics acquired ProQuest, a leading provider of educational technology solutions. With a deal worth USD 5.3 billion, it is considered one of the largest mergers between scholarly entities.
The acquisition also means the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database, which the company began building 80 years ago, will go into Clarivate’s fold.
Now, integrated into the Web of Science database, these 5 million plus postgraduate dissertations and theses will be made available for access by users worldwide.
The integration provides researchers with access to a vast theses database consisting of metadata about dissertations and theses, such as the author, title, and keywords, which can help researchers to identify relevant literature.
The 5 million+ documents cover 4,100 institutions from more than 60 countries, alongside journal articles, conference proceedings, research data, books, preprints and patents.
A major database provider
Web of Science is considered one of the world’s most comprehensive and trusted research databases. Its existing prominent databases include Core Collection, Book Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Citation Index, Index Chemicus and Preprint Citation Index.
Historically, the Web of Science database was originally developed by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), founded by Eugene Garfield in 1960. The ISI introduced the first citation index for papers published in academic journals, known as the Science Citation Index (SCI), which later expanded to include the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI). These databases collectively formed the core of what is now known as the Web of Science.
However, users should note that accessing these dissertations will require subscription access, either through the institution or individual purchase. Those whose institutions are already subscribing to Web of Science databases will have immediate integrated access to these documents.
The 5 million theses cover a diverse range of topics, offering valuable insights and findings from scholars across various fields. Whether one is conducting a literature review, seeking inspiration for their own research, or exploring new areas of study, the availability of these theses will greatly enhance the depth and breadth of resources accessible through the Web of Science database.
In addition, researchers can now delve into the wealth of knowledge contained within these postgraduate theses, benefiting from the years of rigorous research and analysis conducted by scholars, albeit the so-called inexperienced ones. Supposedly, the integration not only expands the scope of information available on the Web of Science platform but also fosters collaboration and interdisciplinary exploration among researchers.
A crucial theses database
Postgraduate dissertations include the like of master’s and PhD theses. Although in academic publishing, dissertations are classified as “unpublished” documents, they are a significant contribution to the academic community as they represent the culmination of years of research and study. Postgraduate dissertations delve deep into specific topics, offering fresh insights and expanding the existing body of knowledge.
Though theses and dissertations are often not peer-reviewed, they are assessed by internal and external examiners. Publishing postgraduate dissertations is crucial as they represent comprehensive, original research and contribute significantly to the existing body of academic knowledge. These documents, which include master’s and PhD theses, delve deeply into specific topics, offering fresh insights and innovative perspectives that can enhance the understanding of various fields.
Consolidation of these theses and dissertations into a reliable theses database is thus important in order to ensure easy access and preservation of this valuable scholarly work. By integrating the collection of postgraduate dissertations into the Web of Science database, researchers now have a centralized platform where they can explore a wide range of topics and tap into the expertise of scholars from diverse fields.
With this vast collection of academic papers now available, researchers can explore a wide range of subjects and delve into the nuances of various fields. Whether it’s in the sciences, humanities, social sciences, or any other discipline, the Web of Science database provides a comprehensive platform for accessing cutting-edge research.
Moreover, the integration of the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database into the Web of Science ensures that these valuable contributions are easily discoverable by users. Researchers can now seamlessly navigate and access this extensive collection, saving time and effort in their quest for relevant and reliable academic sources.
Not only will this integration benefit researchers, but it will also facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and, in turn, foster innovation. Well, hopefully.
The acquisition of this resource has substantially broadened the Web of Science platform and Clarivate Analytics’ reach, making the database an incredibly advantageous asset for researchers and scholars around the globe. One thing is for sure; this will not be the last acquisition by Clarivate Analytics as it continues to stamp its presence in the academic publishing world.
In addition to the sheer volume of content, the integration of the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database into Web of Science also brings with it advanced search functionalities and user-friendly features. Researchers can now navigate through vast amounts of data more efficiently, ensuring that their time is spent on analysis and interpretation rather than searching for relevant sources.
With over 5 million postgraduate theses now accessible through Web of Science’s theses database, researchers have unprecedented access to a vast repository of knowledge. These theses cover a wide range of disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities, offering invaluable insights and perspectives on various topics.
As of the writing, Clarivate is already moving to expand the theses database’s functionalities and features, including linked citations, which will make research discovery even more seamless.
A scholarly database needs to provide good user functionalities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of academic research. User-friendly features, such as advanced search options, filters, and linked citations, can help researchers navigate through vast amounts of data and locate relevant sources more quickly and accurately.
These functionalities save time, reduce effort, and enable users to focus more on the analysis and interpretation of information rather than on searching for it. Furthermore, good user functionalities can facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations by making it easier to discover and access research across various fields.
Conclusion
To conclude, the integration of these millions of postgraduate theses and dissertations into the Web of Science database marks a significant milestone in academic research. Obviously, we all hope that with this wealth of knowledge at their disposal, researchers and scholars have an unprecedented opportunity to deepen their understanding of their respective fields and contribute to the advancement of knowledge worldwide.
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