The Problem
Finding information in books and paper versions of other sources – like academic journals, professional periodicals and magazines – does not come easily to many young people today, especially those who tend to feel more naturally comfortable operating in the electronic environment. Even Sixth Formers often demonstrate disconcerting levels of ignorance during independent learning assignments when they plan hybrid information searches that draw on paper and electronic items.
This may lead us, as teachers, to wonder whether it is realistic to assume that they possess levels of knowledge in terms of traditional sources which we would have regarded as fundamental 30 years ago.
Bradford’s Research and its Adoption
In a classic study, renowned information scientist S.C. Bradford identified a three-part pattern in journal literature that has become well-accepted. Specifically, he discovered that there is a central nucleus of a few titles which frequently publish papers on an area of interest to an inquirer. Moving outwards, another zone embraces a greater number of titles that concentrate on related topics and provide some pieces pertinent to the person’s needs. Finally, there is the outlying territory, whose titles deal mostly with matters entirely beyond the interest of the individual. These outlying journals, many in number, include no more than the occasional piece relevant to the inquirer.[1]