The first methodical steps of the project have been a literature review and the construction of indicators in order to measure the use and impact of the Internet in R&D. The results of this were used for the development of a survey instrument.
The second step was a postal survey in the public R&D sector (universities, polytechnics, public research institutes and government-funded laboratories). The survey was carried out as an exploratory investigation in selected disciplines. The survey population were researchers at different hierarchical levels. Addresses were gathered from the membership directories of disciplinary associations and by a random sampling through the WWW.
- postal survey among scientists at public R&D institutions in the disciplines astronomy, chemistry, computers, economics, and psychology
- addresses from membership directories of scientific associations in Europe and through random sampling from the WWW
- sample: 6'518
- responses: 1'602, usable for analysis: 1'482
- data collection April-July 2003
- realisation by the project team
