Abstract
The paper is about a research repository to be implemented in a university. The research repository would help educational institutions to widen the audience of their published journals or researches. The repository will help expand the audience of the journals and researches that were submitted in the library of the university. Aside from that, the research repository will help researchers who have hard time finding resources in their studies.
The research repository is based on an online publication and subscription model. Online publication provides reading sources via internet in which is accessible and more convenient to most people.
The repository will also adapt the concept of configurability as the users may have their own preferences with regards on how they publish or subscribe a paper. These would give them more options on deciding how they would publish and or avail the paper. To sum up, different organizations would able to use the software in accordance with their policies as well as the preferences of its user with the configurability of the software.
Keywords
Online Publishing, Subscription Model, Research Repository, Configurability
1. INTRODUCTION
Online Publication has been a trend in this era as these provides reading sources via internet in which is accessible and more convenient to most people. It enables distribution of publication globally and delivers content into any devices such as personal computer, tablet, and smartphones. It does not also require physical printing and distribute physically which are costly to most companies/organization or individuals who publishes their works. It has also helped and solved the risk of over-production of reading materials [2].
Online Publication has acted as source of learning for anyone as this enables publication of wide range of sources that are written by authors worldwide. Constantly increasing number of students is relying with these sources as they can view and read in a more convenient manner. The students would no longer go to a physical library and these would help them access the source in anytime and anywhere.
It is apparent today that most universities have their own publication sites in which they able to offer their own written works such as journals and researches. The schools across America are responding with policies in which allow an access on open-source textbooks that are written by the faculty, peer-reviewed and available online. It also enables the improvement of student engagement by being more interactive [1].
2. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
It is apparent that a growing number of people have shifted to using digital format of publications. People from academic community use online publication in distributing studies, reports, and journals in a more accessible manner for both students and teachers. These online sources are also more inexpensive than the traditional printed format as this no longer requires reprinting copies based on its demand.
Institutions, including universities, have adapted this mainly to make publications more accessible which helps widen the audience of their published journals or researches. Dr. Steve Lawrence said [4], “Articles freely available online are more highly cited. For greater impact and faster scientific progress, authors and publishers should aim to make research easy to access.” Far way back from 2001, Lawrence and his team conducted a study in which they analyzed 100,000 online and offline papers. In their study, it was concluded that online papers were 4.5 times more likely to be cited than the offline papers. With their conclusion, no doubt that those who aspire to publish their works preferred using the digital means rather than the traditional. For such in a university, as the primary subject in this study, digital publishing helps expand the audience of the researches that were submitted in their library, and not only that they could promote these researches, but they could be beneficial for all the researchers who have a hard time finding resources.
The proponent has also adapted the concept of configurability. Challenges such as publishers and subscribers in a digital publishing have their own preferences with regards to how they publish or subscribe a paper. For instance, a publisher wants his published paper to be viewed only as a whole. There are also instances that a subscriber wants to only view a particular part of the published material as it may be more “budget-friendly” than accessing the whole material. These would give them more options on deciding how they would publish and or avail the paper. To sum up different organizations would be able to use the software in accordance with their policies as well as the preferences of its users in using a configurable digital publication software.
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Method of Research
The research design used in the study is the descriptive method. Descriptive method is primarily concerned on how the variables that were gathered will be turned into a result that will turn out solutions or answers with regards to the problem of the study.
The descriptive research design as the overall plan for conducting the study by collecting and analyzing data such that a thorough control will be applied over the factors that could interfere with the validity of the research results [3]. By using this research design, it is acceptable that the proponent may gather data from different sources which are related to the discussed topic and will be used as the foundation of the study.
More importantly, the study focused on how a configurable cloud-based research repository may be used within a university. This will be implemented wherein it will allow the faculty, administrative staff, and students to publish their works, particularly researches, where anyone can access and read these papers.
The proponent distributed survey questionnaires to assess the perception of the respondents about what is their ideal research repository. This includes the assessment for the ff. problems: 1) Their previous experiences on online subscription; 2)The level of agreement of the respondents on the likelihood of the supporting the development of a university research repository; 3) The level of agreement of the respondents on the benefits of an online research repository using a subscription business model; 4) The level of agreement of the respondents on the identified characteristics of the system; and 5) The level of agreement on the implementation of a strong security backbone of the system.
The proponent measured the level of agreement based on the Likert Scale measure shown in table 1.
Table 1. Likert Scale
SCALE RANGE INTERPRETATION
1 1.00 – 1.50 Not Problem
2 1.51 – 2.50 Minor Problem
3 2.51 – 3.50 Moderate Problem
4 3.51 – 4.00 Serious Problem
SCALE RANGE INTERPRETATION
1 1.00 – 1.50 Strongly Disagree/ Extremely Unlikely
2 1.51 – 2.50 Disagree/Unlikely
3 2.51 – 3.50 Partly Disagree/Neutral
4 3.51 – 4.50 Agree/Likely
5 4.51 – 5.00 Strongly Agree/Extremely Likely
After the questionnaires have been answered and analyzed (based on the Likert Scale), the results were used as a basis on the development of a configurable cloud-based research repository.
3.2 System Development
The proponent has come up with a configurable research repository that established the results of the gathered data from the different sources such as the questionnaire, related studies, and related literatures. This is developed through an Agile Development Methodology, which is an iterative and incremental type of development. This method has allowed the proponent to develop the prototype from the beginning same as when chapter 1 and chapter 2 were began written and allowed the proponent to change the requirements of the prototype based on given revisions and suggestions.
The proponent used PHP programming language for the server side programming and MySQL for the back end of the prototype. The use of a Model-View-Controller framework was also employed in the development, thus the use of CodeIgniter Framework. CodeIgniter is an open-source framework used to build dynamic websites with PHP.
The software will be deployed in an academic institution, thus the use of Enterprise Architecture. This will give overview on how the academic institution will utilize the software along with other systems they are currently using.
The proponent used The Open Group Architectural Framework (TOGAF) in shown in figure 1 presenting the Enterprise Architecture. It describes the structure and processes of the developed system and how it is linked to other systems within the organization. It is a high-level approach in system designs typically modeled in four levels which is composed of Business, Application, Data, and Technology levels [5].
Figure 1. Research Publishing System Enterprise Architecture
In the architecture, external role and actors who will interact with the system are defined. These include the students, faculty, administrative staff, and cashier in the university. External business services are then defined comprising of Digital Publication, Student Information system, Payment Monitoring, and Human Resource Information Management. These are the business areas that are governed by the organization and that are linked with the Digital Publication software.
The processes of these business areas are then described. These are the business processes that may be encountered when using the system. This includes processes for Managing Digital Publication, which includes Publication, Subscription, and Evaluation. Managing Student Information, mainly for monitoring Student Records. Financial, which includes Cashier Payments, Bank Payments, and PayPal Payments. Lastly, the Human Resource, which includes administrative and staff profiling.
The application services are also described in the architecture. The application services and components diagram describes the components that are needed for the system to function. Then, the technology services and components describe the technologies that should be used in order to properly deploy the system.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Based on the analysis and interpretation of the gathered data, the study produced and plotted the following findings:
1. On the assessment of the previous experiences of the respondents on online subscription:
1.1 The weighted mean of the encountering a problem with regards to the cost and payment is 2.44, interpreted as there were minor problems on the previous experience of the respondents.
This shows that respondents are open to to payment subscription.
1.2 The WWW presence of the university research repository was considered as a moderate problem which obtained an overall mean assessment of 2.63.
This shows that respondents preferred to have a research repository which can be accessed through the world wide web.
1.3 The relevance of material was considered as a moderated problem which obtained an overall mean assessment of 2.68.
This shows that respondents are willing to accept payment subscription as long as the material gathered has relevance on their research or study.
2. On the assessment of the agreement of the respondents on the likelihood of supporting the deployment of university research repository and its corresponding subscription model, the respondents likely agreed on supporting the deployment of a university research repository which obtained an overall assessment of 3.92.
This shows that most of the respondent would like to have a research repository.
3. On the assessment on the level of agreement of the respondents on the benefits of an online research repository using a subscription business model:
3.1 The respondents agreed on the benefits of an online research repository using a subscription model when it comes to the predictable revenue of the school, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.10.
3.2 The respondents agreed on the benefits of an online research repository using a subscription business model in terms of building longer term relationship, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.08.
3.3 The respondents agreed on the benefits of an online research repository using a subscription business model in terms of convenience for student/researcher, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.10.
3.4 The respondents agreed on the benefits of an online research repository using a subscription business model in terms of minimizing workload, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.10
This further support the advantage of having a research repository that could work both for the researcher and students. The repository could also an added tool for income generation option for the University.
4. Figure 2 shows the business process flow of the system. As seen, publishers, either a student or a faculty member, may submit a research. It will be evaluated by an evaluator and may decide to approve or reject to publish the research. If approved, the school administrator will set the price for the research. After setting the price, the research will be published.
Figure 2. Business Process Flow of the Research Publishing System
The subscriber may subscribe to any published research. The system will display only the abstract if the subscriber has no active subscription with the chosen research, and display the chapter if has active subscription with the chosen research. If there is no active subscription, the subscriber will indicate how he will access and how long he will access the chosen research. Based on the specified price by the school administrator, the system will calculate the subscription fee of the chosen option of the subscriber.
Members (publisher/subscriber) of the system may withdraw or pay through the cashier and bank. As a publisher, the member should request first to the cashier before he can remit the balance. As subscriber, the member may pay directly to the cashier.
Overall, the revenue that will generated are determined by the preferences of the users, either it is a member (publisher/subscriber) and a school administrator.
Figure 3. Use-case of the Developed Research Publishing system
Figure 3 shows the use-case overview of the developed system. There are five (5) roles in the developed system. Each of these roles have varied access on the different features of the system.
Figure 4. Use-case from Publishing to Balance Withdrawal
Figure 4 shows the use-case of the publishers in the developed system. As seen, member, students and faculty, are allowed to submit research paper. As they submit a research, it will be evaluated by an evaluator. Newly approved researches will be managed by the school administrator before the system will publish it. The school administrator will set the price, and specify if the researchcan be accessed by chapters. After this, the system will now publish the research paper.
The member may view all of the research he submitted, this includes both unpublished and published research. The member may also request to withdraw balance on the revenue he gained from the calculated subscriptions of the published research.
Figure 5. Use-case of the Member as aSubscriber
Figure 5 shows the use-case of the member as a subscriber. As seen in the figure, the user may be able to subscribe to a research paper, choose subscription, view his subscription, and pay for the subscription. In choosing the subscription, he may choose what chapters he preferred to access and choose the duration on how long he can access these. If the user proceeds, the system will record the subscription and calculate the subscription fee.
5. Assessment of the level of agreement of the respondents on the identified characteristics of the system:
5.1 The respondents agreed on the effectivity of the identified characteristics of the system in terms of features and functionality, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.17.
5.2 The respondents agreed on the effectivity of the identified characteristics of the system in terms of navigation, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.23.
5.3 The respondents agreed on the effectivity of the identified characteristics of the system in terms of control and feedback, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.28.
5.4 The respondents agreed on the effectivity of the identified characteristics of the system in terms of context and text, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.25.
6. On the assessment of the level of agreement on the implementation of a strong security backbone of the system.
6.1 The respondents agreed on the implementation of a strong security backbone of the system in terms of attack monitoring and prevention, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.23.
6.2 The respondents agreed on the implementation of a strong security backbone of the system in terms of strong password, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.14.
6.3 The respondents agreed on the implementation of a strong security backbone of the system in terms of two-factor authentication (2FA) on all the accounts, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.12.
6.4 The respondents agreed on the implementation of a strong security backbone of the system in terms of embedding other measures in the system both in application and process, obtaining an overall mean assessment of 4.18.
5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
The study was conducted to develop a cloud-based research repository that will help universities, including its faculty and students, in their researches. The software aims to help them gain revenues and increase readers of submitted researches. The software also helps those researchers who have a hard time in finding resources in their study.
The study sought to answer the assessment of respondents about their level of agreement on the likelihood of supporting the deployment of the research repository, level of agreement of the respondents on the benefits of an online research repository using subscription business model, level of agreement of the respondents on the identified characteristics of the system, and level of agreement on the implementation of a strong security backbone of the system.
These assessments were answered through a survey. The results were then, analyzed, interpreted, and evaluated by the proponent.
5.2 Conclusions
The following are the conclusions that were drawn from the assessment of gathered data:
1. The overall assessment of the respondents with regards to their previous experience on online subscription suggests that they encountered a moderate problem.
2. The respondents likely agreed to support on the deployment of a university research repository. The respondents main reason to support this is to enable access to a currently published researches. The last reason would be is subscription is an affordable scheme.
3. Overall, the respondents agreed that the online research repository are beneficial in terms of the predictable revenue of the school, building long-term relationship, convenience, and minimizing workload.
4. The respondents agreed on the effectivity of the identified characteristics of the system.
5. The respondents agreed on implementing a strong security backbone on the system.
5.3 Recommendations
The following are the recommendations offered in the study:
1. The research repository aims to resolve problems on the availability of the researches. This would be addressed by enabling the research repository on cloud.
2. Universities and academic libraries are encouraged to utilize the system as part of sharing academic resources to researchers.
3. In order to minimize workload of members in subscribing, especially with regards to payments, the use of different payments APIs, such as payments REST API by PayPal, is recommended to be integrated with the system. This will enable payments to be done online and may be able to attract more interested subscribers who do not have time going to actual school or bank.
4. The use of Two-Factor Authentication in retrieving password or accounts, aside from logging in, is also suggested to be implemented on the system and alike-system. This is to firmly avoid common system vulnerability, such as identity theft.
5. Future researchers that are also conducting related study may use this as a reference and guide for further studies in improving related system.
6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the people who are very instrumental in finishing this study. To my dearest wife-Babes Alvez, my kids – Kessa and Kent, my in-laws – Fe Delos Reyes who are always there to support me in all aspects of this study.
To my thesis adviser Dr. Rosicar E. Escober who never gives up on me, I am forever indebted to you. To all the panelists who extended their time, effort and expertise in providing relevant inputs: Dr. Benilda Eleonor V. Comendador, Prof. Doris B. Gatan, Prof. Michael B. Dela Fuente and of course Dr. Remedios G. Ado….my highest respect and gratitude to all of you.
To our Lord God for the grace, the glory is for your name!
To all my friends, became friends, my co-faculty, TCU family, Mayor Laarni L. Cayetano my sincere thanks to all of you. My success is your success.
[1] Deseret, L.C. (April 2015). Universities seek alternatives to expensive textbooks.
http://national.deseretnews.com/article/4212/universities-seek-
alternatives-to-expensive-textbooks.html
[2] Hughes, B. (May 2014). Changing the Publishing Business Model: Consider the
Whole Value Chain, Not Just Unit Price.
http://www.bookbusinessmag.com/post/changing-publishing-business-model/
[3] Polit D., Beck C., Hungler B. (2001) Essentials of Nursing Research: Methods,
Appraisal and Utilisation, 5thedition Philadelphia, PA
[4] Tilley, E. (2004). The importance of online research dissemination.
Retrieved from: http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9475
[5] The Open Group Architecture Framework. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Open_Group_Architecture_Framework
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