Page 103 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.45, 2019

102 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.11, 2019

communication, which is data representation of communication elements interaction under
certain communication modes. Based on Lancaster model (Yue, 1999) and context of academic
communication in networking era, roles and relations of academic communication elements (such
as user, journal publisher, information integration platform and information center) can be arranged
and then academic communication process and pattern that generate usage data can be summarized
as follows. Users establish relations with journal publishers mainly by submitting papers. Journal
publishers establish relations with users, information centers and information integration platforms
mainly by publishing papers and transferring copyrights of papers. Information integration
platforms build relations with journal publishers by purchasing copyrights of papers and then
produce academic databases. Information centers establish relations with journal publishers and
information integration platforms by purchasing journals or academic databases. Users browse
or read papers through a series of channels, such as journal publishers (paper version or digital
version on journal official websites), information integration platforms or information centers
(as shown in Figure 1). In this study, usage data generated only in the process of academic
communication through journal official websites and information integration platform (direct
access or indirect access) are explored.

Figure 1. Academic communication process and pattern that generate usage data

Then, based on current research and usage data from different channels, this study holds that user
preferences can be explored and characteristics and laws of user usage patterns can be revealed by
usage metrics. User preferences mainly consist of platform selection preferences (channels) and
research interest preferences (information resources). Platform selection preferences usually affect