Methodological Problems of Complex Researches of a Digital Transformation in Scientific Communication

Abstract

The article substantiates the need for methodological reflection for an orderly polydisciplinary study of the digital transformation of scientific communications, based on identifying four possible options for studying the transformation; a possibility to present a system of digital scientific communications (DSC) as an object of complex research and the proposed approach to create its possible model is underlined. A brief outline of the methodological specifics of each of the research clusters describing digital transformation is given: scientometric, sociological, economic, as well as a cluster related to information and communicationtechnologies. Their historical features are briefly described, as well as the most important milestones in the development of the digital transformation of scientific communications. A number of general scientific concepts (platform, network, blog, repository, database) used in digital transformation research are also presented, and their terminological specificity within the studied clusters is indicated. The article also proposes a model of the DSC system, based on the theoretical developments of the studied clusters, primarily - scientometric, sociological and economic ones. The DSC system model would contribute to the development of a holistic, more accurate and complete representation of the digital transformation of the field of research and development, including research activities, the information environment of science and the system of scientific communications.