Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Ahead of Print.
Wikipedia is a widely used information source among students in higher education institutes but is regarded as less credible among teaching faculty. The present study is an attempt to understand how faculty perceive, use and believe Wikipedia as a credible source of information. The paper draws upon a survey data gathered from 257 university faculty members by employing the systematic random sampling technique. The analysis of collected data suggests that faculty members used Wikipedia for multiple purposes ranging from teaching and research to leisure reading. They regarded Wikipedia as a useful and credible source of information while having a positive belief in the Wikipedia project. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that faculty perceptions have grown more favorable regarding Wikipedia use, usefulness, and quality of information. Hence, our study found that faculty members were trying to integrate Wikipedia into their teaching, learning and research endeavors by allowing students to consult and cite Wikipedia information and enabling them to be critical and proficient users of Wikipedia as a part of their information-seeking, gathering, and sense-making practices. However, there is a need of moving beyond the passive consumption of content to contribute to Wikipedia content by creating new entries, and adding to and editing earlier entries. The present study would enhance our understanding of the richness, usefulness, and credibility of Wikipedia information among university faculty from a developing country’s perspective. Such understanding contributes to illustrating the global acceptance level of Wikipedia in academia as a source of information and knowledge.
Author Archives: Amara Malik
Wikipedia and academia: University faculty patterns of use and perceptions of credibility
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Ahead of Print.
Wikipedia is a widely used information source among students in higher education institutes but is regarded as less credible among teaching faculty. The present study is an attempt to understand how faculty perceive, use and believe Wikipedia as a credible source of information. The paper draws upon a survey data gathered from 257 university faculty members by employing the systematic random sampling technique. The analysis of collected data suggests that faculty members used Wikipedia for multiple purposes ranging from teaching and research to leisure reading. They regarded Wikipedia as a useful and credible source of information while having a positive belief in the Wikipedia project. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that faculty perceptions have grown more favorable regarding Wikipedia use, usefulness, and quality of information. Hence, our study found that faculty members were trying to integrate Wikipedia into their teaching, learning and research endeavors by allowing students to consult and cite Wikipedia information and enabling them to be critical and proficient users of Wikipedia as a part of their information-seeking, gathering, and sense-making practices. However, there is a need of moving beyond the passive consumption of content to contribute to Wikipedia content by creating new entries, and adding to and editing earlier entries. The present study would enhance our understanding of the richness, usefulness, and credibility of Wikipedia information among university faculty from a developing country’s perspective. Such understanding contributes to illustrating the global acceptance level of Wikipedia in academia as a source of information and knowledge.
Wikipedia is a widely used information source among students in higher education institutes but is regarded as less credible among teaching faculty. The present study is an attempt to understand how faculty perceive, use and believe Wikipedia as a credible source of information. The paper draws upon a survey data gathered from 257 university faculty members by employing the systematic random sampling technique. The analysis of collected data suggests that faculty members used Wikipedia for multiple purposes ranging from teaching and research to leisure reading. They regarded Wikipedia as a useful and credible source of information while having a positive belief in the Wikipedia project. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that faculty perceptions have grown more favorable regarding Wikipedia use, usefulness, and quality of information. Hence, our study found that faculty members were trying to integrate Wikipedia into their teaching, learning and research endeavors by allowing students to consult and cite Wikipedia information and enabling them to be critical and proficient users of Wikipedia as a part of their information-seeking, gathering, and sense-making practices. However, there is a need of moving beyond the passive consumption of content to contribute to Wikipedia content by creating new entries, and adding to and editing earlier entries. The present study would enhance our understanding of the richness, usefulness, and credibility of Wikipedia information among university faculty from a developing country’s perspective. Such understanding contributes to illustrating the global acceptance level of Wikipedia in academia as a source of information and knowledge.
Health information seeking and sharing behavior of young adults on social media in Pakistan
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Volume 55, Issue 3, Page 579-595, September 2023.
Social media such as Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Twitter have radically enhanced the public access to health information. Still, studies have unexplored the factors that contribute toward such behaviors especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study identifies the factors that contribute to the likelihood of young adults’ health information seeking and sharing on social media. Specifically, drawing upon health belief model (HBM), the study attempts to understand how health belief and e-Health literacy affects health information seeking and sharing on social media. The study collected data from 413 young adults through Google Forms on a random basis. The results generated applying structural equation modeling confirmed that HBM related factors such as perceived susceptibility, perceived severity and perceived benefits positively while perceived barriers negatively influence young adults’ health information seeking and sharing intentions on social media. Furthermore, e-Health literacy was positively associated with health information seeking and sharing intentions on social media. This study is amongst a first few studies in the context of developing world to investigate the young adults’ intentions of seeking and sharing health information on social media based on HBM.
Social media such as Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Twitter have radically enhanced the public access to health information. Still, studies have unexplored the factors that contribute toward such behaviors especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study identifies the factors that contribute to the likelihood of young adults’ health information seeking and sharing on social media. Specifically, drawing upon health belief model (HBM), the study attempts to understand how health belief and e-Health literacy affects health information seeking and sharing on social media. The study collected data from 413 young adults through Google Forms on a random basis. The results generated applying structural equation modeling confirmed that HBM related factors such as perceived susceptibility, perceived severity and perceived benefits positively while perceived barriers negatively influence young adults’ health information seeking and sharing intentions on social media. Furthermore, e-Health literacy was positively associated with health information seeking and sharing intentions on social media. This study is amongst a first few studies in the context of developing world to investigate the young adults’ intentions of seeking and sharing health information on social media based on HBM.
Assessing the perceived research competencies of academic librarians in Pakistan: Implications for work performance
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Volume 55, Issue 3, Page 535-547, September 2023.
This study aims to investigate the research experience, perceived research capabilities, and role of LIS education in reading and doing research. It further explores their preferred educational activities to learn research skills and the impact of research competencies on their work performance. An online survey was conducted through a questionnaire and the data were collected from the librarians working in academic libraries in Pakistan. The findings revealed that a majority of the academic librarians wrote either journal article/s or presented their research in conferences. With regard to research competencies, academic librarians indicated their high confidence in performing discrete steps involved in a research project. However, the participants noted their lack of confidence in knowing which statistical test(s) to run and how to code qualitative data to identify themes and sub-themes. The study also revealed that Library Information Science (LIS) qualification more adequately trained academic librarians to read about rather than conduct research. Academic librarians considered continuing education programs (i.e. workshops, seminars, sessions, and attending conferences) as an effective delivery mode for learning research methods. The research competencies of the participants also came out as a positive predictor of work performance. The study suggests that academic libraries, LIS schools, and other organizations, should be keenly aware of librarians’ research learning needs and facilitate them by creating a supportive environment for learning and applying research knowledge.
This study aims to investigate the research experience, perceived research capabilities, and role of LIS education in reading and doing research. It further explores their preferred educational activities to learn research skills and the impact of research competencies on their work performance. An online survey was conducted through a questionnaire and the data were collected from the librarians working in academic libraries in Pakistan. The findings revealed that a majority of the academic librarians wrote either journal article/s or presented their research in conferences. With regard to research competencies, academic librarians indicated their high confidence in performing discrete steps involved in a research project. However, the participants noted their lack of confidence in knowing which statistical test(s) to run and how to code qualitative data to identify themes and sub-themes. The study also revealed that Library Information Science (LIS) qualification more adequately trained academic librarians to read about rather than conduct research. Academic librarians considered continuing education programs (i.e. workshops, seminars, sessions, and attending conferences) as an effective delivery mode for learning research methods. The research competencies of the participants also came out as a positive predictor of work performance. The study suggests that academic libraries, LIS schools, and other organizations, should be keenly aware of librarians’ research learning needs and facilitate them by creating a supportive environment for learning and applying research knowledge.