Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Volume 55, Issue 3, Page 596-608, September 2023.
Without sufficient information about research data practices occurring in a particular research organisation, there is a risk of mismatching research data service efforts with the needs of its researchers. This study describes how data acquiring and data sharing occurring within a particular research organisation can be investigated by using current research information system publication data. The case study organisation’s current research information system was used to identify the sample of investigated articles. A sample of 193 journal articles published by researchers in the computer science department of the case study’s university during 2019 were extracted for scrutiny from the current research information system. For these 193 articles, a classification of the main study types was developed to accommodate the multidisciplinary nature of the case department’s research agenda. Furthermore, a coding framework was developed to capture the key elements of data acquiring and data sharing. The articles representing life sciences and computational research relatively frequently reused open data, whereas data acquisition of experimental research, human interaction studies and human intervention studies often relied on collecting original data. Data sharing also differed between the computationally intensive study types of life sciences and computational research and the study types relying on collection of original data. Research data were not available for reuse in only a minority of life science (n = 2; 7%) and computational research (n = 15; 14%) studies. The study types of experimental research, human interaction studies and human intervention studies less frequently made their data available for reuse. The findings suggest that research organisations representing computer sciences may include different subfields that have their own cultures of data sharing. This study demonstrates that analyses of publications listed in current research information systems provide detailed descriptions how the affiliated researchers acquire and share research data.
Leveraging information literacy: Mapping the conceptual influence and appropriation of information literacy in other disciplinary landscapes
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Volume 55, Issue 3, Page 548-566, September 2023.
Information literacy forms a key concept within Library and Information Science, where it forms the focus of scholarship, conferences, journals and teaching librarian practice, alike. However, little is known about how other fields and disciplines have employed these outputs within their own research and practice. This paper examines how the concept of information literacy has been leveraged into the discourses of non-Library and Information Science disciplinary landscapes. This is achieved through a qualitative mapping of five different fields and disciplines, including Higher Education, Management and Business, Public Health, Nursing and Psychology, to identify how information literacy terminology, definitions, theories and frameworks have travelled across scholarly and practice boundaries to become appropriated into other disciplinary landscapes. The aim of this collaborative work is to develop an indicative rather than an exhaustive understanding of what travels within information literacy research and practice and to strengthen the Library and Information Science narrative on the impact of information literacy activities.
Information literacy forms a key concept within Library and Information Science, where it forms the focus of scholarship, conferences, journals and teaching librarian practice, alike. However, little is known about how other fields and disciplines have employed these outputs within their own research and practice. This paper examines how the concept of information literacy has been leveraged into the discourses of non-Library and Information Science disciplinary landscapes. This is achieved through a qualitative mapping of five different fields and disciplines, including Higher Education, Management and Business, Public Health, Nursing and Psychology, to identify how information literacy terminology, definitions, theories and frameworks have travelled across scholarly and practice boundaries to become appropriated into other disciplinary landscapes. The aim of this collaborative work is to develop an indicative rather than an exhaustive understanding of what travels within information literacy research and practice and to strengthen the Library and Information Science narrative on the impact of information literacy activities.
Exploring COVID-19 research papers published on journals in the field of LIS
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Volume 55, Issue 3, Page 567-578, September 2023.
As the COVID-19 pandemic prevails, research related to COVID-19 has spread beyond medicine, health science, and biology to almost all academic fields. Library and information science is one of the most active fields that publish COVID-19-related research papers. This study examined 696 research papers related to COVID-19 whose journal being categorized as “information science & library science” by Web of Science. The result of bibliometric analysis showed that the publications were active and on the rise. Most papers were published in English and produced in the United States. According to the keyword clustering map produced by semantic network analysis, two fields, bibliometrics and health communication, were publishing research papers related to COVID-19 most actively. Moreover, the most productive journal was a library and information science journal focusing on health informatics. Additionally, a tendency was found that researchers preferred to publish on journals with high impact factors. Compared with non-COVID-19-related research papers, there was a significant decrease of “time for acceptance” of COVID-19-related papers, and the proportion of open access was relatively high. Confronting the global crisis of COVID-19, the library and information science field also made efforts and challenges to resolve the slow peer-review, delayed publishing, and high paywalls, which have been recognized as a “chronic diseases” of the academic publishing ecosystem. It is expected that these endeavors can serve as a turning point to reconsider and innovate the traditional research-publishing lifecycle.
As the COVID-19 pandemic prevails, research related to COVID-19 has spread beyond medicine, health science, and biology to almost all academic fields. Library and information science is one of the most active fields that publish COVID-19-related research papers. This study examined 696 research papers related to COVID-19 whose journal being categorized as “information science & library science” by Web of Science. The result of bibliometric analysis showed that the publications were active and on the rise. Most papers were published in English and produced in the United States. According to the keyword clustering map produced by semantic network analysis, two fields, bibliometrics and health communication, were publishing research papers related to COVID-19 most actively. Moreover, the most productive journal was a library and information science journal focusing on health informatics. Additionally, a tendency was found that researchers preferred to publish on journals with high impact factors. Compared with non-COVID-19-related research papers, there was a significant decrease of “time for acceptance” of COVID-19-related papers, and the proportion of open access was relatively high. Confronting the global crisis of COVID-19, the library and information science field also made efforts and challenges to resolve the slow peer-review, delayed publishing, and high paywalls, which have been recognized as a “chronic diseases” of the academic publishing ecosystem. It is expected that these endeavors can serve as a turning point to reconsider and innovate the traditional research-publishing lifecycle.
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.
Book review: Torben Larsen, Review of Applied Doughnut Economics
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Ahead of Print.
Book review: Torben Larsen, Review of Applied Doughnut Economics
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Ahead of Print.
Copyright administration in academic libraries in Ghana
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Ahead of Print.
The adverse outcomes of copyright violations to most businesses and Higher Education Institutions which depend on copyright in their operations have led these businesses and institutions to put in place stiffer measures with the view to avoiding lawsuits. Data collected from 38 library staff and head librarians from two public and two private universities using questionnaires and one-on-one interviews were used in a sequential mixed methods approach to investigate the mechanisms for copyright administration that ensure a balance of stakeholder rights in academic libraries in Ghana. Although participants had knowledge of the permitted use clauses in the copyright laws of Ghana they did not know of their right, and the right of library users to permitted use for: “Private copying,” “Illustrations for instructions,” and “For the benefit of libraries and archives.” Copyright was thus being administered to the disadvantage of library users. Library staff also lacked confidence, and rather shifted responsibility to other departments in the interpretation of the copyright laws. Thus, awareness of the law per se is only one part of the equation, the other part being its proper interpretation and administration.
The adverse outcomes of copyright violations to most businesses and Higher Education Institutions which depend on copyright in their operations have led these businesses and institutions to put in place stiffer measures with the view to avoiding lawsuits. Data collected from 38 library staff and head librarians from two public and two private universities using questionnaires and one-on-one interviews were used in a sequential mixed methods approach to investigate the mechanisms for copyright administration that ensure a balance of stakeholder rights in academic libraries in Ghana. Although participants had knowledge of the permitted use clauses in the copyright laws of Ghana they did not know of their right, and the right of library users to permitted use for: “Private copying,” “Illustrations for instructions,” and “For the benefit of libraries and archives.” Copyright was thus being administered to the disadvantage of library users. Library staff also lacked confidence, and rather shifted responsibility to other departments in the interpretation of the copyright laws. Thus, awareness of the law per se is only one part of the equation, the other part being its proper interpretation and administration.
Copyright administration in academic libraries in Ghana
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Ahead of Print.
The adverse outcomes of copyright violations to most businesses and Higher Education Institutions which depend on copyright in their operations have led these businesses and institutions to put in place stiffer measures with the view to avoiding lawsuits. Data collected from 38 library staff and head librarians from two public and two private universities using questionnaires and one-on-one interviews were used in a sequential mixed methods approach to investigate the mechanisms for copyright administration that ensure a balance of stakeholder rights in academic libraries in Ghana. Although participants had knowledge of the permitted use clauses in the copyright laws of Ghana they did not know of their right, and the right of library users to permitted use for: “Private copying,” “Illustrations for instructions,” and “For the benefit of libraries and archives.” Copyright was thus being administered to the disadvantage of library users. Library staff also lacked confidence, and rather shifted responsibility to other departments in the interpretation of the copyright laws. Thus, awareness of the law per se is only one part of the equation, the other part being its proper interpretation and administration.
The adverse outcomes of copyright violations to most businesses and Higher Education Institutions which depend on copyright in their operations have led these businesses and institutions to put in place stiffer measures with the view to avoiding lawsuits. Data collected from 38 library staff and head librarians from two public and two private universities using questionnaires and one-on-one interviews were used in a sequential mixed methods approach to investigate the mechanisms for copyright administration that ensure a balance of stakeholder rights in academic libraries in Ghana. Although participants had knowledge of the permitted use clauses in the copyright laws of Ghana they did not know of their right, and the right of library users to permitted use for: “Private copying,” “Illustrations for instructions,” and “For the benefit of libraries and archives.” Copyright was thus being administered to the disadvantage of library users. Library staff also lacked confidence, and rather shifted responsibility to other departments in the interpretation of the copyright laws. Thus, awareness of the law per se is only one part of the equation, the other part being its proper interpretation and administration.
Linkages between information overload and acculturative stress: The case of Black diasporic immigrants in the US
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Ahead of Print.
This study examines the information behavior of Black immigrants in the United States and specifically investigates possible linkages between information overload and acculturative stress. Focus groups were conducted with African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latinx immigrants in Florida. When analyzed according to Jaeger and Burnett’s theory of information worlds (Burnett and Jaeger, 2011; Jaeger and Burnett, 2010), the data supports that participants experience information overload as a result of the voluminous and dispersed nature of information in the US; perceptions of belonging and transnationality; and undertaking high-stakes tasks such as immigration procedures, finding employment, and understanding cultural norms. Participants felt that the large, stratified, and complex US information landscape can prompt stress. Since information overload poses a barrier to immigrant social inclusion, it can be interpreted as acculturative stress.
This study examines the information behavior of Black immigrants in the United States and specifically investigates possible linkages between information overload and acculturative stress. Focus groups were conducted with African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latinx immigrants in Florida. When analyzed according to Jaeger and Burnett’s theory of information worlds (Burnett and Jaeger, 2011; Jaeger and Burnett, 2010), the data supports that participants experience information overload as a result of the voluminous and dispersed nature of information in the US; perceptions of belonging and transnationality; and undertaking high-stakes tasks such as immigration procedures, finding employment, and understanding cultural norms. Participants felt that the large, stratified, and complex US information landscape can prompt stress. Since information overload poses a barrier to immigrant social inclusion, it can be interpreted as acculturative stress.