A meta-analysis of service quality of Iranian university libraries based on the LibQUAL model
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the quality of Iranian university libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
This first systematic review and meta-analysis were based on the PRISMA guidelines by searching in national and international databases from 2003 to January 2017 with standard Persian and English keywords. Data searching, extracting and quality appraising were completed by two researchers, independently. Any unexpected documents were assessed by a third expert researcher. Data were extracted in accordance with the “Strength of the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology” checklist after the final selection of appraised documents. Random effects size based on Cochrane test and I2 were used for combining the obtained results from different studies together by considering the heterogeneity of studies.
Findings
Based on the meta-analysis conducted in 25 (6.42 percent) included studies, the total sample size was estimated. According to three dimensions of LibQUAL, findings of current information control, affect of service and the library as a place were estimated as 5.37 [CI95%: 5.02, 5.73], 6.91 [CI95%: 5.56, 6.26], and 5.46 percent [CI95%: 5.2, 5.73], respectively. Also, mean of service adequacy and superiority gap are equal to 0.07 [CI95%: −0.22, 0.36] and −2.06 [CI95%: −2.89, −1.23], respectively. There was a significant correlation between three dimensions of service quality and service superiority gap of LibQUAL and geographical regions of Iran (p<0.01). Also, a significant correlation was found between the gaps of services and three aspects of LibQUAL model and published years through a meta-regression test (p<0.01).
Practical implications
The results obtained from the present study showed that users are relatively satisfied with the quality of services provided by Iranian university libraries. An improvement in the quality of library services can promote the scientific level of universities.
Originality/value
The results of the present systematic review and meta-analysis study demonstrate a vital connection between primary research studies and decision-making for policymakers in Iranian university libraries to increase quality services.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research has been supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS); no. 35326, May 20, 2018 with IR.TUMS.SPH.REC.1396.3969 (Ethical Committee Code) and the authors would like to thanks Young Researchers, and Elite Club, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, and Guilan University of Medical Sciences with for providing their cooperation and their contributions to the conduction of this first meta-analysis. Respective authors’ contributions for this paper are as follows: the conceptualizing and refining research ideas were presented by Aboozar Ramezani and Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali. Literature search was conducted by Aboozar Ramezani and Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali. The included studies were selected by Aboozar Ramezani, Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali, Seyed Javad Ghazimirsaeed and Fereydoon Azadeh (as an Expert). The research design was created by Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali and Aboozar Ramezani. The checklist was designed by Seyed Javad Ghazimirsaeed, Aboozar Ramezani, and Fereydoon Azadeh. Quality appraisal of the finalized studies was performed by Aboozar Ramezani, Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali, Seyed Javad Ghazimirsaeed and Fereydoon Azadeh. The selection of statistical tests/analyses was done by Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali and Aboozar Ramezani. The statistical analyses and computations (including computer work) were performed by Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali. The interpretation of statistical analyses was done by Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali and Aboozar Ramezani. The manuscripts were drafted by Aboozar Ramezani and Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali. The first draft was prepared by A.R, M.H.YK; whereas the second draft was prepared by Aboozar Ramezani, Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali, Mohammad Esmaeilpour Bandboni, Seyed Javad Ghazimirsaeed, Fereydoon Azadeh. Redraft of a page (on later drafts) was done by Aboozar Ramezani and Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali. The manuscript was edited by Aboozar Ramezani, Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali, and Fereydoon Azadeh. Proofreading of the text was done by Aboozar Ramezani, Mohammad Hossein YektaKooshali, Mohammad Esmaeilpour Bandboni, Seyed Javad Ghazimirsaeed, and Fereydoon Azadeh. These authors contributed equally to this work.
Citation
Ramezani, A., Ghazimirsaeed, S.J., Azadeh, F., Bandboni, M.E. and YektaKooshali, M.H. (2018), "A meta-analysis of service quality of Iranian university libraries based on the LibQUAL model", Performance Measurement and Metrics, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 186-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/PMM-05-2017-0014
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