Search results

1 – 7 of 7
Article
Publication date: 20 January 2021

Agusta Palsdottir

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the knowledge and attitude about research data management, the use of data management methods and the perceived need for support, in…

1696

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the knowledge and attitude about research data management, the use of data management methods and the perceived need for support, in relation to participants’ field of research.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study. Data were collected by an email survey and sent to 792 academic researchers and doctoral students. Total response rate was 18% (N = 139). The measurement instrument consisted of six sets of questions: about data management plans, the assignment of additional information to research data, about metadata, standard file naming systems, training at data management methods and the storing of research data.

Findings

The main finding is that knowledge about the procedures of data management is limited, and data management is not a normal practice in the researcher's work. They were, however, in general, of the opinion that the university should take the lead by recommending and offering access to the necessary tools of data management. Taken together, the results indicate that there is an urgent need to increase the researcher's understanding of the importance of data management that is based on professional knowledge and to provide them with resources and training that enables them to make effective and productive use of data management methods.

Research limitations/implications

The survey was sent to all members of the population but not a sample of it. Because of the response rate, the results cannot be generalized to all researchers at the university. Nevertheless, the findings may provide an important understanding about their research data procedures, in particular what characterizes their knowledge about data management and attitude towards it.

Practical implications

Awareness of these issues is essential for information specialists at academic libraries, together with other units within the universities, to be able to design infrastructures and develop services that suit the needs of the research community. The findings can be used, to develop data policies and services, based on professional knowledge of best practices and recognized standards that assist the research community at data management.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature about research data management by examining the results by participants’ field of research. Recognition of the issues is critical in order for information specialists in collaboration with universities to design relevant infrastructures and services for academics and doctoral students that can promote their research data management.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 73 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 December 2021

Jamie Johnston, Ágústa Pálsdóttir, Anna Mierzecka, Ragnar Andreas Audunson, Hans-Christoph Hobohm, Kerstin Rydbeck, Máté Tóth, Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Henrik Jochumsen, Mahmood Khosrowjerdi and Sunniva Evjen

The overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified…

1958

Abstract

Purpose

The overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified view of their professional role and the role of their institutions in supporting the formation of the public sphere and to what extent the variations reflect national contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The multi-country comparison is based on online questionnaires. The central research questions are how do librarians legitimize the use of public resources to uphold a public library service? How do librarians perceive the role of public libraries as public spaces? How do librarians perceive their professional role and the competencies needed for it? Consideration is given to how the digital and social turns are reflected in the responses.

Findings

The results show evidence of a unified professional culture with clear influences from national contexts. A key finding is that librarians see giving access as central for both legitimizing library services and for the library's role as a public sphere institution. Strong support is shown for the social turn in supporting the formation of the public sphere while the digital turn appears to be a future challenge; one of seemingly increased importance due to the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows that libraries across the seven countries have expanded beyond simply providing public access to their book-based collections and now serve as social, learning and creative spaces: both in the physical library and digitally. Qualitative research is needed concerning librarians' notions of public libraries and librarianship, which will provide a more in-depth understanding of the changing professional responsibilities and how public libraries recruit the associated competencies.

Originality/value

The article provides a much needed insight into how librarians perceive the role of public libraries in supporting the formation of the public sphere and democratic processes, as well as their own role.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 78 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 March 2010

Ágústa Pálsdóttir

This paper aims to explore health and lifestyle information seeking behaviour by examining the connection between purposive information seeking and information encountering.

2689

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore health and lifestyle information seeking behaviour by examining the connection between purposive information seeking and information encountering.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on purposive seeking and information encountering, gathered from postal surveys in 2002 and 2007, were compared. Random samples of 1,000 Icelanders, aged 18 to 80 were used. The response rate was 51 per cent in 2002 and 47 per cent in 2007. Based on the purposive seeking in 22 sources, k‐means cluster analysis was used to draw four clusters of participants: passive, moderately passive, moderately active and active.

Findings

The results from 2007 and 2002 revealed the same kind of information seeking. The findings indicate that information encountering is an integral feature of information seeking behaviour. Information is encountered more often than sought on purpose by all clusters. Clusters that were active in purposive information seeking were also active in information encountering and those who were passive in either of the two styles of information seeking were also passive in the other.

Research limitations/implications

The response rates are considered satisfactory in postal surveys. Nevertheless, when missing data in the cluster analysis are also considered it raises a question about the validity of the findings. The findings of the studies, however, are strengthened by the fact that respondents reflect the population fairly well.

Practical implications

Improved knowledge of information seeking and how different groups within society can be reached more effectively is important for health promotion and public health practice.

Originality/value

The paper uses quantitative methods to examine the connection between purposive information seeking and information encountering.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 66 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 12 October 2012

227

Abstract

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 68 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Abstract

Details

Library Dementia Services
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83867-691-9

Article
Publication date: 21 June 2023

Debasis Majhi and Bhaskar Mukherjee

The purpose of this study is to identify the research fronts by analysing highly cited core papers adjusted with the age of a paper in library and information science (LIS) where…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the research fronts by analysing highly cited core papers adjusted with the age of a paper in library and information science (LIS) where natural language processing (NLP) is being applied significantly.

Design/methodology/approach

By excavating international databases, 3,087 core papers that received at least 5% of the total citations have been identified. By calculating the average mean years of these core papers, and total citations received, a CPT (citation/publication/time) value was calculated in all 20 fronts to understand how a front is relatively receiving greater attention among peers within a course of time. One theme article has been finally identified from each of these 20 fronts.

Findings

Bidirectional encoder representations from transformers with CPT value 1.608 followed by sentiment analysis with CPT 1.292 received highest attention in NLP research. Columbia University New York, in terms of University, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, in terms of journals, USA followed by People Republic of China, in terms of country and Xu, H., University of Texas, in terms of author are the top in these fronts. It is identified that the NLP applications boost the performance of digital libraries and automated library systems in the digital environment.

Practical implications

Any research fronts that are identified in the findings of this paper may be used as a base for researchers who intended to perform extensive research on NLP.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the methodology adopted in this paper is the first of its kind where meta-analysis approach has been used for understanding the research fronts in sub field like NLP for a broad domain like LIS.

Details

Digital Library Perspectives, vol. 39 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2059-5816

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 July 2021

Diane Mizrachi, Alicia M. Salaz, Serap Kurbanoglu and Joumana Boustany

This paper presents the complete findings from the Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS), the world's largest study of tertiary students' format preferences and…

1056

Abstract

Purpose

This paper presents the complete findings from the Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS), the world's largest study of tertiary students' format preferences and behaviors. The analysis of ARFIS proceeded in two stages. This paper reveals results from the second stage for the first time and compares them with the earlier results. The authors then present and discuss the results from the combined datasets of 21,266 students in 33 countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 44 members in the ARFIS research team distributed an online survey composed of 22 Likert-style, multiple choice and open-ended questions to tertiary students on their format preferences and behaviors. Inferential statistical analysis was used on participant responses, and descriptive statistics analysis was used on the combined amalgamated dataset.

Findings

Majorities of students in all countries consistently show preference for reading their academic texts in print. However, variations of preferences do occur between countries. Overall, the language of a reading does not affect reading format preferences, but national scores on this question are greatly diverse.

Originality/value

ARFIS is the largest study of its kind created through a collaboration of researchers in countries on six continents, collecting data in more than 20 languages. The sample size, rigorous statistical analysis and consistency of results strengthen the reliability of the findings. Analysis of the first dataset has received widespread recognition, but this paper is the first to publish the second dataset and the complete amalgamated results.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 49 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

Keywords

1 – 7 of 7