Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (Journal)
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The Majority of High-Impact Science Journals Would Accept Manuscripts Derived from Open Access Electronic Theses and Dissertations
No full textA Review of:
Ramírez, M. L., McMillan, G., Dalton, J. T., Hanlon, A., Smith, H. S., & Kern, C. (2014). Do open access electronic theses and dissertations diminish publishing opportunities in the sciences? College & Research Libraries, 75(6), 808-821. http://dx.doi.org/10.5860/
crl.75.6.808
Abstract
Objective – To assess science journal publishers’ attitudes and policies regarding open access electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs).
Design – Survey questionnaire.
Setting – Science journal publications.
Subjects – Editorial team members from 290 high-impact science journals.
Methods – The 16,455 science journals listed in the 2005-09 Thompson Reuter’s Journal Performance Indicators (JPI) were identified as the base population for this study. The top five journals, as ranked by relative impact factor, from each of the 171 JPI-defined science disciplines were selected for the sampling frame. After the removal of duplicates, defunct titles, and pretest participants, the 715 resulting journals were grouped into 14 broader subject groups defined by the researchers. Randomized systematic sample was then employed to select a final sample size of 300 journals. Ten additional titles were later removed due to publication scope.
Email invitations to participate in the survey were sent to the selected journals on August 9, 2012. After two email reminders, the web survey closed on August 27. Six phone follow-ups were made to a random sample of 100 out of the 246 non-responders between September 7 and 14 to increase the response rate.
Main Results – The final response rate for the survey was 24.8% (72 out of 290), and the findings had an 11.5% margin of error with 95% confidence interval.
Only 12.5% of the journals surveyed indicated they would “never accept” manuscripts derived from open access ETDs, while 51.4% indicated revised EDTs are “always welcome.” The rest of the respondents had some acceptance restrictions, including case-by-case review (19.4%), accept only if the content differs significantly from the original (8.3%), accept or only if access to the original ETD was limited (1.4%). Five of the 72 respondents (6.9%) did not have a policy for accepting ETDs. Of the 17 researcher-created discipline categories, Engineering titles had the highest (85.7%, or 12 out of 14) and Medical journals had the lowest (25%, or 3 out of 14) proportion of respondents who would “always welcome” manuscripts derived from open access ETDs.
At least 50% of the journals from every type of publishing entity indicated they would “always welcome” revised ETDs. However, there are differences between the entities: University Presses were most likely to “always welcome” revised ETDs (87.5%), Commercial Publishers were more likely to have some acceptance restrictions (41.7%), and Academic Societies were the most likely entity to “never welcome” revised ETDs (12.7%).
Lastly, in a comparison of the results of this study with the results from a similar 2013 study conducted on social science, arts and humanities (SS&H) journals, the authors found statistically significant differences (p=0.025, α=0.05) between the editorial policies regarding revised ETDs of science and SS&H journals.
Conclusion – The study results suggest that, contrary to common perceptions, the majority of high-impact science journals would actually welcome revised open access ETDs submissions. Therefore, science scholars would not greatly reduce their chances for publishing manuscripts derived from EDTs by making the original ETDs accessible online
Bibliometric Analysis Identifies Publication Trends and Most Common Research Topics Related to Internet Health Information Seeking Behaviour
No full textA Review of:
Li, F., Li, M., Guan, P., Ma, S., & Cui, L. (2015). Mapping publication trends and identifying hot spots of research on Internet health information seeking behavior: A quantitative and co-word biclustering analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(3), e81. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3326
Objective – To identify research and publication trends related to health-seeking information behaviour on the Internet.
Design – Bibliometric analysis, publication trends, and co-word biclustering analysis.
Setting – Academic journals.
Subjects – Journal articles retrieved from PubMed meeting eligibility criteria, and articles selected through hand-searching of the top three journals publishing in the identified area of research.
Methods – A search for relevant articles was performed in PubMed and supplemented by manual searching of the top three journals in the field, yielding a total of 2,780 articles. Following a high concordance rate on screening agreement, researchers identified a total of 533 articles for inclusion. These articles were considered to be representative of all the articles published on Internet health-seeking behaviour as of September 2014. Data deemed essential to biclustering co-word analysis included article title, author, institution, country, source, publication year, and MeSH terms, and was collected in both XML and MEDLINE formats to ensure information exhaustivity for subsequent analysis. Analysis of the distribution of data, as well as major MeSH frequency ranking, allowed researchers to identify the most active journals in the subject area, while biclustering for highly frequent MeSH terms determined hot spots of research. Researchers used both mountain and matrix visualization to further illustrate semantic relationships of MeSH terms and the framework for the analysis of research hot spots. Co-word analysis facilitated the identification of like-articles based on major MeSH indexing, while cluster analysis utilized a matrix grouping to identify themes. By combining this information and reorganizing the matrix, researchers were able to highlight the most common themes.
Main Results – Researchers identified ten research “hot spots,” the most prolific research topics, thus providing the top subject areas of research published in the literature related to Internet health-seeking behaviour. Top subjects include health information seeking behaviour related to HIV infection or sexually transmitted diseases; information seeking behaviour of students and of patients with cancer; consumer trust in online health information; behaviour of Internet health information seeking through mobile apps; the interaction between physician-patient relations/communications and Internet use; personal preference and computer literacy related to Internet use; and the use of social media by parents.
In terms of publishing rates, the number of papers published on health information seeking behaviour has increased consistently since 1985, when only one paper was published, to 2013, in which 114 papers were published. Authors from 42 countries or regions contributed to the body of relevant literature, with authors from the United States of America accounting for over half of published papers. Just over 96% of articles were published in English. Of the 253 journals identified as publishers of these articles, eight published over one-third of all the identified articles. The Journal of Medical Internet Research published the most articles on this topic.
Conclusion – Bibliographic analysis identified both subject and publication trends related to Internet health information seeking behaviour. Publication rates of research in the area of Internet health information have increased steadily since the first article was published in 1985. The bulk of the research tends to fall within ten identified hot spots, or research topics, according to a bibliometric analysis of indexing
Students and Libraries May Benefit from Late Night Hours
No full textA Review of:
Scarletto, E. A., Burhanna, K. J., & Richardson, E. (2013). Wide awake at 4 AM: A study of late night user behavior, perceptions and performance at an academic library. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 39(5), 371-377. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2013.02.006
Abstract
Objective – To assess late night library usage, including a demographic profile of students benefitting from late night hours, with an analysis of the services and resources they used, and whether the use of late hours is connected to student success.
Design – A mixed-methods approach including quantitative demographic information alongside qualitative user feedback collected using a web-based survey.
Setting – A large, public research university library in the United States of America using late night operating hours (11 P.M. to 7:30 A.M.) to create 24-hour library availability 5 days per week.
Subjects – Undergraduate and graduate students.
Methods – Using the university’s building monitoring database (BMD), researchers collected data on which students were using the library building when late night hours were in effect for fall and spring semesters. Along with the date and time of entry, the BMD collected the university ID number of the students and their email address. Using student ID numbers, information from the BMD was cross-referenced with anonymized demographic information from the university’s institutional planning office, enabling comparisons across a range of other data, including students’ discipline, GPA, and other information.
Researchers emailed students the web-based survey, directly targeting users who had made use of the library’s late night operating hours. Survey questions investigated when students used the library, explored student aims when in the library, and asked students to rank the tasks they were trying to accomplish while in the library. In addition, researchers sought student feedback on what services and resources they used during late hours, asking students to identify services and resources they would have liked to use but which were not offered during late night hours, and inquiring about students’ sense of safety and security when using the library late at night.
Main Results – In total, researchers report that 5,822 students, representing approximately 21% of the campus population, visited the library during the late hours, for 22,383 visits. Researchers report that 57% of late night users took advantage of the extended hours on more than one occasion, with 39% returning three or more times. Sundays were the most popular day, while Thursdays were least popular. Researchers also tracked entry times, with the most popular entry times occurring between 11 P.M. to 2 A.M., accounting for 80% of all late night visits. While survey respondents were drawn entirely from the late night users, 63% preferred using the library late at night versus standard daytime operating hours.
The overall survey response rate was less than 5%. Survey respondents (n=243) reported participating in a variety of activities while visiting during late night library hours, with quiet study (87%), working on projects or papers (72%), and group study (42%) as the most frequently reported activities. Respondents also ranked the top three activities they hoped to accomplish while in the library: quiet study (50%) and work on projects and papers (34%) remained top activities, though group study (20%) fell to fourth place, slightly behind the third-ranked activity of printing or copying documents (22%).
Respondents reported their use of services during late night hours, indicating use of the university’s wireless Internet access, library printers, computers, and online databases and electronic resources. The only staff service point available to students during overnight hours, circulation services, was used by 16% of respondents. Regarding student responses about what services were not offered that they would have liked to have available, the researchers reveal that “[f]ood and drink were overwhelmingly the most frequently requested services” (p. 374), followed by a desire for more comfortable furniture and spaces. Some respondents also requested that late night hours be extended to seven days a week. Overall, 96% of those submitting user feedback reported a sense of security, an important consideration for late night hours.
Regarding the sample, researchers found that the population of late night library users closely reflected the overall university population. An independent samples t-test comparing the differences between the average GPA of late night users to the average GPA of the overall university population was statistically insignificant. For undergraduates only, there exists a small difference between the retention rate of students using late night hours (84.6%) versus overall university retention rate (80.2%). A Pearson’s chi-squared test revealed a statistically significant association between late night library use and retention rates for both undergraduate and graduate populations when compared to the retention rates of non-late night users across the same student groups.
Conclusion – This study reveals that undergraduate students in particular make use of late night hours for studying or other academic activities, and positions the late night model as a successful customer service offering at Kent State University. Although researchers do conclusively connect the availability of late night hours to student retention and academic success, their study points to the need for further research exploring this question
Internet Connectivity and Accessibility in University Libraries: A Study of Access, Use and Problems among Faculty of Natural Sciences Students, University of Jos, Nigeria
No full textAbstract
Objective – This study has the objective of establishing whether the undergraduate students of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, have access to and use Internet facilities in the University library.
Methods – A survey research design was adopted for this study and questionnaires were used in gathering data. Statistical methods used in the analysis include percentages, frequencies, and Chi-Square test for measuring the association of library visit and use of the Internet.
Results – The analysis of the data and findings indicated that there is Internet connectivity in the library. The findings also revealed that few students (15.5%) use the computer and the Internet on a daily basis. The problems of slow Internet connection at peak periods and unsteady power supply were clearly identified. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that there is no association between the students’ library visits and their use of the Internet for most academic purposes, except for downloading articles.
Conclusion – The presence of Internet connectivity in the library, does not translate to meaningful academic behaviour among the students. Therefore, sensitising and training of the students on Internet usage were recommended for better academic performance and life-long learning
Knowing How Good Our Searches Are: An Approach Derived from Search Filter Development Methodology
No full textAbstract
Objective – Effective literature searching is of paramount importance in supporting evidence based practice, research, and policy. Missed references can have adverse effects on outcomes. This paper reports on the development and evaluation of an online learning resource, designed for librarians and other interested searchers, presenting an evidence based approach to enhancing and testing literature searches.
Methods – We developed and evaluated the set of free online learning modules for librarians called Smart Searching, suggesting the use of techniques derived from search filter development undertaken by the CareSearch Palliative Care Knowledge Network and its associated project Flinders Filters. The searching module content has been informed by the processes and principles used in search filter development. The self-paced modules are intended to help librarians and other interested searchers test the effectiveness of their literature searches, provide evidence of search performance that can be used to improve searches, as well as to evaluate and promote searching expertise. Each module covers one of four techniques, or core principles, employed in search filter development: (1) collaboration with subject experts; (2) use of a reference sample set; (3) term identification through frequency analysis; and (4) iterative testing. Evaluation of the resource comprised ongoing monitoring of web analytics to determine factors such as numbers of
users and geographic origin; a user survey conducted online elicited qualitative information about the usefulness of the resource.
Results – The resource was launched in May 2014. Web analytics show over 6,000 unique users from 101 countries (at 9 August 2015). Responses to the survey (n=50) indicated that 80% would recommend the resource to a colleague.
Conclusions – An evidence based approach to searching, derived from search filter development methodology, has been shown to have value as an online learning resource. More information is needed about the reasons why people are using the resource beyond what could be ascertained by the survey results
Conducting State-Wide Research to Inform Practice in New South Wales Public Libraries
No full textNo abstract
A Training Needs Analysis Case Study at Legal Aid Queensland
No full textAbstract
Objective – Legal Aid Queensland Library Services plan, design and deliver a training program comprising seven individual components including induction training, individual instruction, group training, and regional office training. The program is guided by a formal, detailed training plan developed by experienced library trainers. Training needs assessment however has been informal and infrequent. Library Services commenced a formal training needs analysis (TNA) in 2014. It was designed to gather evidence for decision making around future training activities.
Methods – The TNA was comprised of five quantitative and qualitative components: analysis of catalogue and knowledge management database usage statistics; analysis of paid subscription usage statistics; analysis of library reference and research request data; work shadowing library clients; and interviews with selected team managers.
Results – Each component revealed different aspects of our clients’ training needs. The results of the TNA revealed gaps in current training and education services, and opportunities for maximizing the effectiveness of our training program. The TNA also provided infrmation about our products and services beyond implications for training.
Conclusion – As a result of the TNA the LAQ library has made changes to it training activities, which we believe are now more closely aligned with client needs and organizational objectives than they were in the past
An Evidence Based Methodology to Facilitate Public Library Non-fiction Collection Development
No full textAbstract
Objective – This research was designed as a pilot study to test a methodology for subject based collection analysis for public libraries.
Methods – WorldCat collection data from eight Australian public libraries was extracted using the Collection Evaluation application. The data was aggregated and filtered to assess how the sample’s titles could be compared against the OCLC Conspectus subject categories. A hierarchy of emphasis emerged and this was divided into tiers ranging from 1% of the sample. These tiers were further analysed to quantify their representativeness against both the sample’s titles and the subject categories taken as a whole. The interpretive aspect of the study sought to understand the types of knowledge embedded in the tiers and was underpinned by hermeneutic phenomenology.
Results – The study revealed that there was a marked tendency for a small percentage of subject categories to constitute a large proportion of the potential topicality that might have been represented in these types of collections. The study also found that distribution of the aggregated collection conformed to a Power Law distribution (80/20) so that approximately 80% of the collection was represented by 20% of the subject categories. The study also found that there were significant commonalities in the types of subject categories that were found in the designated tiers and that it may be possible to develop ontologies that correspond to the collection tiers.
Conclusions – The evidence-based methodology developed in this pilot study has the potential for further development to help to improve the practice of collection development. The introduction of the concept of the epistemic role played by collection tiers is a promising aid to inform our understanding of knowledge organization for public libraries. The research shows a way forward to help to link subjective decision making with a scientifically based approach to managing knowledge resources
Library and Information Science Research Literature is Chiefly Descriptive and Relies Heavily on Survey and Content Analysis Methods
No full textA Review of:
Aytac, S. & Slutsky, B. (2014). Published librarian research, 2008 through 2012: Analyses and perspectives. Collaborative Librarianship, 6(4), 147-159.
Objective – To compare the research articles produced by library and information science (LIS) practitioners, LIS academics, and collaborations between practitioners and academics.
Design – Content analysis.
Setting – English-language LIS literature from 2008 through 2012.
Subjects – Research articles published in 13 library and information science journals.
Methods – Using a purposive sample of 769 articles from selected journals, the authors used content analysis to characterize the mix of authorship models, author status (practitioner, academic, or student), topic, research approach and methods, and data analysis techniques used by LIS practitioners and academics.
Main Results – The authors screened 1,778 articles, 769 (43%) of which were determined to be research articles. Of these, 438 (57%) were written solely by practitioners, 110 (14%) collaboratively by practitioners and academics, 205 (27%) solely by academics, and 16 (2%) by others. The majority of the articles were descriptive (74%) and gathered quantitative data (69%). The range of topics was more varied; the most popular topics were libraries and librarianship (19%), library users/information seeking (13%), medical information/research (13%), and reference services (12%). Pearson’s chi-squared tests detected significant differences in research and statistical approaches by authorship groups.
Conclusion – Further examination of practitioner research is a worthwhile effort as is establishing new funding to support practitioner and academic collaborations. The use of purposive sampling limits the generalizability of the results, particularly to international and non-English LIS literature. Future studies could explore motivators for practitioner-academic collaborations as well as the skills necessary for successful collaboration. Additional support for practitioner research could include mentorship for early career librarians to facilitate more rapid maturation of collaborative research skills and increase the methodological quality of published research