Information Behavior of Electrical Engineering and Computing Doctoral Students and Their Perception of the Academic Library’s Role: A Case Study in Croatia

Libri ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kornelija Petr Balog ◽  
Boris Badurina ◽  
Jadranka Lisek
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Electrical Engineering ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Information Behavior ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Postgraduate Students

Abstract Th aim of the paper is to present findings of a study on information sources and information behavior of doctoral students at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. The study also looked into student perceptions of the role of the academic library and their attitudes toward it as a legitimate partner in the research process, as doctoral students are required to publish the results of their doctoral research in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals during their course of study. However, they rarely use the library and its services; the study was undertaken with the intent to obtain insight into the students’ information behavior as well as needs and reasons for overlooking the library as a relevant partner in their research process. The online survey was conducted on a sample of 138 postgraduate students, with semi-structured interviews with five postgraduate students also conducted. The findings show a dominant student orientation towards online sources such as online databases and Google Scholar. Students tend to overlook the library as a relevant information source but have positive attitudes toward librarians (their knowledge, skills and courtesy). The library needs to become more active in promoting its services and, especially in the domain of postgraduate education, needs to be regarded as a necessary location for any serious research work, where librarians are regarded as cooperating partners in the research process. There were a few limitations of the study: respondents were unwilling to dedicate their time to this research and therefore the interviews were too short to examine the topics discussed in-depth, while the sample was extremely homogeneous, making the results only in part transferable to other contexts.

Conceptual framework for scholarly communication guidance by the academic library: The case of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 1137-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther White ◽  
Lizette King
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Scholarly Communication ◽  
Research Process ◽  
The Body ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Kwame Nkrumah

This article seeks to give academic librarians insight and guidelines into the provision of an effective scholarly communication guidance to doctoral students. The findings of the study showed that doctoral students had not received much training and guidance on research and scholarly communication practices from their supervisors and academic librarians. The study adopted a case study research design with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as the research site and sequential explanatory mixed method approach. A proposed scholarly communication guidance model to be used by the academic library is presented. The model proposes that scholarly communication guidance should be offered to doctoral students immediately they enrol for their programmes, throughout their research process, and finally when the research is completed since they are expected to conduct original research. The model will guide the drafting of policies and the academic library in developing tailor-made channels and contents for scholarly communication guidance to doctoral students. The study has contributed to the body of knowledge on scholarly communication guidance by the academic library to doctoral students as previous studies recorded in the literature pertains mostly to faculty and not to students – particularly doctoral students.

scholarly journals Postgraduate Students’ Perception of Creativity in the Research Process

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-190
Author(s):  
Mojca Juriševič
Keyword(s):  
Work Experience ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Difficult Problem ◽  
Creative Processes ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Creative Research ◽  
One Year

The purpose of the research was, with the aid of a short questionnaire, to determine how postgraduate students (N = 32) perceive the opportunities for creative research in general, andhow they perceive creativity in the preparation of their own research work in particular. Descriptive analysis shows that students (1) perceive a positive study-research climate that encourages creative processes (independence, motivation, intellectual challenges), (2) judge that researchers have numerous opportunities for creative work in the various phases of research and (3) evaluate themselves as highly creative individuals in everyday life. Students perceive themselves as being at their most creative in the definition of the research problem, which they mainly identify with the use of personal strategies (work experience) and take various lengths of time to form, typically up to one year. The most difficult problem in this regard is represented by giving meaning to the problem (breadth, depth, specificity, application). Amongst the perceived encouragement with which mentors motivate students for creative research the most frequent is less directive general guidance in study and research. On the basis of the presented findings, guidelines are suggested for the more effective encouragement of creative research in postgraduate students. 

scholarly journals Student perceptions of plagiarism: A study of Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minh Tran
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Moral Issue ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Moral Thought ◽  
Postgraduate Students

<b>This study investigated perceptions of plagiarism among Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students in a New Zealand university. Informed by Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory, Bandura’s social cognitive theory of moral thought and action, and Marginson’s theory of student self-formation, various aspects of student backgrounds were explored and analysed to identify and explain factors influencing their perceptions.</b><div><b><br></b><p>An explanatory sequential mixed methods research design, qualitative dominant, was employed. The quantitative phase consisted of an online survey with 207 Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students at Victoria University of Wellington. Survey results informed the instrument development and purposeful sampling for the qualitative phase. 12 survey respondents with divergent understandings of plagiarism were selected for participation in a longitudinal series of interviews to seek in-depth information about their understanding and attitudes towards plagiarism, and how their perceptions of plagiarism had developed. </p><p><br></p> The findings revealed that postgraduate students held a range of different views regarding plagiarism at university. Some of them thought students were responsible for their plagiarism, viewing intentional plagiarism as a moral issue, and unintentional plagiarism as part of the learning process. The others were concerned about university’s responsibilities in terms of plagiarism education and management, considering plagiarism as a form of academic cheating, and a scholarly offence. The study found multiple influences on students’ perspectives, habits, and expectations regarding plagiarism, affirming the relevance of the underpinning theories. Students from diverse backgrounds possessed distinct sources of embodied cultural capital, including understanding of plagiarism. They developed moral standards through various environments that they interacted within. As they progressed through their doctoral studies, most students showed deepening understanding of plagiarism and the importance of correct practices. They actively developed their own voice in writing and strived to write with integrity. <p><br></p><p>The research advances knowledge about Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students’ perceptions of plagiarism, populations that have not been previously studied. It offers an alternative perspective to deficit models regarding plagiarism by international students by contributing rich qualitative evidence showing multiple influences on student perceptions. Findings point to practical implications to help university faculty engage with students’ needs and expectations in ways that respect their diverse social and educational backgrounds and generate meaningful and productive outcomes across student groups, thus enhancing equity. </p></div>

scholarly journals Student perceptions of plagiarism: A study of Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minh Tran
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Moral Issue ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Moral Thought ◽  
Postgraduate Students

<b>This study investigated perceptions of plagiarism among Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students in a New Zealand university. Informed by Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory, Bandura’s social cognitive theory of moral thought and action, and Marginson’s theory of student self-formation, various aspects of student backgrounds were explored and analysed to identify and explain factors influencing their perceptions.</b><div><b><br></b><p>An explanatory sequential mixed methods research design, qualitative dominant, was employed. The quantitative phase consisted of an online survey with 207 Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students at Victoria University of Wellington. Survey results informed the instrument development and purposeful sampling for the qualitative phase. 12 survey respondents with divergent understandings of plagiarism were selected for participation in a longitudinal series of interviews to seek in-depth information about their understanding and attitudes towards plagiarism, and how their perceptions of plagiarism had developed. </p><p><br></p> The findings revealed that postgraduate students held a range of different views regarding plagiarism at university. Some of them thought students were responsible for their plagiarism, viewing intentional plagiarism as a moral issue, and unintentional plagiarism as part of the learning process. The others were concerned about university’s responsibilities in terms of plagiarism education and management, considering plagiarism as a form of academic cheating, and a scholarly offence. The study found multiple influences on students’ perspectives, habits, and expectations regarding plagiarism, affirming the relevance of the underpinning theories. Students from diverse backgrounds possessed distinct sources of embodied cultural capital, including understanding of plagiarism. They developed moral standards through various environments that they interacted within. As they progressed through their doctoral studies, most students showed deepening understanding of plagiarism and the importance of correct practices. They actively developed their own voice in writing and strived to write with integrity. <p><br></p><p>The research advances knowledge about Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students’ perceptions of plagiarism, populations that have not been previously studied. It offers an alternative perspective to deficit models regarding plagiarism by international students by contributing rich qualitative evidence showing multiple influences on student perceptions. Findings point to practical implications to help university faculty engage with students’ needs and expectations in ways that respect their diverse social and educational backgrounds and generate meaningful and productive outcomes across student groups, thus enhancing equity. </p></div>

scholarly journals Student perceptions of plagiarism: A study of Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minh Tran
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Moral Issue ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Moral Thought ◽  
Postgraduate Students

<b>This study investigated perceptions of plagiarism among Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students in a New Zealand university. Informed by Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory, Bandura’s social cognitive theory of moral thought and action, and Marginson’s theory of student self-formation, various aspects of student backgrounds were explored and analysed to identify and explain factors influencing their perceptions.</b><div><b><br></b><p>An explanatory sequential mixed methods research design, qualitative dominant, was employed. The quantitative phase consisted of an online survey with 207 Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students at Victoria University of Wellington. Survey results informed the instrument development and purposeful sampling for the qualitative phase. 12 survey respondents with divergent understandings of plagiarism were selected for participation in a longitudinal series of interviews to seek in-depth information about their understanding and attitudes towards plagiarism, and how their perceptions of plagiarism had developed. </p><p><br></p> The findings revealed that postgraduate students held a range of different views regarding plagiarism at university. Some of them thought students were responsible for their plagiarism, viewing intentional plagiarism as a moral issue, and unintentional plagiarism as part of the learning process. The others were concerned about university’s responsibilities in terms of plagiarism education and management, considering plagiarism as a form of academic cheating, and a scholarly offence. The study found multiple influences on students’ perspectives, habits, and expectations regarding plagiarism, affirming the relevance of the underpinning theories. Students from diverse backgrounds possessed distinct sources of embodied cultural capital, including understanding of plagiarism. They developed moral standards through various environments that they interacted within. As they progressed through their doctoral studies, most students showed deepening understanding of plagiarism and the importance of correct practices. They actively developed their own voice in writing and strived to write with integrity. <p><br></p><p>The research advances knowledge about Vietnam- and New Zealand-educated postgraduate students’ perceptions of plagiarism, populations that have not been previously studied. It offers an alternative perspective to deficit models regarding plagiarism by international students by contributing rich qualitative evidence showing multiple influences on student perceptions. Findings point to practical implications to help university faculty engage with students’ needs and expectations in ways that respect their diverse social and educational backgrounds and generate meaningful and productive outcomes across student groups, thus enhancing equity. </p></div>

scholarly journals Information Behavior of the Academic Community of FMVZ-UNAM

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Lucía Galván-Ochoa ◽  
José Ricardo Manriquez-Betanzos
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Information Behavior ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Specific Objective ◽  
Methodological Tool ◽  
De Medicina ◽  
Cattle And Sheep

During 2010, at the Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia of the Universidad Nacional Aut&oacute;noma de M&eacute;xico (fmvz-unam) we analyzed the influence of metadata over its website according to the search engines used by the academic community. This document serves only the second specific objective of the research: to know the academic profile, the informative behavior and the veterinary information needs of the academic community of the fmvz-unam. The methodological tool was the design and implementation of an online survey. We received 215 responses, two thirds answered academic staff, the rest, undergraduate and postgraduate students. In relation to information behavior, an Internet-usage index was developed, with which it was determined that 64 % of this community uses four or five information services on the Internet, This means that the network is widely used to seek information and as communication media. This community search for more veterinary information related to dogs, dairy cattle and sheep, compared to other animal species; while animal welfare, zoonosis and molecular biology are the topics of greatest interest.

Exploring Barriers to Doctoral Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Insights From Practicing Professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1552-1563
Author(s):  
Denise A. Tucker ◽  
Mary V. Compton ◽  
Sarah J. Allen ◽  
Robert Mayo ◽  
Celia Hooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Doctoral Degree ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Advance Research ◽  
Doctor Of Philosophy

Purpose The intended purpose of this research note is to share the findings of a needs assessment online survey of speech and hearing professionals practicing in North Carolina to explore their interest in pursuing a research-focused PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and to document their perceptions of barriers to pursing a PhD in CSD. In view of the well-documented shortage of doctor of philosophy (PhD) faculty to attract, retain, and mentor doctoral students to advance research and to prepare future speech and hearing professionals, CSD faculty must assess the needs, perceptions, and barriers prospective students encounter when considering pursuing a doctoral research degree in CSD. Method The article describes the results of a survey of 242 speech and hearing professionals to investigate their interest in obtaining an academic research-focused PhD in CSD and to solicit their perceived barriers to pursuing a research doctoral degree in CSD. Results Two thirds of the respondents (63.6%) reported that they had considered pursuing a PhD in CSD. Desire for knowledge, desire to teach, and work advancement were the top reasons given for pursuing a PhD in CSD. Eighty-two percent of respondents had no interest in traditional full-time study. Forty-two percent of respondents indicated that they would be interested in part-time and distance doctoral study. The barriers of time, distance, and money emerged as those most frequently identified barriers by respondents. Conclusion The implications inform higher education faculty on how they can best address the needs of an untapped pool of prospective doctoral students in CSD.

25 Reflections on Accounting Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana R. Hermanson
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Journal Review ◽  
Accounting Research

ABSTRACT In this essay, I reflect on my roughly 25 years in accounting research by discussing 25 topics related to (1) the journal review process, (2) specific types of accounting research, and (3) the research process. I hope that these observations will prompt additional thought and discussion, help accounting doctoral students and faculty to publish their research, and potentially challenge some readers.

Direct and Indirect Associations of Personality With Audiovisual Technology Acceptance Through General Self-Efficacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412199778
Author(s):  
Maria Manolika ◽  
Rigas Kotsakis ◽  
Maria Matsiola ◽  
George Kalliris
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Perceived Ease Of Use ◽  
Beliefs About Technology ◽  
General Self Efficacy

Increasing consensus among information systems researchers suggests that personality accounts for the effective use of several technologies, yet less is known about the process through which personality affects user perceptions of technology acceptance. This study, therefore, examined whether personality is associated with student perceptions of audiovisual technology acceptance, and whether general self-efficacy mediates this association. In total, 244 students completed an online survey including measures of personality, general self-efficacy, and perceptions of audiovisual technology acceptance. Canonical correlation uncovered significant associations between personality and student beliefs about technology use. Results further revealed that general self-efficacy fully mediated the effects of openness to experience and neuroticism on Perceived Ease of Use, whereas the association between agreeableness and Perceived Usefulness was partially mediated by self-efficacy beliefs. The fact that personality influences students’ perceptions of technology acceptance both directly and indirectly should not remain unnoticed, especially when designing intervention programs to enhance their academic performance.

Knowledge translation activity of a domestic violence research network: a scoping survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqui Cameron ◽  
Cathy Humphreys ◽  
Kelsey Hegarty
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Translation Strategies ◽  
Inadequate Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Translation Strategies ◽  
Research Findings

Introduction: Research networks undertake work collaboratively on complex areas of research. Few studies examine how these networks develop their knowledge translation activity. Focusing on a domestic violence research network (DVRN), the aim of this study was to answer the question: What is the shared understanding of knowledge translation and activity in a domestic violence research network?Methods: A sample of DVRN members undertook an anonymous online survey about their knowledge translation activity.Results: Completed by 49 of a potential 65 DVRN members (75% completion rate), findings suggested members use multiple knowledge translation definitions, and that different stages of the research process engage people with lived-experience and policymakers undertaking lower levels of engagement than practitioners. Innovative engagement mechanisms to communicate research findings were limited, and knowledge translation barriers included budget, time, capacity, limitation of models, organisational emphasis and support. Finally, there was inadequate knowledge translation evaluation.Conclusion: Overcoming knowledge translation barriers is essential to ensure meaningful collaboration particularly with survivors who are often the missing voice of knowledge translation. Future studies could determine what impact, if any, increasing engagement of survivors and policymakers during all stages of the research process has on knowledge translation.<br />Key messages<br /><ul><li>This study has identified the need for meaningful collaboration with survivors and policymakers during all stages of the research process.</li><br /><li>Innovative engagement mechanisms are essential to engage end-users.</li><br /><li>A focus on evaluation of knowledge translation strategies is warranted.</li></ul>

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