RESEARCH COLLABORATION AMONG LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE SCHOOLS IN SOUTH AFRICA (1991–2012): AN INFORMETRICS STUDY

Mousaion ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan R. Maluleka ◽  
Omwoyo B. Onyancha

This study sought to assess the extent of research collaboration in Library and Information Science (LIS) schools in South Africa between 1991 and 2012. Informetric research techniques were used to obtain relevant data for the study. The data was extracted from two EBSCO-hosted databases, namely, Library and Information Science Source (LISS) and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA). The search was limited to scholarly peer reviewed articles published between 1991 and 2012. The data was analysed using Microsoft Excel ©2010 and UCINET for Windows ©2002 software packages. The findings revealed that research collaboration in LIS schools in South Africa has increased over the past two decades and mainly occurred between colleagues from the same department and institution; there were also collaborative activities at other levels, such as inter-institutional and inter-country, although to a limited extent; differences were noticeable when ranking authors according to different computations of their collaborative contributions; and educator-practitioner collaboration was rare. Several conclusions and recommendations based on the findings are offered in the article.

Mousaion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ike Khazamula Hlongwane

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) practice offers sound benefits to library and information science (LIS) schools. Despite these envisaged benefits, very little is known about RPL practice in LIS schools in South Africa. This study sought to establish whether principles of good assessment were being followed in the LIS schools to ensure the integrity of the RPL outcomes. A combination of a questionnaire and document analysis were used to collect data from the ten LIS schools in the South African higher education and training landscape. The questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data through a survey method. In addition, the researcher employed content analysis to collect qualitative data from institutional RPL policy documents. The findings indicate that RPL assessment processes across LIS schools in South Africa were largely subjected to principles of good practice. The study found that in accordance with the SAQA RPL policy the purpose of assessment was clarified to the candidate upfront, the quality of support to be provided to the candidate in preparing for the assessment was established, an appeals process was made known to the candidate, and the choice of assessment methods was fit for purpose to ensure credible assessment outcomes. It is therefore recommended that other disciplines or departments use LIS schools’ experiences as a benchmark to improve their own RPL endeavours.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matilde Fontanin

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the meaning of fake news in the digital age and on the debate on disinformation in scholarly literature, in the light of the ethics of library and information profession. Design/methodology/approach Revision of a keynote address at the BOCATSSS2020 conference, this paper offers an overview of current literature comparing it with a moment in the past that was crucial for information: post-Second World War time, when Wiener (1948) founded cybernetics and C.P. Snow advocated for “The two cultures” (1959). Findings The complex issue demands a multi-disciplinary approach: there is not one solution, and some approaches risk limiting the freedom of expression, yet countering the phenomenon is a moral obligation for library and information science professionals. Originality/value Comparing the present digital revolution with the past, this paper opens questions on the ethical commitment of information professionals.


1979 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-130
Author(s):  
Fanus C. Gous

Business forecasting in the large manufacturing concerns in South Africa, 1978. Business forecasting has developed rapidly over the past few years as a result of the increasing complexity of the environment of the firm. Some overseas writers assert that the application thereof has developed more slowly than the theory connected to it: although businesses are aware of the necessity and existence of literature on the subject, it is only to a limited extent applied on an organized basis. Overseas businesses apparently experience three problems: a preference for the application of certain techniques is built up so that more suitable techniques are not utilized; not all relevant factors are taken into consideration in the choice of the most suitable technique; and managers often do forecasting themselves even though they possess little knowledge thereof. An empirical study has shown that similar problems are encountered by the relatively large manufacturing concerns in South Africa.Ondernemingsvooruitskatting het gedurende die afgelope jare, as gevolg van die toenemende kompleksiteit in die ondernemingsomgewing, vinnig ontwikkel. Sommige oorsese skrywers beweer dat die toepassing daarvan stadiger ontwikkel het as die teorie daaraan verbonde: ondernemings, alhoewel bewus van die noodsaaklikheid daarvan en ook van die bestaan van literatuur daaroor, pas dit in 'n beperkte mate op georganiseerde grondslag toe. Blykbaar ondervind oorsese ondernemings veral drie probleme: 'n voorkeur vir die toepassing van bepaalde tegnieke word opgebou sodat meer toepaslike tegnieke nie benut word nie; alle relevante faktore word nie in ag geneem by die keuse van die tegniek nie; en bestuurders doen dikwels self vooruitskatting alhoewel hulle oor weinig kennis daarvan beskik. 'n Empiriese studie het getoon dat soortgelyke probleme deur die relatief groot vervaardigingsondernemings in Suid-Afrika ondervind word.


Author(s):  
Kwan Yi ◽  
Tao Jin ◽  
Ping Li

Since 1973 the Canadian Association for Information Science (CAIS/ACSI) has consecutively held 43 annual conferences. The purpose of this study is to better understand the research and collaborative activities in the community of CAIS conferences, based on a social network analysis (SNA) approach. A total of 827 papers from 778 authors have been presented in CAIS for the period of 1993 to 2015, in association with 209 different organizations and 25 countries. A component analysis that has been applied to the collaboration network has discovered research collaboration patterns. This study contributes to discovering collaborative research activities and formation through the CAIS conference and to the literature of the scientific collaboration in the LIS field. Depuis 1973, l'Association canadienne de sciences de l'information (ACSI/CAIS) a tenu 43 congrès annuels consécutifs. Le but de cette étude est de mieux comprendre les activités de recherche et de collaboration dans la communauté de l’ACSI, à l’aide d’une approche d’analyse des réseaux sociaux (ARS). Un total de 827 articles de 778 auteurs ont été présentés à l’ACSI dans la période 1993-2015, en association avec 209 organisations différentes et 25 pays. L’analyse des composantes du réseau de collaboration met en lumière l’existence de patrons de collaboration de recherche au sein de la communauté. Cette étude contribue à l’étude des activités  de collaboration au sein des congrès de l’ACSI ainsi qu’à la littérature sur la collaboration scientifique dans le domaine BSI.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhiman Mondal ◽  
Satish Kanamadi ◽  
Kingsuk Das

<p>Contribution of Indian authors in foreign library and information science journals during 2006-2015 using Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts database is examined in this study. This scientometrics study analyses the research publication productivity and trend according to year, authorship, most prolific authors, Indian states, institutions, preferred journals for communication and subject. It is found that Indian authors contributed a total number of 234 articles during the covered period and collaborative articles with two-authors are highest in numbers. Library Philosophy and Practice has emerged as the most preferred journal by authors for publication. In terms of keywords/areas of study ‘Users’ and Study’ has emerged as the most preferred research area to publish during the period.</p>


Author(s):  
Chenwei Chen ◽  
Moses Mark Naga

This study first gave a brief bibliometrics analysis of Chinese literature regarding MLIS in Mainland China. The results showed that the quantity of literature published in the past decade has remained flat; Keywords “Master of Library and Information Science” and “Graduate education” are significant important; Five author collaboration groups have been found; The rate of institutional cooperation in literature is not high. Further, a tentative exploration for designing surveys on the current situation of talents’ cultivation of MLIS program in Mainland China was given for the actual investigation and research. KEYWORDS: Master of Library and Information Science; Competency skills; Bibliometrics; CNKI; Library and Information Professional; Mainland China


Author(s):  
Brady Daniel Lund ◽  
Ting Wang

Objective: This bibliometric study investigated literature pertaining to a quickly growing population worldwide: the oldest-old, individuals age eighty-five and older. The current state of research was surveyed, based on top authors, publishers, authorship networks, themes in publication titles and abstracts, and highly cited publications.Methods: Bibliographic data was abstracted from the Web of Science database. Microsoft Excel was used for data analyses related to top author, publishers, and terms. VosViewer bibliographic visualization software was used to identify authorship networks.Results: Publications pertaining to the oldest-old have increased dramatically over the past three decades. The majority of these publications are related to medical or genetics topics. Citations for these publications remain relatively low but may be expected to grow in coming years, based on the publication behavior about and increasing prominence of this population. Claudio Franceschi and the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society were found to be the author and journal with the most publications pertaining to the oldest-old, respectively.Conclusions: The oldest-old is a population of rapidly growing significance. Researchers in library and information science, gerontology, and beyond can benefit themselves and those they serve by participating in research and specialized services to marginalized populations like the oldest-old. This bibliometric study hopefully serves as a launch-point for further inquiry and research in the years to come.


2020 ◽  
pp. 096100062094857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhui Song ◽  
Li Zhu ◽  
Fei Shu

Previous studies have presented a radical change in library and information science research topics in North America. This article investigates library and information science doctoral dissertations in China in terms of their topics and interdisciplinarity in the past 20 years. The results do not find a significant change in library and information science dissertation topics in China but reveal that the increase of library and information science doctoral research in the area of information science is attributed to an increase in admissions to Information Science majors compared to other majors (Library Science and Archive Studies). This study also shows that the academic background of library and information science doctoral advisors does not affect the interdisciplinarity of their students’ doctoral dissertations in China.


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