| 1. |
- Bergström, Annika, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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A national survey of early adopters of e-book reading in Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: Information research. - 1368-1613. ; 19:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reading literature is believed to be a cornerstone of democracy and good citizenship. With a decline in book reading and an increasing e-book market, it is of importance to follow the diffusion of e-book reading. Data were collected in a large-scale, mail survey of the Swedish population aged 16 to 85 years conducted in 2012. Analysis. Bivariate analysis was used to reveal groups of users with regard to demographics, book reading habits and the frequency of reading digital texts other than e-books. A multivariate analysis was conducted to reveal the explanatory power of the model. The small number of e-book readers found in the study indicates that we are at the beginning of the diffusion process. A limited number of demographic and other variables account for a significant part of the variation in e-book reading. The demographics of e-book readers differ both from traditional book readers and readers of digital newspapers and blogs. The penetration of reading devices in Sweden is high, which indicates a potential for e-book reading to expand and reach beyond the group of early adopters. But the development is also a question of available Swedish titles, not least in public libraries, currently the main channel for distribution to users.
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| 2. |
- Carlsson, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring multiple spaces and practices : a note on the use of ethnography in LIS-research
- 2013
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Ingår i: Information research : proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science. - Borås : Högskolan i Borås. - 1368-1613. ; 18:3, s. 17-17
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in ethnographic research within the field of library and Information studies. Although ethnography has been used by information researchers for studying a wide variety of phenomena, discussions concerning methodological developments and directions, as well as ethnography’s wider applicability within the field are rare. Our intent is to contribute to the such discussions. Method. The article draws on three on-going research projects to illustrate how the analytical and methodological concepts of following and translation are operationalized. Analysis. Particularly the article addresses the tension between the site specificity traditionally associated with ethnographic methodology, and the fluidity and place transcending but yet situated character of the objects of study in the field. Conclusion. The authors conclude that an ethnography of following and translation is a tool for handling the movability characterizing the phenomena studied in the field, thus turning the necessary uncertainty of inductive research into an advantage. This allows the researcher to stay open and let the object of study lead the way.
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| 3. |
- Hultgren, Frances, et al.
(författare)
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Making sense of participation in cultural activities for children.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Information research. - : University of Sheffield. - 1368-1613. ; 18:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. This paper investigates participatory practices in library activities for young children and their care-givers in a specific cultural context. Method. Using an ethnographic approach data were collected through participant observations of songtimes for babies and toddlers, and interviews and group interviews with staff and care-givers. Analysis. With a theoretical departure point in communities of practice the data were analysed by searching for themes and connections to cultural contexts. Trustworthiness was ensured through triangulation: observations of children’s activities were related to the interpretations of care-givers’ through interviews; member checking through feedback from adult participants; and, ongoing discussions of interpretations between the researchers. Results. The study's findings show how library activities for children can serve as spaces where both a community of practice focused on “mothering” can develop as well as special child communities of practice. Participation is identified as work involving children, adults and professionals in interaction with place and promoted by a view of place as dynamic rather than static. Conclusions. We conclude that participatory practices in library activities for young children are situated and co-evolve through intergenerational dialogue; they are also partial and ongoing. By promoting intercultural dialogue, library activities for young children may become more socially inclusive.
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| 4. |
- Huvila, Isto, et al.
(författare)
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Continuum thinking and the contexts of personal information management
- 2014
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Ingår i: Information research. - 1368-1613. ; 19:1, s. 604-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. Recent personal information management literature has underlined the significance of the contextuality of personal information and its use. The present article discusses the applicability of the records continuum model and its generalisation, continuum thinking, as a theoretical framework for explicating the overlap and evolution of the diverse contexts of personal information and their implications for personal information management practices. Method. This article is based on three empirical case studies on 1) the personal information management practices of sound artists (qualitative semi-structured interviews), 2) graduate students' management of scholarly articles (web survey of Swedish students) and 3) the management of personal archives at Swedish archival institutions (qualitative semi-structured interviews). Analysis. The empirical material was analysed using the constant comparative method (case 1), non-parametric statistical tests including Friedman's test, Kruskal-Wallis analysis, Wilcoxon-Signed Rank test, Mann-Whitney-U test and Chi-square test in SPSS version 20.0 (case 2), and thematic analysis (case 3). Results. The continuum approach and the conceptualisation of diverse contextual aspects of personal information management as axes on a Giddensian spatio-temporal continuum can help to understand the contextual changes and continuities of personal information management and use. Conclusions. The records continuum model provides a useful theoretical basis for explicating personal information management as a process of Giddensian time-space structuration similarly to how Upward argued that the theory is useful in the context of explicating the record-keeping process and, in more general terms, providing a framework for theorising particular types of document-centric management processes.
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| 5. |
- Huvila, Isto, 1976-
(författare)
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"I asked my Mum, but" and other cases of unsuccessful information seeking by asking
- 2011
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Ingår i: Information Research. - 1368-1613. ; 16:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. Failure to find information is common. An exploratory analysis of cases when family members or friends were asked for information can provide better understanding of when, how and why interpersonal information seeking within a close network of individuals fails. Method. A sample of utterances (in form of I asked my mum, but) was harvested from the Web using LexiURL Searcher software. Analysis. The material (327 utterances) was analysed with content analysis and categorised using the constant comparative method. Results. People utter on the Web different types of, mostly fact-related, questions they have asked earlier of their family members and friends. Multiple factors were found to affect interpersonal information seeking including a major barrier, bashfulness, which has not been discussed earlier in the literature. Conclusions. Success in asking questions of family and friends is a broad issue of mastering information content, social environment and other contexts of information seeking rather than a technical ability.
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| 6. |
- Huvila, Isto, 1976-
(författare)
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In Web search we trust? : Articulation of the cognitive authorities of Web searching
- 2013
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Ingår i: Information research. - 1368-1613. ; 18:1, s. 567-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. People search for information on different search engines billions of times day all over the developed world. Not all Web resources are, however, equally authoritative and not all searches return equally authoritative results. Earlier studies have demonstrated the complexity of credibility assessments, but also simultaneously the existence of strong tendencies to uncritically accept the credibility of the information retrieved by a search engine. The success of a search is related, but not the same notion as the authority of the results. The aim of this paper is to analyse the articulated role of 'searching' as a possible source of cognitive authority in Web searching. Method. A qualitative exploratory study based on the analysis of 805 search-related utterances harvested from the Web using Webometric Analyst. Analysis. The data was analysed using constant comparative method.Results. Three types of cognitive authorities were identified: 1) people, 2) search (as an approach), and 3) search as an activity.Conclusions. The findings indicate that searching incorporates cognitive authorities that are abstract, exercised and situational rather than static and nameable.
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| 7. |
- Huvila, Isto, 1976-
(författare)
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The Cool and Belkin Faceted Classification of Information Interactions Revisited
- 2010
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Ingår i: Information research. - 1368-1613. ; 15:4, s. colis724-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. The complexity of human information activity is a challenge for both practice and research in information sciences and information management. Literature presents a wealth of approaches to analytically structure and make sense of human information activity including a faceted classification model of information interactions published by Cool and Belkin in 2002, which is discussed in this paper. Method. The Cool and Belkin classification scheme and the version adopted by Huvila in 2006 for a study of archaeologists are compared and new qualitative empirical interview material is analysed by using the latter version of the scheme. Analysis. Literature studies and qualitative analysis of interview material was carried out. Results. The discussed revisions proposed in the present study and earlier by Huvila broaden the scope of the classification system from information seeking to the broad scope of information activity and from description of interaction instances to their contexts. Conclusions. It is important to consider the consequences of classifying information interactions, to balance between complexity and simplicity and to consider when it is significant to strive for complexity of classifications and when a generic level of description is enough.
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| 8. |
- Huvila, Isto
(författare)
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Where does the information come from? : Information source use patterns in Wikipedia
- 2010
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Ingår i: Information research. - 1368-1613. ; 15:3, s. 433-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. Little is known about Wikipedia contributors information behaviour and from where and how the information in the encyclopaedia originated. Even though a large number of texts in Wikipedia cite external sources according to the intentions of the verifiability policy, many articles lack references and in many others the references have been added afterwards. Method. This article reports the results of a Web survey of information source use patterns, answered by 108 Wikipedia contributors in spring 2008. Analysis. The qualitative questions were analysed using a close reading and grounded theory approach. The multiple-choice questions were analysed using descriptive statistics and bi-variate correlation analysis. Results. The results indicate that there are several distinct groups of contributors using different information sources. The results also indicate a preference for sources available online. However, in spite of the popularity of online material a significant proportion of the original information is based on printed literature, personal expertise and other non-digital sources of information. The information source use of Wikipedia contributors is also illustrative of the complexity and life-world scope of human information behaviour. Conclusions. Understanding the information source use of contributors helps us to understand how new Wikipedia articles emerge, how edits are motivated, where the information actually comes from and more generally, what kind of information may be expected to be found in Wikipedia.
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| 9. |
- Kåhre, Peter, 1955-
(författare)
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Library and information science's ontological position in the networked society : using new technology to get back to an old practice
- 2013
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Ingår i: Information research. - Sheffield, England. - 1368-1613. ; 18:3, s. paper C13-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. This paper concerns the ontological position of library and informations science in the networked society. The aim of the study is to understand library use and library functions in the age of Internet and artificial intelligent programmed search engines.Theoretical approach. The approach discusses so called sociocognitive tools in knowledge sharing and creation by the way social processes are described in Luhmann's systems theory. The capacity in these tools is mainly discussed by using the extended mind theory from cognitive science and theories of distributed and situated learning, which show how tools extend human capacity. The importance of tools as part of human development is also discussed by using theories of cultural evolution.Discussion and conclusions. Artificial intelligence tools in a distributed design have a capacity to independently be a part in social knowledge processes, because these programs are good at finding patterns. In this way they extend the human mind to such an extent that library and information science needs to rework its positions on topics such as relevance and meaning seeking. Practical implications are that libraries need to go back to its roots in the way libraries worked in the era before the information explosion. It was a period when more emphasis was on making the library itself capable to expose a lot of possibilities in the literature through knowledge organisation, and not so much on the librarian as a guide to information searching.
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| 10. |
- Lassi, Monica, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying factors that may impact the adoption and use of a social science collaboratory : a synthesis of previous research
- 2010
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Ingår i: Information research. - : University of Sheffield. - 1368-1613. ; 15:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. This paper examines and synthesizes previous research in scientific collaboration, scholarly communication, scientific collaboratories, scientific disciplines, invisible colleges and virtual communities to identify factors that may impact the design, adoption and use of a collaboratory within librarianship and information science. Results. A taxonomy of factors that appear to impact the design, adoption and use of a collaboratory emerged from the synthesis. Six types of factors were identified: factors that impact a researcher's career advancements; factors concerning aspects of doing science which affect researchers on a personal level, other than their career; factors focusing on whether the benefits of submitting to and using a collaboratory is worth the cost for the individual; disciplinary and factors focusing on science and disciplines in general, such as the development of new methodology within a discipline; factors that affect the community of researchers; and factors that are the costs of developing and sustaining a collaboratory for a community or discipline. Conclusions. The taxonomy provides a concise overview of explanatory factors concerning the adoption and use of collaboratories. The taxonomy provides a theoretical framework to guide future research which explores the adoption and use of a collaboratory in disciplines not yet studied, e.g., library and information science.
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