Growth, subject areas, and application of research methods in user studies: A content analysis of articles produced by Pakistani authors

Ahsan Ullah · Kanwal Ameen

9 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Librarianship and Information Science

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Library Science and Information Literacy Library Science and Information scientometrics and bibliometrics research

Abstract

Information science profession is concerned with information user and every development in this field has been designed to make it easier for the user to access documents or information. The current study examined user studies to provide understanding about the users, growth in user studies, topics, and methods of user studies. A content analysis method has been adopted and empirical research articles produced by Pakistani authors during the period 2001–2016 have been examined. Out of 518 empirical articles, 185 user studies were selected for examining users, subject and methods. Growth in user studies research was lower from the period 2001 to 2008 but number of studies increased significantly after 2008. Dominant majority of user studies collected data from educational institutions. Academicians and students were the most frequently studied users. Bureaucrats, judges, and other officials have not been examined for elicitation of their needs in spite of the fact that libraries have been established with government departments and courts. In respect of research areas of user studies, information needs and seeking behavior, use and skills of internet and social media, use of electronic resources and satisfaction of users with library services constitute 90% of user studies research. With respect to use of research methodology, quantitative approach (78%) is popular in user studies followed by mixed methods (10%), qualitative (8%), and multimethod (4%). More than one method is used in 14% user studies research. In case of frequency of research methods, questionnaire (72%) is the dominant method followed by interview (14%). The current study is unique because it identified popular topics and methods in user studies research.

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References

2007Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research 1999Mixed Methodology: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches 2008Information science during the first decade of the web: An enriched author cocitation analysis 2008The information user: past, present and future 2007Information needs and uses: An analysis of the literature published in Spain, 1990–2004 2020Social justice in library science programs: A content analysis approach 2016How reference and information service is studied: Research approaches and methods 2010Research on Libraries and Distance Education: An Analysis of Articles Published 1999–2009

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