Journal of Studies in Library and Information Science

Abstract Aim: The research conducted on citation behaviors show that whatever the number of citations an article receives in the first publication year, more is expected in the years after. The present research aims at exploring a distinct explanation for this phenomenon based on Citing Conformity factor. Method: The research has been done in two separate parts. The first part was a survey that was conducted to assess the level of Citation Conformity of research sample. The second part was performed using citation analysis method, to identify the citation behavior patterns of authors based on their articles. The data gathered was analyzed using Multiple-Regression Method and stepwise model in order to assign the power of Normative Citing Conformity and Informational Citing Conformity factors in prediction of authors’ citation behavior patterns. Results: Results of the Regression analysis indicated that part of the variance of this phenomenon is justifiable based on Citing Conformity. The results showed that Informational Citing Conformity was more predictable than Normative Citing Conformity, i.e., authors basically consider the number of article citations based on a presumed honesty in thought and action. Another motivation for citing such articles is conformity with group norms. Conclusion: The results revealed that the type of special norms in citation networks, as virtual social networks, can follow group norms like Citation Conformity. It is necessary to consider the effects of these norms in order to validate citation index.

Abstract Aim: This research aimed at identification of factors being important in designing a website specific to Iranian adult new readers. Studying the literature review on the topic outside and inside Iran, and visiting and surveying some 21 websites on adult new readers, researchers have tried to accomplish their goal.
Method: In this survey, 21 websites on adult new readers were identified and downloaded to a personal computer and studied. The required data was collected by means of a questionnaire devised for the purpose of this study and administered among a stratified-randomly selected sample of 306 adult instructors.
The present research was based on two questions: 1. what are the important factors involved in designing a website specific to Iranian adult new readers? 2. What could be an optimum pattern for establishment of a website specific to Iranian adult new readers?
Results: to answer the first question, all factors included in downloaded websites plus four other options of “gallery”, “chat”, “TV programs”, and “index” can be included in the suggested website. To answer the second question, considering the options available in the downloaded websites, it was concluded that except two options of “user account” and “donation” that were judged with medium level of importance by respondents, all other options could be included with confidence in a website specific to Iranian adult new readers.

Abstract Aim: Cybernetics, as a meta-disciplinary field covering principles & concepts of different scientific fields, has fixed and definite doctrines in itself. In this paper, after looking into this science with in two epistemological approaches running in cybernetics, including positivism and hermeneutics, the author tries to verify these principles and concepts.
Method: In a deep review of the literature on the information theory and information concept, as well as the Quantum Theory and its relationship with Quantum Theory of Information, these issues were pinpointed and elaborated.
Results: As a result, principles of quantum theory of information were identified and on the bases of the study, one can conclude that Cybernetics is an umbrella that can shelter at least parts of both theories of Information and the Quantum Theory of Information, as it is doing with other disciplines such as Communications, Games Theory, Caius, Systems Theory, Control, and so on.

Abstract Purpose: In this research, the effort has been focused on studying the scientific literature and materials of technology acceptance area and Output Technology Acceptance Model on Web of Science Base during 1989-2011.
Method: Through the survey, bibliographic records with Scientometric method were extracted from the Web of Science base under the subject of technology acceptance by searching the keyword “Technology Acceptance Model” and defining a time period of 1989-2011. The resultant records were then saved in plain text mode and were registered in HistCite software in order to be analyzed.
Results: The findings suggested that in 2009 the highest number of literatures were produced for Technology Acceptance Model. They also showed that Shin and Venkatesh were the most active article producers on this subject. On the other hand, two articles from Davis in 1989 are the most effective articles in technology acceptance model. Moreover, 98% of produced documents in this area have been in English and 66.2% have been in the form of journal articles. Some 2,835 authors published articles on technology acceptance model during 1989-2011, citing a total of 36,340 references. The magazine which covered the most articles in this area was Computers in Human Behavior.
Conclusion: It was noticed that the studies which developed and assessed the Technology Acceptance Model, were assumed as important and were most referred to.

Abstract Aims: People working in social services who are in contact with people on regular basis, spend a lot of time and energy on providing services for others. Compared to others, it’s easier for these people to suffer from job burnout, and for the quality of their services to drop as a result. Since a librarian’s job is to provide social services, the current study aims to review job burnout and its relationship with demographic variables among academic librarians.
Method: The data gathering tool is Maslach’s Job Burnout Questionnaire which measures the job burnout through its three subscales each of which measures emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and individual performance. The reliability of the Persian version of this questionnaire had been measured earlier using Cronbach's alpha, reported to be 0.86%.
Results: All in all, the studied librarians demonstrated low levels of Burnout. However, the results of the study showed that no significant relationships existed between job burnout and each of demographic variables of education, work experience, marital status, and age while, there appeared to be a significant relationship between job burnout and the other three variables of university in which the person works, gender and type of employment.
Conclusions: Due to low levels of Burnout in librarians under study, one would cautiously conclude that although the nature of a librarian’s job is service based, the people working in this line of work show lower job burnout compared to the employees of other service based jobs. Also, it seems job burnout in academic librarians is affected by other variables relevant to cultural, social and psychological factors.

Abstract Aim: This research aimed at development, assessment and testing of a scale for the measurement of information literacy skills in the students of Payam Noor Universtiy.
Method: Survey method was used in this research and the research population was all the 28530 students enrolled in Hamedan Payam Noor University in the local academic year 1390-9. A sample consisted of 387 students were selected by random cluster sampling method. A scale was devised for the purpose of this research which was named the Scale of Information Literacy Measurement and consisted of 5 components with 30 items. The respondents were to answer the survey on a self-assessment basis.
Results: a test of correlation between the Scale of Information Literacy Measurement and that of Asgharnia (1388) resulted in a Correlation Coefficient of 0.77 which denotes existence of a good relationship. Also, the factor analysis test resulted in formation of 6 factors with a variance of %66.5. The reliability of the scale was tested by Cronbach’s Alpha which resulted in an alpha of 0.94.
Conclusion: All in all, as a result of the survey, it can be concluded that the Scale devised proved to be appropriate for measuring information literacy of the target students within the context of Distance Learning.

Abstract