Library and Information Science Commons^™

Complex Adaptive Systems Theory Applied To Virtual Scientific Collaborations: The Case Of Dataone, Arsev Umur Aydinoglu

Doctoral Dissertations

This study is the exploration of the emergence of DataONE, a multidisciplinary, multinational, and multi-institutional virtual scientific collaboration to develop a cyberinfrastructure for earth sciences data, from the complex adaptive systems perspective. Data is generated through conducting 15 semi-structured interviews, observing three 3-day meetings, and 51 online surveys. The main contribution of this study is the development of a complexity framework and its application to a project such as DataONE. The findings reveal that DataONE behaves like a complex adaptive system: various individuals and institutions interacting, adapting, and coevolving to achieve their own and common goals; during the process new …

Users’ Help-Seeking Behaviors Within The Context Of Computer Task Accomplishment: An Exploratory Study, Lei Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated computer users’ help-seeking behaviors within the context of accomplishing a novel and challenging computer task. In addition, this study examined how different help-seeking behavioral variables relate to both personal factors and outcome measures in an exploratory manner. Finally, a structural model examined the effect of personal factors on task performance through the mediating function of help-seeking effectiveness. A total of 67 undergraduate students participated in the study. Participants were asked to perform a challenging task in Microsoft Word. The usability software MORAE was used to record the interactions between participants and computer systems. Participants had access to …

Transmitting Whiteness: Librarians, Children, And Race, 1900-1930s, Shane Hand

Master's Theses

In the wake of the public library movement in the southern United States during the early twentieth century, local librarians began providing library services for those whom they deemed to be their most valuable resources, children. Representatives of a new profession, children’s librarians campaigned for better tomorrows by collecting good books specifically for young readers while providing safe, comfortable spaces that encouraged an atmosphere of instructive entertainment.

Supplemental to the development of a unique children’s department, library administrators sought strong working relationships with the city’s various public schools. The public cooperative that developed between libraries and schools brought thousands of …

Content Analysis Of Social Tags On Intersectionality For Works On Asian Women: An Exploratory Study Of Librarything, Sheetija Kathuria

Masters Theses

This study explores how the social tags are employed by users of LibraryThing, a popular web 2.0 social networking site for cataloging books, to describe works on Asian women in representing themes within the context of intersectionality. Background literature in the domain of subject description of works has focused on race and gender representation within traditional controlled vocabularies such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). This study explores themes related to intersectionality in order to analyze how users construct meaning in their social tags. The collection of works used to search for social tags came from the Association …

What's More Persuasive? How The Internet And Newspaper Change Opinions, Sloane E. Sheldon

Honors Theses

The Internet has become an integral part of society. While people have been turning to the Internet for their news, newspapers are still a powerful source of information. This study investigates whether the newspaper or Internet is more effective at altering people’s opinions. Participants included people ranging from 18-78 years old. After reading a political endorsement that appeared to come from either a printed newspaper or a news website, participants rated their opinions on this candidate. When the message included strong arguments, the source of the article did not have an effect on how well the articles were able to …

A Bibliometric Analysis Of The Use Of Technical Report Literature: Pre- And Post- Internet Distribution, Cynthia Gayle Manley

Doctoral Dissertations

Technological advances have changed the way information is accessed, retrieved, and utilized. The Internet has contributed to greater accessibility of scientific and technical information (STI), particularly in the arena of technical report literature. Technical reports, which communicate the results of research and development activities, are significant indicators of scientific trends because they often represent public and governmental interest in emerging fields of study. Prior to the widespread use of the Internet, technical reports were disseminated in print format with the use of specific, and often limited, distribution lists. However, as technical report literature found a home on the Internet, it …

Contradictions Between How Students Are Taught To Write And What They Are Expected To Read In General Education Courses, Rachel Anne Kirk

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between how students are taught to write in first-year English composition classes and what they are expected to read as part of the general education requirements at a publically-funded large university in the southeast (PLUS), and then to determine whether a gap exists. If a gap is found to exist between the preparation of students and their ability to read material that has been assigned by the teaching faculty, these students are less likely to be considered information literate by any rubric.

This study uses a mixed-methods approach. Content analysis is employed to examine the …

The Information Behavior Of Public Health Educators Working In Appalachia, Karen Jean Mcclanahan

Doctoral Dissertations

Public health educators serve as a vital interface between medical and public health authorities and community members for the dissemination of important information related to disease prevention and health promotion. Public health educators deliver packaged educational programs, develop their own original programs, field impromptu health questions, and conduct community health assessments. This dissertation research employed a survey in January 2011 to illuminate the information-related attitudes and activities of health educators working in public health departments in Appalachia. The research questions explored how these health educators find and use information, how they perceive their information needs and their abilities to find …

Information Behaviors In Higher Education Research Administration: Support For Collaborative Proposal Development Activities, Christina Leigh Deitz

School of Information Studies - Dissertations

Proposal development is a very complex process. While the existing river of instructional materials for proposal development runs wide, the body of empirical research regarding this topic is narrow, especially concerning information behaviors surrounding the process. This study responds to this need as an empirical examination of a user-based method for improving our understanding of proposal development information behaviors. A hybrid concept of problem/situation is adopted for the purpose of characterizing proposal development as a problem situated in time and space, with institutions of higher education (IHEs) faculty as the users or population of interest for this study. This study …

Content Management System, Timothy P. Daigle

Honors Capstone Projects - All

The goal of my project was to develop a Content Management System for the CitrusTV website. This project was first brought to my attention in the Fall of 2009 by fellow Syracuse University student Alyssa Elias.

As a Newhouse Broadcast Journalism major, Alyssa recognized a need to develop a site that better mirrored the CBS news video website after having interned there the summer entering Junior year.

I was brought into the project because of my Information Technology minor, which allowed me to be familiar with the technical background necessary for the project. Additionally, my role involved maintaining communication between …

Geospatial Data Accessibility In Web 2.0 Environments, Sara Helen Mcnamee

Masters Theses

Geographically referenced data is becoming a robust source of information because the use of place-based relevance searching is being employed as a popular form of information access and dispersal. To address this trend, the researcher conducted a study on the usability of the USA National Phenology Network (http://www.usanpn.org/), engaging 6 volunteer participants structured usability test of the USANPN mapping application. The participants were asked to complete two tasks, and data was collected both during (in the form of a think aloud exercise) and after the test (in the form of an exit interview). From the data collected, the researcher aimed …

Rss Feeds, Browsing And End-User Engagement, Mary Beth West

Masters Theses

Despite the vast amount of research that has been devoted separately to the topics of browsing and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) aggregation architecture, little is known about how end-users engage with RSS feeds and how they browse while using a feed aggregate. This study explores the browsing behaviors end-users exhibit when using RSS and Atom feeds. The researcher analyzed end-users’ browsing experiences and discusses browsing variations. The researcher observed, tested, and interviewed eighteen (N=18) undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee to determine how end-users engage with RSS feeds.

This study evaluates browsing using two variations of tasks, (1) an …

Diseño Y Estructuración De Un Programa De Capacitación Virtual Para Estudiantes De Sexto Grado En Recuperación De Información, Luis Alejandro Barreto Carranza

Sistemas de Información, Bibliotecología y Archivística

No abstract provided.

Why Libraries Are Relevant In The Digital Age, Henry Rible

Continuing Education (CAPSTONE)

The libraries of the United States are integral and valued parts of the communities and institutions they serve. There are a number of kinds of libraries commonplace in the United States, including public, school, college and university, legal, and research libraries, each of which has a constituency they serve. The libraries with which people have the greatest familiarity and the two types they utilize on the most frequent basis are the public libraries, those which primarily serve municipalities, and school libraries, those which serve kindergarten through twelfth grade schools. It is upon these two that this paper places its greatest …

Deserving Of Trust: Ethics In The American Archival Profession, Rachel E. (Rachel Elizabeth) Thompson

WWU Graduate School Collection

This thesis explores ways in which the American archival profession, through the Society of American Archivists (SAA), can promote the trustworthiness of archives and archivists. The further professionalization, which involves the creation of a cohesive organization, standards, and a code of ethics, of the archival field is one proposed starting point. Currently, SAA is already on the path of professionalization. For some occupations, professionalization also includes the enforcement of standards and ethics, as well as the certification of members. I argue that for the American archival profession, however, these are not the paths to take. Enforcement and certification require infrastructure …

Asset Reuse Of Images From A Repository, Deirdre Herman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to Markus's theory of reuse, when digital repositories are deployed to collect and distribute organizational assets, they supposedly help ensure accountability, extend information exchange, and improve productivity. Such repositories require a large investment due to the continuing costs of hardware, software, user licenses, training, and technical support. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of evidence in the literature on whether users in fact reused enough digital assets in repositories to justify the investment. The objective of the study was to investigate the organizational value of repositories to better inform architectural, construction, software and other industries whether …

Construcción De Un Tesauro Especializado En Derecho De Autor, Flor Stella Robayo Romero

Sistemas de Información, Bibliotecología y Archivística

No abstract provided.

Evaluación Del Portafolio De Servicios En Bibliotecas De Instituciones Universitarias De Bogotá, Desde La Perspectiva Del Cliente, Jonatan Andrés Monroy

Sistemas de Información, Bibliotecología y Archivística

No abstract provided.

Understanding Interactive Experiences: Perceived Interactivity And Presence With And Without Other Avatars In The Online Virtual World Second Life, Jennifer Lynn Robinette

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Interactivity research lacks consensus regarding the qualities and consequences of interactive experiences. Empirical proof is needed to substantiate the numerous interactivity theories and provide direction for new media technology developers. Specifically, there is a shortage of research on differences between user experiences of interactivity when technology enables communication versus when it does not. In addition, interactivity research is often confounded by the construct of presence.

This study’s objectives included: 1) identifying qualities associated with interactive experiences; 2) disambiguating the constructs of interactivity and presence; and 3) developing a measure of perceived interactivity for VW research. The experimental design measured perceived …

The Millennial Rumor: Understanding Millennial College Students' Characteristics, Digital Media Technology Usage, And Assumptions At The University Of Denver, Christina M. Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigated student and faculty attitudes toward use of Digital Media Technology (DMT) at the University of Denver. The purpose was to understand how and why students and faculty used DMT on campus. Uses and gratifications theory (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1974) was used as the theoretical model to interpret and understand Millennial college students' DMT use, Langer and Knefelcamp's (2008) College student technology arc was used as a conceptual model. Two survey instruments were designed: one for faculty and one for students to collect data on DMT use and attitudes toward use, satisfaction, skill, and learning at …

Development Of A Web-Based Geographic Information System For Arctic Science, George Walker Johnson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Environmental science is a large field of study that requires the acquisition of data for decision making in solving environmental issues. Leveraging desktop geographic information systems (GIS) and web-based GIS (WebGIS) systems for assisting in the problem solving processes can benefit both the research community and policy makers for decision making activities. Ensuring interoperability between desktop, web, and server GIS is essential for maximizing access, sharing and manipulation of data. Interoperability is maximized through the adoption of best practices, use of open standards, and utilization of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI). While many of the interoperability challenges such as infrastructure, data …

Data-Driven Decision Making As A Tool To Improve Software Development Productivity, Mary Erin Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The worldwide software project failure rate, based on a survey of information technology software manager's view of user satisfaction, product quality, and staff productivity, is estimated to be between 24% and 36% and software project success has not kept pace with the advances in hardware. The problem addressed by this study was the limited information about software managers' experiences with data-driven decision making (DDD) in agile software organizations as a tool to improve software development productivity. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how agile software managers view DDD as a tool to improve software development productivity and …

Students' Perceptions Of A Mobile Application For College Course Management Systems, Roopa Mathur

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Higher education administrators need data on student perceptions to support their decision making regarding mobile learning (m-learning) applications. There is a lack of research addressing students' perceptions of mobile applications for course management systems (CMS). The findings of this study may help administrators understand students' perceptions of a CMS m-learning application, Blackboard Mobile Learn (BML). This m-learning application is available on mobile devices, such as the iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to explore the linear relationship between the independent variables of students' perceptions of usefulness and students' perceptions of …

Impact Of It On The Role Of A Community Of Practice Moderator In The Coalescing Stage Of Development, Farnaz Barvarz Piepkorn

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation uses case study research to evaluate the impact of Information Technology (IT) on the moderator's role in directing a community of practice (CoP) in its Coalescing stage of development. Ten CoPs were studied.

While each of these CoPs is in a different stage of development, the analysis focuses on the Coalescing stage because it is considered the most critical. A detailed case study of each CoP, including a survey of moderators and members, and interviews with moderators is presented. Analysis of these cases indicated that use of IT -- defined as communication, software, and hardware tools -- has …

Propuesta De Banco Terminológico Para Las Series Documentales Misionales Del Sector Minero - Energético En Colombia. Estudio Aplicado A Las Entidades Públicas, Jhonattan Javier Prieto Velandia

Sistemas de Información, Bibliotecología y Archivística

No abstract provided.

Cemeteries As Archives: Who Says Dead Men Tell No Tales?, Andrea Chaddock

WWU Graduate School Collection

Cemeteries are more than just the final resting place of our ancestors; many scholarly fields have found the cemetery to be a valuable historical resource. The cemetery contains a wealth of information, including the personal stories of those buried there, the actions of the organization that created it, and the beliefs of the people in the community to which it belongs. In many cases, the cemetery is the only remaining documentary evidence about a person or a group of people. The archival profession has tasked itself with preserving the documentary heritage of the full spectrum of society, but it has …

Archival Education And Outreach: Promoting Communal Identity Through Education, Serra H. Hagedorn

WWU Graduate School Collection

Archival outreach programs serve a key role in the preservation and promotion of public history. Community based educational programs sponsored and implemented by archival repositories allow actual, as well as potential, patrons to learn about their local history and to familiarize themselves with archival materials. It is the purpose of this thesis to explore the postmodern archival perspective and to propose universal program models which can be adapted to facilitate educational outreach in archival repositories of various staff sizes and organizational affiliations. This study will appraise the similarities and differences of a variety of current public outreach programs with a …

The Jewish Impact On The Social And Economic Manifestation Of The Gibraltarian Identity, Andrea Hernandez

WWU Graduate School Collection

The diverse fabric of life which comprises Gibraltar encompasses various ethnic backgrounds including but not limited to; Maltese, East Indian, Moroccan, Italian, Spaniard, and Sephardic Jews. The aim of this thesis is to examine the contribution of the Sephardic Jew in respect to the cultural and economic development of the Gibraltarian. This is accomplished by highlighting the historical relationships between the countries of Spain, England, and Morocco with their Jewish population, and secondly by using both primary and secondary research materials to delve into the daily life of a Sephardic Jew during the early colonial development of Gibraltar between 1704 …

The Recipe For Erms Sustainability: A Survey Of How Organizations Have Implemented Electronic Records Systems, Danelle Court

WWU Graduate School Collection

Electronic records inundate our daily lives and our organizations. Management of these electronic records, however, is often inadequate. Electronic records management systems are a tool that can help effectively manage electronic records, and many organizations are starting to implement an electronic records management system in order to become more efficient and effective. How can one make the electronic records system successful and sustainable? To address these concerns, the author conducted an Electronic Records System Survey, with over four hundred participants. The responses suggest five components that can make an electronic records system sustainable in an organization: 1. Visible leadership and …

Appraising Archivists: Documentation And The Need For Accountability In The Appraisal Process, Samantha N. Cross

WWU Graduate School Collection

Appraisal is one of the first steps in archival processing and arguably the most crucial. Embedded in this process are two concepts fundamental to archives: power of the archivist over the collection and trust, by the public, in the archivist to make decisions regarding the historical record. Justification for decisions regarding appraisal, however, are lacking and archivists have yet to make any headway in establishing a means of accountability. Through the implementation of a formalized appraisal report, archivists can thoroughly document the appraisal process while simultaneously justifying their decisions to the greater archival communities and the public at large. This …