Library and Information Science Commons^™

Towards News Verification: Deception Detection Methods For News Discourse, Yimin Chen, Victoria L. Rubin, Niall Conroy

FIMS Presentations

News verification is a process of determining whether a particular news report is truthful or deceptive. Deliberately deceptive (fabricated) news creates false conclusions in the readers’ minds. Truthful (authentic) news matches the writer’s knowledge. How do you tell the difference between the two in an automated way? To investigate this question, we analyzed rhetorical structures, discourse constituent parts and their coherence relations in deceptive and truthful news sample from NPR’s “Bluff the Listener”. Subsequently, we applied a vector space model to cluster the news by discourse feature similarity, achieving 63% accuracy. Our predictive model is not significantly better than chance …

Open Access Funds: Getting A Bigger Bang For Our Bucks, Bobby Glushko, Crystal Hampson, P L. Moore, Elizabeth Yates

Western Libraries Publications

Many libraries offer open access publishing funds to support authors in paying article processing charges (APC) levied by some OA journals. However, there are few standard practices for managing or assessing these funds. The Open Access Working Group (OAWG) of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) was asked to investigate and articulate best practices for successful open access fund management. In spring 2015, the OAWG surveyed Canadian academic libraries with OA funds to review their criteria and collect feedback on current practices. The survey proved timely because many OA funds are under review. Shrinking budgets, ending pilots, and questions …

Balancing Visions And Values: An Exploration Of Market Rhetoric In Canadian Academic Library Strategic Plans, Courtney L. Waugh

Western Libraries Publications

Strategic planning documents are key sites to institutional discourse and reflect the public face of the library. This research explores the extent to which market rhetoric permeates the strategic planning documents of three Canadian academic libraries, and examines the ways in which these institutions engage in market discourse to construct their institutional identity. What are the implications of adopting a "customer service" stance? What does it mean to be “innovative”? How do "personalized services" influence ideas of choice? Through content analysis and a critical lens, this exploratory research examines the tension between libraries as public good and libraries as a …

Integrating Library Instruction Into The Course Management System For A First Year Engineering Class: An Evidence-Based Study Measuring The Effectiveness Of Blended Learning On Students’ Information Literacy Levels, Qinqin Zhang, Maren Goodman, Shiyi Xie

Western Libraries Publications

This research examines students in a first-year engineering course who receive library instruction by using a newly developed online module and attending optional in-person tutorials. It aims to evaluate the outcomes of library information literacy instruction using this module combined with in-person help. Results show a significant improvement in information literacy skills from a pre-test to a post-test. Focus group and survey data indicate that most students preferred the self-paced learning style of the online module and that the content of the module helped them to conduct library research for the course. This study also considers best practices for online …

Marx’S Value Theory: A Critical Response To Analyses Of Digital Prosumption, Edward Comor

FIMS Publications

Abstract

In their assessment of value creation through prosumption and other activities related to the use of digital technologies, despite significant differences, Fuchs (2010) and Arvidsson and Colleoni (2012) misinterpret Marx's value theory. Through their analyses, a totalizing or new form of capitalism is said to have emerged, but these, I argue, entail demonstrably idealist theorizations. The end result is that these authors occlude more than they clarify in their debates concerning value, exploitation, and the role played by digital technologies. However, once we understand the precision needed to apply Marx's complex theory—including his conceptualization of “labor power” and the …

Differences Over Discourse Structure Differences: A Reply To Urquhart And Urquhart, Jennie A. Abrahamson, Victoria L. Rubin

FIMS Publications

Purpose – In this paper we respond to Urquhart and Urquhart’s critique of our previous work entitled “Discourse structure differences in lay and professional health communication”, published in this journal in 2012 (Vol. 68 No. 6, pp.826 – 851, doi: 10.1108/00220411211277064).

Design/methodology/approach – We examine Urquhart and Urquhart’s critique and provide responses to their concerns and cautionary remarks against cross-disciplinary contributions. We reiterate our central claim.

Findings – We argue that Mann and Thompson’s (1987, 1988) Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) offers valuable insights into computer-mediated health communication and deserves further discussion of its methodological strength and weaknesses for application in …

Beyond Traditional Publishing Models: An Examination Of The Relationships Between Authors, Readers, And Publishers, Jen Pecoskie, Heather Hill

FIMS Publications

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the state of contemporary publishing, specifically the realms of fanfiction and self-publishing, for the ways in which readership is represented in conjunction with authors and publishers within the publication process. The structure of this process is then compared with Robert Darnton’s communications circuit in order to propose a new model for the publication. As the publication process has a profound impact on the teaching and practice of collection development and reader studies in LIS, the discipline must be aware of any changes to the publication process.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using the …

Journalistic Labour And Technological Fetishism, Edward Comor, James R. Compton

FIMS Publications

This paper applies and develops Marx’s concept of the fetish generally and technological fetishism specifically to how digital ICTs are influencing the craft of journalism. Although largely theoretical, its analysis of technological fetishism is applied to the findings of a survey conducted in 2013 among Canadian journalistic workers. The paper finds that these workers hold mixed and often contradictory views on how digital technologies are shaping their work and profession. By understanding ICTs to be both constitutive of journalism and, more precisely, the technological fetish as a mediating force in its development, the paper argues that the survey respondents are …

A Collaborative Approach To Improving Information Ethics Education, Alissa Centivany, Michael Zimmer, Melissa Chalmers, Rebecca Frank

FIMS Publications

Abstract Information professionals manage, organize, preserve, create, design, implement, and control the information systems, services, goods, and devices that are both ubiquitous in and essential to our daily existence. But where there is great power, there is also great responsibility. Recent events suggest that information professionals may benefit from enhanced education and training to prepare them to respond to the ethical challenges they will encounter in their work in socially responsible ways. Improving information ethics education is one step toward beginning to build a strong foundation in this space moving forward. Participants in this workshop will explore and identify key …

The Use Of Webometrics For Financial Performance Analysis And Financial Position Indicators: Exploratory Study Of Different Economic Sectors In The United States [L’Utilisation De La Webométrie Dans L’Analyse Des Indicateurs De Performance Et De La Position Financière De L’Entreprise: Une Analyse Exploratoire Dans Divers Secteurs Économiques Des États-Unis] [El Empleo De La Webmetría Para El Análisis De Los Indicadores De Desempeño Y Posición Financier De La Empresa: Un Análisis Exploratorio En Diversos Sectores Económicos De Los Estados Unidos], E.R. Frías, L. Vaughan, L.R. Ariza

FIMS Publications

Through the development of the Internet over the past two decades, a new discipline that allows the study of the Web from a quantitative point of view has arisen: webometrics. Applying webometrics techniques to management studies, points to the possible existence of a relationship between the number of inlinks that a corporate website receives, and certain economic and financial variables. Bearing in mind that the emerging evidence found is limited to companies from the technological sector, that indeed by its own nature has a strong presence on the Web, this exploratory study provides an extension in the analysis of webometrics …

Awareness And Perception Of Copyright Among Teaching Faculty At Canadian Universities, Lisa Di Valentino

FIMS Publications

This article describes the background, methodology, and results of a study undertaken in 2014 to determine university faculty awareness and perceptions of copyright as it affects their teaching. An online survey questionnaire was distributed to teaching faculty across Canada, seeking feedback about the copyright policies and training opportunities at their institutions, where they go for copyright assistance, and how they would respond to various copyright-related scenarios that may arise in the course of teaching.

Most of the respondents are aware of the copyright policies or guidelines at their universities, but much fewer know whether or not their institution offers copyright …

Hidden Online Surveillance: What Librarians Should Know To Protect Their Privacy And That Of Their Patrons, Alexandre Fortier, Jacquelyn Burkell

FIMS Publications

Librarians have a professional responsibility to protect the right to access information free from surveillance. This right is at risk from a new and increasing threat: the collection and use of non-personally identifying information such as IP addresses through online behavioral tracking. This paper provides an overview of behavioral tracking, identifying the risks and benefits, describes the mechanisms used to track this information, and offers strategies that can be used to identify and limit behavioral tracking. We argue that this knowledge is critical for librarians in two interconnected ways. First, librarians should be evaluating recommended websites with respect to behavioral …

Networks Of Digital Humanities Scholars: The Informational And Social Uses And Gratifications Of Twitter, Anabel Quan-Haase, Lori Mckay-Peet, Kim Martin

FIMS Publications

Big Data research is currently split on whether and to what extent Twitter can be characterized as an informational or social network. We contribute to this line of inquiry through an investigation of digital humanities (DH) scholars’ uses and gratifications of Twitter. We conducted a thematic analysis of 25 semi-structured interview transcripts to learn about these scholars’ professional use of Twitter. Our findings show that Twitter is considered a critical tool for informal communication within DH invisible colleges, functioning at varying levels as both an information network (learning to ‘Twitter’ and maintaining awareness) and a social network (imagining audiences and …

A Matter Of Time And Academic Discipline? Exploring The Use Of Resources, Lori Mckay-Peet, Anabel Quan-Haase, Dagmar Kern, Peter Mutschke

FIMS Publications

This paper reports on a survey of 26 social scientists and computer scientists. Through the vignette technique, resource use in situations in which scholars have a lot and very little time were explored. Findings suggest academic discipline and time may play a role in resource use.

Cette présentation rend compte d’une enquête auprès de 26 spécialistes en sciences sociales et en informatique. À l’aide de la technique de la vignette, nous avons exploré l’utilisation des ressources dans les situations où les savants ont beaucoup et à l’inverse très peu de temps. Les résultats suggèrent que les disciplines scientifiques et le …

Innovative Deviance: A Theoretical Framework Emerging At The Intersection Of Copyright Law And Technological Change, Alissa Centivany

FIMS Publications

This paper explores the relationship between emerging technology-enabled behaviors and established copyright law in the United States. Challenges implicated by recent technological developments have given rise to a consensus among policy-makers, scholars, public interest advocates, and various other stakeholders that copyright reforms are needed. Debates over what shape the potential reforms ought to take have been strident, unrelenting, and seemingly paralyzing to the cause. Meanwhile, courts have continued to adjudicate cases testing the balance between existing copyright doctrines and new methods of creating, managing, and sharing protected works. The paper describes a recent exemplar involving mass digitization, Authors Guild v. …

A Positive Latitude - Georeferencing And Archives, Tom Belton

Western Libraries Presentations

A presentation regarding a proposed research agenda to determine the advantages and feasibility of using georeferencing and maps to provide access to, or visualize, resources in archival institutions and databases.

Public, Private, Popular: Pop Performers, Liberalism And The Limits Of Rights, Matt Stahl

FIMS Publications

American popular music discourse and pop performers' political practice frequently give prominence to questions of rights, particularly in relation to musical property and labour. This article examines these two rights issues as they appear in popular media and in lawmaking. The article invokes the liberal division of life into "public" and "private" realms in order to explicate the mechanics of rights claims in media and legislative forums, and to explore their relationship with aspects of liberal common sense. It draws on a political-theoretical framework to problematize liberalism's basic division of life into "public" and "private" realms, and suggests that pop …

Pragmatic And Cultural Considerations For Deception Detection In Asian Languages, Victoria L. Rubin

FIMS Publications

In hopes of sparking a discussion, I argue for much needed research on automated deception detection in Asian languages. The task of discerning truthful texts from deceptive ones is challenging, but a logical sequel to opinion mining. I suggest that applied computational linguists pursue broader interdisciplinary research on cultural differences and pragmatic use of language in Asian cultures, before turning to detection methods based on a primarily Western (English-centric) worldview. Deception is fundamentally human, but how do various cultures interpret and judge deceptive behavior?

Not All On The Same Page: E-Book Adoption And Technology Exploration By Seniors, Anabel Quan-Haase, Kim Martin, Kathleen Schreurs

FIMS Publications

This paper aims to understand the adoption of e-books and e-readers by persons aged sixty and above. This includes an investigation into where seniors are in the stages of e-book adoption. Method: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews in a mid-size city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Analysis: Interviews were transcribed, and coded using grounded theory. Rogers's model of the innovation-decision process was used to inform the data analysis process. Results: The results show three key factors affecting adoption: longing for materiality, technology confidence, and technology exploration. While seniors are interested in e-books and e-readers, see many benefits to their use, …

Licence Agreements And Copyright: An Examination Of The Issues, Lisa Di Valentino

FIMS Presentations

In this presentation I will discuss some of the factors that are relevant to an understanding of the relationship between copyright and private ordering of legal obligations such as licensing agreements and technological protection measures. I will conclude that there is a strong argument to be made that provisions purporting to limit fair dealing and other exceptions may be unenforceable.

Video Tutorial Reboot: Re-Imagining The Library Workshop For 21st Century Students, Monica Rettig, Colleen Mackinnon, Denise Smith, Laurie Morrison, Jennifer Thiessen

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

How Information Literate Are You? A Self-Assessment By Mba-Msis Dual Degree Students Enrolled In A Ci Elective, Barbie Keiser

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

Seeking An Identity: The Portrayal Of Archivists In Film, Anne Daniel, Amanda Oliver

Western Libraries Presentations

The image of archivists in media can sometimes seem nebulous. From descriptions of dusty, unorganized vaults and cardigan-clad gatekeepers, there appears to be many stereotypes perpetuated in media. Building upon previous research in this area, this study aims to investigate how archivists are portrayed in film. Films involving archives and archivists were selected and a content analysis of these films was conducted to address the following questions: is there an archivist in the film and how is the character portrayed? Can specific stereotypes be identified? Do archivists have their own distinct identities in films or is the archivist a non-descript …

Connectivist Learning And The Role Of Librarians, Rachel Sandieson, John Barnett, Vance Mcpherson

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

Librarian Out Of Bounds, Rosa Orlandini

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

Bringing The Flipped Classroom Model To Library Instruction, Eduardo Rivera

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

Summoning The Experts To Testify: A Role-Playing Library Activity To Improve Credibility Of Cited Sources In Student Essays, Ron Rooth

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

Bite-Sized Assessment For The Library One Shot, Mary Broussard

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

Infographics: E-Volving Instruction For Visual Literacy, Melanie Parlette-Stewart, Lindsey Robinson

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.

Developing Online Learning Tools: Strategies For Creating A Set Of Best Practices, Liz Johns

The Workshop for Instruction in Library Use

No abstract provided.