Exploring reader response to minority ethnic fiction

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present findings of a study investigating the reading of, and engagement with minority ethnic fiction in UK public libraries, with a particular focus on Black British fiction and Asian fiction in English.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study of the reading behaviour of a large population of public library users (n=1,047) from the East Midlands region. A survey was distributed at issue points in 16 libraries in nine participating local authorities, to investigate respondents' reading choices, and factors that may affect these choices.FindingsFindings have emerged regarding the readers and non‐readers of Black British and Asian fiction in English. Social identity theory and reader response theory, whilst initially appearing contradictory, are helpful in understanding patterns of reading behaviour.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides a valuable starting point for future research in materials portraying, and originating from, minority ethnic communities.Practical implicationsThe paper identifies areas in which public libraries, publishing houses and minority ethnic community groups can improve the provision and promotion of minority ethnic fiction.Social implicationsIt is hoped that longer‐term effects will be to increase the involvement of members of all communities in the selection and promotion of culturally appropriate materials.Originality/valueThe paper addresses a gap in previous research and practice, whereby the provision of multicultural resources was always considered only in linguistic, rather than in broader cultural terms, the latter felt to be more appropriate to contemporary society.

Genre fiction readers: a quantitative exploration of provided construct ratings

“…This was illustrated to some extent in the findings of a further study by the author (Birdi, 2010;Birdi & Syed, 2011), where a sample population of 1,047 library users contained just 29 (2.8%) readers of Asian fiction in English, 36 (3.4%) readers of Black British fiction and 10 (1%) readers of LGBT fiction.…”

“…Further work is being undertaken by the author to triangulate the findings of this and previous studies based on the same doctoral research (Birdi, 2010;Birdi & Syed, 2011;Birdi, 2011) in order to develop a practical tool both to support the promotion of specific fiction genres, and to provide a stimulus for the readers themselves in selecting their fiction.…”

“…Previous papers by the author based on this doctoral work have presented a study of reader response to minority ethnic fiction (Birdi, 2010;Birdi & Syed, 2011), and a further study investigating fiction reader characteristics using personal construct theory (Birdi, 2011). The last of these papers examined tables of personal constructs elicited by 15 respondents and their frequencies, and also facilitated the understanding of these constructs its main limitations were that it was difficult to compare participant ratings given that so many different constructs were elicited (n=128 before grouping), that there was a relatively small number of repeated constructs, and that the sample size was too small for meaningful statistical analysis (n=15).…”

Towards a new sociological model of fiction reading

“…Table presents a new, integrative review of the consistencies and differences in demographic and motivational characteristics of the readers of 10 different fiction genres, across the aforementioned studies (Birdi & Syed, ; Birdi, ). Whereas the literature review revealed a lack of clarity as to the identity of the readers of individual fiction genres, emerging from the empirical research is a clearer profile of the more traditional genres (Science Fiction and Fantasy fiction, Romance, Crime, Literary, and War/Spy fiction), and even of the more recently established genres Lad Lit and Chick Lit.…”

Putting Research into Practice: An Exploration of Sheffield iSchool Approaches to Connecting Research with Practice

“…Other funding organizations acknowledged include the European Union (Cox, Clough, & Siersdorfer, 2011); the Joint Information Systems Committee of the U.K. higher-education funding councils (Levy, Aiyegabyo, & Little, 2009); the U.K. Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (Wilson & Corrall, 2008); Opening the Book Ltd., a library reader-development consultancy and training company (Birdi & Syed, 2011); PriceWaterhouseCoopers (Polding, Nunes, & Kingston, 2008); and the University's Centre for Health Information Management Research (Brewster & Sen, 2011). While mainstream research funders, such as the Arts & Humanities Research Council, feature prominently here, it is interesting also to note the range of connections with the world of educational and LIS practice.…”