JAL in the Past Decade: A Comprehensive Analysis of Academic Library Research

Abstract

Abstract:A content analysis is conducted to examine the peer-reviewed articles published in the Journal of Academic Librarianship (JAL) from 2004 to 2013. Five key variables are studied: authorship, article type, topic, research methods/design, and research theories/models. About three-fourths of the articles were authored by at least one librarian, and over half of the articles were co-authored. More than two-thirds of the articles were primary research articles, and a total of 24 topics related to academic libraries were covered, among which information literacy was the most popular one. Survey and content analysis are the two most frequently used research methods in the articles. This study, capturing the topical and methodological substance of academic library research, will generate ideas for providing effective research training/education for academic librarians and contribute to the enhancement of research culture and research practice among them.

Looking Back to Look Ahead

“…Their article does good work in collecting data on the types of methodologies and analyses applied, and there may well be new projects to emerge from the further analysis of that information. What is quite fascinating is the listing of topics that have been covered over the past decade.No one who has been working in academic libraries during the last ten years will be surprised that information literacy topped the list, with 20.9% of the articles devoted to it (Luo, 2015). User information behavior and implications for service followed with 11.3% (Luo & McKinney, 2015).…”

“…No one who has been working in academic libraries during the last ten years will be surprised that information literacy topped the list, with 20.9% of the articles devoted to it (Luo, 2015). User information behavior and implications for service followed with 11.3% (Luo & McKinney, 2015).…”

“…Part of their rationale for doing this was based on one of Luo's earlier findings, that 77.4% of librarians surveyed read professional literature and "appl[ied] research findings to improve work" (Luo & McKinney, 2015). Their article does good work in collecting data on the types of methodologies and analyses applied, and there may well be new projects to emerge from the further analysis of that information.…”

“…User information behavior and implications for service followed with 11.3% (Luo & McKinney, 2015). This category was defined as articles about specific student groups, such as first-year students, graduate students, or athletes, and services to them.…”

“…This category was defined as articles about specific student groups, such as first-year students, graduate students, or athletes, and services to them. Library personnel related topics accounted for 9.4%, and scholarly communication for 8.7% (Luo, 2015). These four topics, then, comprise just over half of the content, while the remaining 49.7% was spread across twenty topics, ranging from e-resources (6.1%) to outreach (0.9%).…”