Dorothy Williams

Health information: does quality count for the consumer? How consumers evaluate the quality of health information materials across a variety of media

An aspect of the information literacy of health information consumers is explored, in particular whether and how they evaluate the quality of health information on the Internet and in printed formats. A total of 32 members of patient support groups in North-East Scotland were recruited to take part in information review groups (a variation of focus group methodology) where discussion focused on a set of health information materials. Data analysis revealed 15 ways in which the participants evaluated quality. The two most important indicators of quality were organizational authority and the use of plain language. They did not find many of the indicators of evidence-based information. Participants demonstrated lack of confidence about their ability to select quality health information and relied on preselection by authoritative sources (libraries, support groups, health professionals) and distrusted the Internet.

Impact evaluation, professional practice, and policy making

This paper examines the relationship between research into the evaluation of the impact of library and information services, policy making in the field, and professional practice and education. The paper first summarises the background to a recent critical literature review undertaken on behalf of Resource: the Council on Museums, Archives and Libraries. The review was intended to identify any published evidence that Museums, Archives and Libraries are making a contributory impact to developments in the British Government’s key policy areas. Except in the field of learning, little supporting evidence was found. Methodological weakness undermined the validity of much of the related work identified by the review. After considering approaches to ensuring the impact of research on policy making, including a more appropriate publication strategy and greater face‐to‐face dialogue, the paper discusses the attitudes of LIS practitioners towards academic research and the need for closer collaboration. Finally, the paper speculates on some of the implications for LIS educators in developing future researchers better equipped to identify the contribution that libraries make, and more effective in influencing policy makers.

Publishing in international journals

This paper examines patterns of Chinese authorship, focusing particularly on international co-authorship, in a sample of 37,526 articles from Elsevier journals published in 2004. Trends relating to potential influences such as subject, journal impact factor and article type are explored. A slightly higher proportion of articles with at least one Chinese author was observed as compared to previous studies. Articles that are a product of Chinese international collaboration account for almost 20% of the Chinese sample as a whole, a similar proportion to levels of international collaboration within the sample overall. Chinese international co-authorship is most common in the Earth & Environmental Sciences. Where China is involved in international collaboration, it is often a proactive participant: 49% of articles that are a result of Chinese international collaboration have a Chinese corresponding author. With some minor variations in subject categories, countries favoured in international co-authorship reflect world shares in publishing and factors such as geographical proximity and political links.

Knowledge support for interdisciplinary models of healthcare delivery: a study of knowledge needs and roles in managed clinical networks:

Managed clinical networks (MCNs), a relatively new phenomenon in the health service, aim to ensure equitable provision of high-quality, evidence-based care using an innovative interdisciplinary work model. This article describes a study that aimed to highlight themes which could be explored in a fuller information needs analysis of individuals working in MCNs. Comparison with an earlier study of staff in more traditional roles shows that staff working in MCNs have a greater appreciation of: the value of information and knowledge in the organizational context; the tools and skills required to use information and knowledge to improve service delivery; the value of personal or tacit knowledge and the role of individuals in coordinating networks of knowledge; and the importance of developing a culture which includes the patient in the knowledge network. These findings indicate that MCNs may support a more ‘knowledge-based’ work model than traditional structures within the health service.

The costs and benefits of the Internet as a marketing and communications tool: the attitudes, perceptions and experiences within the non‐profit environmental sector in Scotland

Discusses the findings of a study investigating the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of Scottish non‐profit environmental organisations and the costs and benefits of the Internet as a marketing and communications tool. Aims to ascertain whether the size of the organisation and the level of Internet use determines the perceptions and beliefs of non‐profit organisations within the environmental sector in Scotland and whether these factors also determines the costs and benefits experienced by Internet users. Finds that regardless of size or the level of use, organisations believe the Internet is a cost‐effective way to market their organisations and promote awareness. However, attitudinal factors affect the level of use by small organisations. Overall the organisations within the sample have indicated that the Internet is a low cost, high benefit marketing solution.

Decision-making by health purchasing organisations in Scotland: the role and influence of evidence from the research literature

Evidence-based health care is currently receiving much attention in the health service. The movement is of particular interest to health information professionals, as it is a chance for them to show their skills and achieve credibility after years in the wilderness. However, to what extent is managers’ use of research findings in the purchasing and provision of health care merely so much rhetoric? The research reported here is the first phase of a study which aims to look at the impact of the Scottish Health Purchasing Information Centre (SHPIC) in providing information intended to change purchasing and providing behaviour. This phase of the project involved a survey of Scottish purchasers, which examined use of evidence from research in making purchasing decisions. Findings from the study seem to indicate that, although most are aware of the movement towards evidence-based health care and agree with its ethos, there are several very real barriers to change.

The role of knowledge transfer in technological innovation: an oil and gas industry perspective

This paper presents the results of primary research into the role of knowledge and knowledge transfer within the technological innovation process in the U.K. upstream oil and gas industry. The research employed a qualitative approach using narrative interviews as a method for data collection, and an analytical template to analyse the data. The findings indicate the critical role played by enabling organisations as conduits of knowledge within the technological innovation process. Limitations of the research include the size of sample. Further research could focus on other enabling organisations. Potential practical implications include the development of a better understanding of the role of knowledge and knowledge transfer by actors, leading to the improvement of the technological innovation process itself. The work contributes to understanding the relationships, which exist between knowledge transfer and the technological innovation process, and to the forms and types of knowledge present within this process.

The language strategies of Scottish exporters in the food and drink sector

Analysis of results from exploratory research into the attitudes of exporters of the food and drink industry of north‐east Scotland towards the value of foreign language skills suggests a certain degree of ambivalence, which, together with the lack of resources and available skills can explain the absence of systematic language strategies. It also demonstrates the case for a questionnaire survey focusing on the various aspects of international marketing communication in the context of that particular industry sector across Scotland. Findings provided information on a range of practices and attitudes as well as a better knowledge of the nature of communication barriers; the means and tools of international marketing communication; the context of use of foreign languages; criteria for export success, perception of the impact of the customer’s language use on marketing success; significance of skills for international marketing success; perception of impact of educational policies on opportunities in the global market.

What have we learned so far? The development and application of an organisational learning narrative

The use of narratives and stories has been growing in popularity in the field of knowledge management. Narratives may be used as useful vehicles for several knowledge-based activities within organisational (and other) contexts. These include acquiring and sharing knowledge in the form of personal experiences; the storage of explicit knowledge; and significantly, the development of personal knowledge and understanding through the use of narratives for sense-making. This paper presents research into the development and application of a method for the construction of a ‘learning narrative’: an organisational narrative developed for the specific purpose of sharing experiential knowledge. The paper presents a rationale for the use of narratives within knowledge management; details a methodological approach for the development of learning narratives; and highlights a number of benefits of the use of learning narratives, notably their use in sustaining and enhancing the quality of project-based work.

Towards a conceptual framework for provider information behaviour

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical discussion of the paucity of research on information behaviour of information providers and to propose a framework for investigating the emerging area of provider information behaviour.Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of a conceptual analysis and literature review.Findings – A multidisciplinary framework is provided to form the basis of further exploration of provider information behaviour.Research limitations/implications – There are various types of information providers and they provide opportunities for exploring and comparing their range of information activities and developing models of provider information behaviour.Originality/value – The paper argues for a new perspective to the study of information behaviour. The paucity of research on internal users of information has not matched those on external users of information over the years. An exploration of provider information behaviour together with its internal i...