پژوهشنامه پردازش و مدیریت اطلاعات
سال بیست و هفتم شماره 2 (پیاپی 68، زمستان 1390)

This study aimed to review and compare online search skills and determine the factors affecting familiarity with these skills among the medical students studying at two State Universities (Bandar Abbas and Rafsanjan).The sample consisted of 545 students and data was collected by using questionnaires. The gathered data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS software. Using 7 online search skills and factors affecting familiarity with these skills, attempt was made to identify the most influential factors and also assess the student's familiarity with these skills utilizing specialized questions. Moreover, the findings of the research indicated that the overall assessment of students at Bandar Abbas was higher than that of Rafsanjan. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding specialized questions about online search skills. Factors such as English proficiency, the student's ideas about their ability in information retrieval, interest in medical digital library and obtaining new information using databases, their previous experience, whether the students agree with offering a course in online search skills, seeking others help familiarity with databases and interest in presenting articles in congresses. All had a significant effect on familiarity and identification of online search skills. Furthermore, gender, stage of study (basic sciences, pathophysiology or clinical), English proficiency, previous experience, and familiarity with databases had a significant effect on the effectiveness of online search skills.

The purpose of this descriptive – co-relational study was to determine factors influencing intention to use IT among agricultural vocational teachers using Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in Kurdistan province. Data was collected using researcher-made questionnaire. The validity was confirmed using a panel of experts and reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha yielding 0.7 for all sections. The population consisted of agricultural vocational teachers in Kurdistan province (N =71). All teachers participated in the study. Regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy, subjective norms, and attitude towards using IT explained 58% variance in intention to use IT. The result of this study has implications for agricultural vocational system in Kurdistan province in that attitude, subjective norm, and self-efficacy should be further enhanced if teachers are to continue using IT in their educational activities.

This paper presented a model on developing information literacy for Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. This model was based on three sides: formulating rules and regulations, content production, and communication among the activists. In each of these sides, while referring to noting-worthy points, the top possible actions were mentioned. It was expected that by achieving information literacy skills that entails equipping the learners with critical thinking skills, much of the national objectives aimed in cultural, social, economic and scientific fields areas will be attained; all since that the first step in accessing knowledge (the main characteristic of which is being localized) consists of the ability to recognize the problem, to determine the information need clearly, and to exploit the existing information in producing new information and knowledge.

E-learning is the new pattern of teaching and learning process. The main characteristic of e-learning is delivery of content and learning activity within learning management systems (LMS). E-learning for its success requires that access to resources and information services. Digital libraries can offer different resources and information services on the Internet. Therefore, it will be very useful to support e-learning in this article, after expression of definitions of e-learning and digital libraries, resources and services of digital libraries to support of e-learning were presented.

Today, many of universities and private institutions are founding in design of e-learning systems. Understanding of what factors or components are important in evaluation of these systems effectiveness from the learners’ point of view, help to focus funding upon effective components and ignore or exclusion of ineffective or neutral factors. Therefore, this paper with purpose of offering a fairly comprehensive perspective from effectiveness of e-learning systems, has tried to recognize and extract effective factors or components on effectiveness of e-learning systems. At the same time, the Shahr-e-Rey’s virtual college of anecdote sciences as an example has investigated. The research method of this research was descriptive (survey research). The statistical population was included all postgraduate and undergraduate student of mentioned virtual college. The total number of this student was 1296 people that in autumn semester of 2009 were enrolled and studied all the semester. For sampling of subjects, a biased method was used. Therefore, based on this biased method, the 325 subjects were selected. For gathering of data, the Levy’s questionnaire of assessing the value-satisfaction with e-learning systems’ characteristics was used. For determination of validity of mentioned questionnaire, the content, construct and formal validity were used. Also, for approving the reliability of this questionnaire, the test of Cronbach’s Alpha was used. Thus, in terms of this test, the alpha for both constructs (value and satisfaction) respectively was: 0.95 and 0.94. However, the results of this study showed that these constructs (value and satisfaction) were distinct (independent) constructs and results of factor analysis showed that these constructs had different factor structures and also factor analysis in any one (value & satisfaction) lead to extraction of different factors. Afterward, on the basis of confirmatory factor analysis in value construct, the four factors (learners’ environmental support; technology; technical support & classmates; course & professor) with a total cumulative variance explained nearly 61.5%, were extracted and as well as, on the basis of confirmatory factor analysis in satisfaction construct, the four factors (course & professor; availability; technology & technical support; learner & classmates) with a total cumulative variance explained nearly 50%, were extracted. Furthermore, another result of this survey showed that there wasn’t any significant correlation between value and satisfaction measures.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between teachers’ concern toward information and communication technology and their usage levels according to Hall and Hord’s Concern Based Adoption Model. Research population was high school teachers in Isfahan city. The sample included 110 teachers selected by clustering random sampling method. The research method was correlation and descriptive. Research instruments were two questionnaires: A) Hall and Hord’s Concern Based Adoption Model, and B) Griffens’ and Cristinesen’s questionnaire for measuring usage levels. Data was analyzed by using correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Results indicated that there were positive relationships between information and communication technologies levels of use (non-use, orientation, preparation, mechanical use, routine, refinement, integration, and renewal) and stages of concern (awareness, informational, personal, management, consequence, collaboration, and refocusing). There was not a meaningful relationship between levels of use and management stage of concern.

After the emergence of information technology, occurrence of some ethical problems seems to be inevitable. Due to importance of this topic, the present article, adopting a cognitive approach, aimed to debate some ethical challenges relating to information technology so that via identification of such issues, thinking how they can be eradicated or diminished was stimulated. To do this, it discussed theoretical foundations, offered some evidences and highlighted necessity of considering interoperability between ethics and information technology and their related consequences. Moreover, it examined some ethical dilemmas originating from information technology and finally, made a reference to several recommendations.

Worldwide, the e-learning has a growth, but failures exist. Previous researches showed that user’s satisfaction is one of the most important factors in assessing the success of e-learning system implementation and a variety of factors affecting user's satisfaction. In this research, eight independent variables namely learner Internet self-efficacy, instructor response timeliness, e-learning course flexibility, e-learning course quality, technology quality, system usefulness, system ease of use, and diversity in assessment with nine hypotheses were discussed. The Spearman's correlation analysis was used to test initial eight hypotheses and a stepwise multiple linear regression model was conducted to test the ninth hypothesis. The results revealed that e-learning course flexibility, e-learning course quality, technology quality, and diversity in assessment were the critical factors affecting e-learner satisfaction that could not be neglected when implementing successful e-learning courses.

Preparation of a community or organization to take part and benefit from development of information and communication technology defined as e-readiness. The aim of this study was determining criteria to measuring of the e-readiness level of academic libraries. In this regard, the published literature in the field of e-readiness reviewed, and eventually the IUP (Information Utilization Potential) model cited as a reference. Then, using the Delphi method and library and information science expert's help, e-readiness assessment indicators were presented for academic libraries. After customization and performing statistical analysis, indicators in the form of five basic dimensions (including the organization and management, human resources, data, information and communication technologies, and the relationship with the environment), including 82 sub-criteria confirmed. It was hope that the results of current research findings to bring the right tool for the custodians and researchers.

One of the models presented in e-learning quality system field is ISO 9126 model, which applied in this research to evaluate e-learning system of Amirkabir University. This model system for evaluation, the six main variables provided that each of these variables by several other indicators was measured. Thus, the model parameters as ISO 9126 and turned the questionnaire survey among samples (120 experts and students of Amirkabir University) and the distribution were completed. Based on the results between the electronic learning systems, Amirkabir University with each of the six-factor model of effective, direct and meaningful relationship exist. Also, based on the results, the system of e-learning in Amirkabir University was affected most respectively by maintainability, efficiency, portability, functionality, usability and reliability.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of font size and word shape on information recall and reading rate of electronic content. A total of 70 undergraduate students were randomly divided into two groups. In experiment 1, one group read one chapter of an e-book with Tahoma Persian 10, and the other group read the same chapter with Tahoma Persian 12. The reading time was recorded and the participants completed pre and post tests. Experiment 2 was conducted as experiment 1, with the exception that one group read another chapter with Tahoma Persian (sans serif), and the other group read the same chapter with Times New Roman Persian (serif). In both experiments, the differences between the means of the recall scores, and the means of reading speeds for two font sizes and two word shapes were not statistically significant (α= 0.05). Designers of the educational content can change font sizes from 12 to 10 for Tahoma Persian without detrimental effect on recall and reading speed. However, in selection of typefaces they need to be more careful, because if we consider α= 0.10, the difference would become statistically significant. Therefore, some detrimental effects of san serif type face were observed on recall.