Relationship between Social Adjustment and Professional Ethics among Librarians in Libraries of Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences

The professional ethics of librarianship consist of methods and behaviors that increase client desire for a library. One of the variables that results from professional ethics is social adjustment. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social adjustment and professional ethics of librarians working in the libraries of Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive survey study was conducted based on correlation method. The statistical population of the study included all librarians working in the libraries of Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences, and 175 persons were selected as a sample using the available sampling method and based on Morgan's table. A social compatibility questionnaire and a professional ethics questionnaire were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 through one-sample t-tests, independent t-test, ANOVA and regression analysis.

The results showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between social adjustment and professional ethics (Sig<0.05). The results of the regression analysis indicated that 47% of the components of the social adjustment were able to predict the level of professional ethics of librarians (Sig<0.05). The study of demographic variables also represented that gender, age, and education level had no effect on librarians’ social adjustment and professional ethics. Social adjustment in the hospital library and professional ethics of librarians in the university library also had a higher average.

Considering the status of the components of social adjustment and professional ethics, the question of how librarians should be employed in university libraries, especially in universities of medical sciences, is an important issue that requires the serious attention of the authorities.