فصلنامه تحقیقات کتابداری و اطلاع رسانی دانشگاهی
سال پنجاه و هفتم شماره 4 (پیاپی 106، زمستان 1402)

Job characteristics, including job autonomy, can significantly impact various work-related and behavioral outcomes for an organization’s employees. These outcomes encompass creativity within the work environment, as well as knowledge-related behaviors such as knowledge gathering, knowledge sharing, and innovation. On one hand, job independence provides the conditions necessary for the emergence of knowledge-related behaviors. On the other hand, it can also serve as a catalyst for innovation and innovative behaviors through knowledge behaviors. The primary objective of this study is to explore the role of knowledge gathering and sharing behaviors in the relationship between job autonomy and innovative behavior of librarians of Ahvaz universities.

This study employed an applied research approach, using an analytical survey method. The statistical population of the research consisted of all librarians working in university libraries in Ahvaz in Iran. To determine the sample size, Morgan’s table was used. Given that the total number of librarians exceeded 120 individuals, a sample size of 92 respondents completed the questionnaires. The research data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation method and structural equation modeling (SEM) in SmartPLS and SPSS.

The research results indicate that knowledge gathering behavior has an effect on the relationship between job autonomy and innovative behavior of librarians of the university libraries of Ahvaz (ᵦ = 0.39). In addition, knowledge sharing behavior has an effect on the relationship between job autonomy and innovative behavior of the university libraries in Ahvaz (ᵦ = 0.42).

Giving special attention to human resources as the primary factor in knowledge gathering and sharing, job autonomy, and innovative behavior plays an important role in the development of the knowledge-sharing process and enhancing organizational empowerment in terms of discovering the hidden knowledge held by individuals. The study results highlight the significance of employee job independence across various dimensions: criteria, methods, and schedules. Such independence provides a valuable opportunity for employees to go beyond rigid procedures in their work, actively seeking to learn and share insights with their colleagues. Ultimately, this article aims to offer practical recommendations for achieving organizational goals within university libraries. According to the results, it is suggested that: Employees of university libraries and academic librarians should be encouraged to acquire knowledge and develop essential skills. This empowerment not only enriches their work but also opens up possibilities for innovative behaviors within their job responsibilities. Also, the independence of employees should be taken into consideration. Specifically, employees should be granted discretion and relative freedom when making decisions related to criteria, methods, and timing in performing their duties. This autonomy provides an opportunity for them to leverage their knowledge capacities and introduce new ideas and innovative behaviors within the context of the autonomy granted. By implementing these recommendations, organizations can foster a culture of continuous learning, creativity, and innovation among their library staff.

A knowledge audit is a crucial tool for analyzing and identifying knowledge needs, creating a knowledge inventory, understanding knowledge flow, and mapping knowledge. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the knowledge audit of physicians at Shahed University.

This applied research is conducted using a descriptive-analytical methodology. The statistical population of the study includes 45 physicians working in the Faculty of Medicine at Shahed University. The data collection tools in this research are a checklist and a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using a one-sample t-test in SPSS software.

The findings showed that the components of identifying knowledge needs, the status of existing knowledge assets (implicit and explicit knowledge), and the flow of knowledge and knowledge map of physicians of the Faculty of Medicine at Shahed University are moderate to low at a significance level of 0.05%. In other words, little attention is paid to auditing the knowledge of physicians.

The results indicate that the status of knowledge auditing of physicians at Shahed University is not favorable. Therefore, policymakers in the Faculty of Medicine of this university should provide the necessary groundwork for the successful implementation of knowledge audit. This can be achieved through knowledge sharing, evaluating knowledge assets, assessing knowledge needs, creating knowledge repositories, establishing networks, and facilitating effective communication to enhance the flow of knowledge. Additionally, providing the necessary infrastructure for recording knowledge assets, transferring essential knowledge through training courses and seminars, and developing specialized knowledge maps are crucial steps in this process.

This paper aims to identify and evaluate the most important strategies and actions taken by Iranian university libraries during the COVID-19 epidemic crisis, in comparison with international examples.

This applied research employed an applied research approach, utilizing a descriptive-analytical survey method in two parts. Firstly, it analyzed the situation of Iranian university libraries across two dimensions: education and research, in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Secondly, it examined the role of these libraries in terms of social responsibility, comparing them with international examples. The research tools included a researcher-made checklist and a questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of both Iranian and international academic libraries. Therefore, 301 international academic libraries were surveyed, along with 33 accessible and responsive samples from Iranian academic libraries and world academic libraries (selected based on the Times Higher Education world ranking). 

The state of university libraries in Iran, in comparison with the most important university libraries in the world during this pandemic, revealed that the strategies and activities of Iranian university libraries lacked balanced and coordinated attention to both education and research. Furthermore, the strategies and activities of Iranian academic libraries were not synchronized with those of international academic libraries. 

Findings showed that the efforts of academic libraries worldwide in facing one of their most difficult challenges—the COVID-19 crisis—were significant. Additionally, the commitment towards social responsibility in these libraries was noteworthy, but the amount of attention paid to the activities of this aspect in Iran was low. The integration and connection between university libraries, educational and technological centers or units, and research and laboratory centers are the sole solution during similar events.

Statistical methods play an important role in achieving results and conducting analyses. The current study aims to analyze the status of statistical methods in articles of knowledge and information science. While reviewing the statistical methods used in articles, it also investigates the frequency of methodological issues.

The nature of the research is a descriptive survey. The research population comprises articles published in 13 active journals in knowledge and information science in Iran until 2022. Using Cochran’s formula, 141 articles were randomly selected for this study. The research methodology was investigated in three areas: statistical methods, sampling methods, and validity and reliability. Additionally, the variables influencing the characteristics of the articles and their statistical errors were examined. Data analysis was performed using Excel and SPSS 26 software, employing descriptive statistics methods. 

The statistical methods have been used a total of 599 times, with the most frequent application being related to descriptive statistics. Among parametric and non-parametric inferential statistical methods, the T-test, chi-square, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test are the most commonly employed in parametric and non-parametric inferential statistical methods, respectively. In the section on predictive methods and post hoc tests, the correlation coefficient and Tukey’s test stand out as the most frequent choices. Notably, the research results reveal that the most common statistical error observed in the articles is the use of parametric tests without verifying the normality of the data.

The findings of the research show that although the authors of the articles use descriptive statistics effectively in their work, they pay less attention to inferential statistical methods. An essential consideration when employing parametric methods is ensuring that the underlying assumptions of the tests are met, as violating these assumptions can invalidate research results.

Paying attention to local and regional issues and conducting research in alignment with these challenges is one of the most important principles for progress and development in a country. Therefore, the aim of the current research is to analyze the local and regional issues and challenges in the research outputs and doctoral dissertations of scientific institutions in Iran.

The current research is an applied study with a quantitative-qualitative approach, conducted using scientometric techniques and thematic analysis. The research community includes doctoral theses and research projects from Shiraz, Yazd, and Ilam universities. The data collection method involved sending requests to the respective universities in these three public universities and compiling information related to research projects and doctoral dissertations. Data was gathered by reviewing the doctoral dissertations and research projects of the mentioned universities, and relevant information was organized using Excel and RavaRmatrix software. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis. Additionally, UciNet, Pajak, and VOSviewer software were used to create scientific maps.

The number of research projects and doctoral dissertations addressing local and regional issues in the three studied universities is very low. However, based on the challenges mentioned in the documents above, it was found that the universities paid insufficient attention to local and regional issues in their research for various reasons. Undoubtedly, the country’s development relies on solving local and regional challenges.

Emphasizing local and regional issues is a key factor for economic dynamism, maintaining ideals, achieving endogenous development, and contributing to the country’s prosperity. This necessitates proper planning and increased attention in upstream documents.

The current study aims to explore the attitudes, motivations, and obstacles to knowledge sharing among postgraduate students at the University of Tabriz.

The research method employed is a descriptive survey. The statistical population of the present study is 6,223 postgraduate students from the University of Tabriz, with a sample of 374 individuals selected based on the relative stratified sampling method according to the Krejci-Morgan table. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Its validity was confirmed by experts in Library and Information Science, and its reliability was determined to be 82.9% using Cronbach’s alpha. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and linear regression.

The research findings indicated that the respondents’ age, gender, and major academic groups of the respondents had an effect on their knowledge sharing behavior, but their level of education did not. Pearson’s correlation coefficient results revealed a significant relationship between the extent of knowledge sharing and the components of attitude, motivation, barriers, resources, types of information, and knowledge sharing channels. Furthermore, the multiple regression analysis results showed that among all the independent variables, ‘attitude towards knowledge sharing’, ‘types of shared information and knowledge’, and ‘motivation to share knowledge’ were included in the equation. These three components explain 19% of the changes related to knowledge sharing.

Knowledge sharing can facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge among students, leading to an expansion of knowledge and a deeper understanding of their subjects. In general, the implementation of knowledge sharing among postgraduate students at the University of Tabriz could help achieve the university’s educational and research objectives.