International Journal of Information Science and Management (IJISM)

Abstract Mega journals are growing rapidly, and nowadays, they have become new portals for the publication of scientific outputs. The purpose of this study is to analyze the citations of the scientific outputs of Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Israel in eight mega journals. This applied research, which is a descriptive-analytical study, was conducted by employing a scientometric approach. In this study, eight mega journals were identified and selected based on Bjork's criteria. In each journal, the studies conducted by the researchers of selected countries of the Middle East, and indexed in the Scopus database were searched and extracted from the time the journal was launched as a mega journal to the end of 2019. The total number of studies imported to Excel, SPSS, and VosViewer software for analysis and illustration of the data was 10935. The results showed that approximately 84 percent of the studies performed by the researchers of the selected countries were published in PLOS ONE and Scientific Reports, and the share of the publication for the other six journals accounted for only six percent of the articles. Of the 262696 citations received by these articles, 57.86 percent belonged to the studies published in PLOS ONE. Moreover, PLOS ONE and Scientific Reports were among the most cited sources of the studies carried out in the Middle East. The most active institutes of the Middle East in the eight selected mega journals were Tel Aviv University, King Saud University, Cairo University, and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, respectively. Most of the international collaborations of the selected countries for publication of studies were with the researchers of Medical Sciences of the USA, the UK, and Germany. A considerable share of publications of the selected Middle East countries in the mega journals belonged to PLOS ONE and Scientific Reports. Although the trend of publication in the other journals is also rising, they are not comparable with those two journals. As conducting international studies could increase the rate of citations, it is recommended that researchers increase the impact of their publications via international collaboration.

Abstract The present study examined review articles in medical sciences and analyzed their citations of retracted Iranian papers. This was a quantitative and applied study using scientometrics and descriptive cross-sectional approaches. Review articles' citation trends of retracted studies were investigated using the quantitative method, and the status of the mentioned citations was determined using the descriptive method. The study population comprised 53 review studies that cited 28 retracted Iranian articles. The current study on review articles citing retracted papers revealed that most citations in 2019 were in the form of systematic reviews and meta-analyses by Iranian authors. These articles were occasionally published in journals with a high credibility and impact factor. Although the most frequent reasons for article retraction in the present study were scientific misconduct, most of the citing review articles did not mention this issue. Further research is required to determine the impact of referencing retracted articles on the results of review articles, especially systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized clinical trials (RCTs), regarding the reasons for retraction.

Abstract This research analyzed the accounting field's scientific collaboration network and conceptual structure. All documents published in core accounting journals from 2006-2022 in Scopus with over 9 citations were examined. Scientific collaboration and co-occurrence networks were analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer software. The publishing of accounting documents is primarily led by three major countries: The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Authors and institutions from these nations actively contribute to the publications in this field. Additionally, recent studies have shown a notable rise in research output in accounting from Malaysia, Germany, China, Italy, and Indonesia. The word co-occurrence revealed six subject areas within the field of accounting. These areas encompass emerging accounting and management control trends, financial reporting and market dynamics, sustainability reporting, corporate social responsibility, international financial reporting standards and accounting regulation, corporate governance, and firm performance, and audit quality and assurance. By tracking significant developments in accounting research, it becomes evident that the discipline has evolved from establishing foundational concepts and practices to focusing on financial reporting, auditing, corporate governance, international accounting, social and environmental considerations, technology integration, and specialized areas of interest.

Abstract Abstract
Deciding upon faculty members’ promotion or tenure is one of the most important tasks in higher education, and it has piqued the interest of researchers from different fields. This has led to an increased number of deep studies in recent years and resulted in an increasing publication growth rate. So, it seems essential that a comprehensive analytical study be done in this field with a bibliometrics approach aiming to identify research trends and patterns in the field of faculty members’ appraisal systems. The Web of Science was utilized for data collection through a search process on August 2, 2022, in which terms related to promotion, evaluation, and faculty members were searched in the topic section of all databases. By identifying research evolution (word and thematic evolution), core journals (Scientometrics), active countries (USA, United Kingdom, and China), types of research collaboration, and leading institutions in this field, policymakers can gain insights into the current state of research in this area and make informed decisions about future directions for faculty evaluations. Policymakers can use the study's findings to identify which institutions are leading the way in faculty appraisal research and collaborate with them to share best practices. Thematic mapping also allows for the identification of emerging research areas and helps researchers develop effective research strategies. Overall, this study's findings can help universities and policymakers develop more evidence-based and effective faculty member evaluation policies that promote academic excellence and contribute to the overall success of higher education institutions.

Abstract With the increase of studies in the field of university-industry cooperation, the need to integrate studies that have investigated the research process of this interaction has become more apparent. In this regard, the present research analyzed the review and bibliometric studies of the interaction between university and industry using a scoping review. The guide provided by Daudt, Van Mossel and Scott (2013) is the basis for conducting the scoping review. We used international databases, and 2,590 articles were retrieved. After sampling based on the PRISMA diagram and using the JBI institute for the quality of the selected sources, 64 articles were selected for the final analysis. A review of studies analyzing university-industry interaction showed that research publications in this field have grown despite random fluctuations. Various factors account for the growth of studies in this field, including transforming the missions and activities of universities by moving towards entrepreneurship and commercialization of research and the formation of entrepreneurial universities, increasing technology transfer offices, the growth of inventions in universities, and expanding research collaborations. The most crucial obstacle to university-industry alliances is the difference in their goals and missions. Intermediary institutions, especially science parks, and incubators, are essential for effective communication between universities and industry. Some of the most critical topics in University-Industry Interaction are innovation, economic development, sustainable development, science parks and incubators, start-ups, spin-offs, knowledge transfer, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization.

Abstract This study considers a wide range of services provided by the largest Russian and foreign to their users. The authors used the quantitative content analysis method. In this study library was considered as source of reliable information in comparison to Internet resources. The authors studied modern services that have become popular with the emergence of digital forms for verifying information. In this way, libraries seek to create an optimal approach to implement cognitive, memorial, and educational functions within their direct activities. Library has a clear opportunity to provide its users with a range of necessary services and it can become one of the key actors in providing reliable information.

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Social networking tools are the inevitable essence of life. The flexible structure of social networks paves the way for communication and collaboration between users and librarians.  So here, the paper constitutes a study of the central libraries of Four multidisciplinary universities in Kerala in terms of the usage of social networks and digital infrastructures for promoting and marketing library information sources and services. Data collected from the official library websites, Web portals and social media applications of Kerala University  Library (KUL) of the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University Library (MGUL) of Mahatma Gandhi University, Hermann Gundert Central Library (HGCL) of Kannur university and CH Mohammed Koya Library (CHKML) of University of Calicut in Kerala, other universities libraries in Kerala have no sufficient social media or official websites for the knowledge organization and communication. The study determines the social networking tools and digital infrastructure used for information communication, Knowledge organization, Knowledge distribution, and Information promotion in the central Libraries of four multidisciplinary universities in Kerala. The study also portrays the benefits of social networking tools in libraries, marketing techniques used to deliver information sources and services, and implementation of 4P’s in Multidisciplinary university libraries of Kerala. These four central libraries of four universities in Kerala have an enormous collection of social networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, etc. All the libraries of multidisciplinary universities in Kerala use websites to organize their information. Mahatma Gandhi University Library of Mahatma Gandhi University is in the first position for using social media as compared to other university libraries. Facebook is the most common tool used by three central libraries of multidisciplinary universities in Kerala. CH Mohammed Koya University Library of the University of Calicut not using social media instead they take advantage of Chatbot, Web Portal, and Digital Library.

Abstract  During COVID-19, the authenticity and degree of marketing information services at Al-Balqa Applied University Center (Salt) confronted various challenges in obtaining information sources. This study however aimed at examining those issues and challenges using a questionnaire designed for library patrons. Based on the findings, the library should take a further step ahead by developing plans and strategies to boost the level of techniques to offer services to users and to expand continuous training programs. The limitations of the library and its services in this area are reflected in the problems that the community customers experience. The study also aimed at examining the library's potential role in marketing services, which was represented in the educational process and scientific research to develop and interact with worldwide quality standards as well as the implementation of local environmental laws

Abstract  This paper examines the challenges in implementing the Resource Description and Access in bibliographic records and library software. To meet this end, a survey approach was employed, and a questionnaire was used to collect the data. The statistical sample size was determined as 95 librarians from Tehran University, 48 librarians from Allameh Tabataba’i University, and 35 librarians from Tarbiat Modares University. According to the results, the respondents believe that the main problems for implementing RDA in academic libraries in Iran are, in turn: “problems in switching to new library software", "problems of not having enough information and knowledge to implement RDA", "problems in the internal communication of libraries", "data incompatibility", "lack of a trustee to apply the RDA rules", and "problem with library users". Therefore, using a correspondence table and designing a comprehensive manual in library software is needed to guide the librarians and catalogers in implementing RDA.

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The study sought to assess the use of reference management software among final-year students at technical universities in Ghana. Further, it sought to determine the role of training and support in using Reference Management Software in the two technical universities selected for the study. The explanatory sequential design was used for this study. Data was collected purposively from Accra Technical University, and convenience sampling was used for Takoradi Technical University. 210 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to final-year Bachelor of Technology students from both universities. Interviews were conducted with six information literacy instructors in both institutions. From the findings, Mendeley was the most used Reference Management Software among students of the two universities; Accra Technical University students were more aware of Reference Management Software than Takoradi Technical University students; Accra Technical University students used Reference Management Software more and were more confident in its usage than Takoradi Technical University students; but had challenges that were more fundamental than Takoradi Technical University such as inadequate basic infrastructure for training and support. From the results, training, and support rendered to students in Accra Technical University had a bearing on their awareness and usage of Reference Management Software. Thus, it was recommended that training time be extended to make enough room for practical sessions for students to grasp Reference Management Software

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The present research was conducted to measure the impact of organizational maturity on the main variables of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology among library and information science experts in the public libraries in Mashhad. It is applied research in terms of purpose and correlation-descriptive research in terms of the data collection method. The research statistical population included all library and information science experts in Mashhad city, which were selected as research samples using random sampling. The questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The average variance extracted (AVE) was used to assess the validity of the questionnaire, and the composite reliability (CR) coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. The structural equation modeling method (partial least squares method) was used with Smart PLS software to test the research hypotheses and the research conceptual model. According to the results, it can be stated that the variable of organizational maturity has a significant and positive effect on the components of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, including performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, purposeful behavior, but this variable does not have a significant and positive effect on the effort expectancy. Organizational maturity affects the acceptance and use of technology by public library librarians.
 
 

Abstract Developments in information and communication technologies have created a new type of voluntary activity called online volunteering, in which volunteers fulfill their duties from outside the workplace. Therefore, this study aims to identify and categorize online voluntary activities available to public libraries and information centers. This applied research was conducted using the survey method. Data collection was performed using observation and Delphi method. The participants in the Delphi survey rounds included 15 experts in the field of information and knowledge science (faculty members, library managers, and library sections' directors) who were interviewed in two rounds, and their opinions were used to conclude. The present study's findings suggest that 33 different voluntary activities can be performed as virtual volunteering in public libraries. These services can be divided into three general categories: content development, training/counseling, and promoting/informing. Among these, content development with 22 different activities has the most possibility of online volunteering activities, training/counseling with six activities, and promoting/informing with five activities are the following categories, respectively. In addition, for each of these three categories, relevant general competencies are presented separately, while for 33 voluntary activities, specialized goals and competencies are suggested by experts. Considering the variety of activities that public libraries can perform virtually through their volunteers, it seems necessary to identify the capacities and capabilities of libraries and volunteers so that the maximum efficiency of volunteers is achieved in reaching the library's goals. No study on identifying and categorizing voluntary activities in public libraries and information centers is available. While identifying and categorizing these activities, the present research mentions the goals for each activity and specifies general and specialized conditions for volunteers to perform the same activity.
 

Abstract Following the increase of false news about the COVID-19 disease and the psychological and social effects that have resulted, detecting fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the critical things that can be effective in this field. Therefore, the current study investigated the relationship and role of media literacy in predicting students' ability to detect fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was applied using a descriptive survey method. The statistical population of this research consists of all the students of Razi University; 371 students were selected as the sample population by stratified random sampling. A standard media literacy questionnaire with 20 questions was used to collect data and a researcher-made questionnaire on the ability to detect fake news in the COVID-19 pandemic based on the eight components of the IFLA notification in 34 questions. The results showed that the level of media literacy and the ability to detect fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic is average. Media literacy, with a correlation coefficient of 0.56, has a positive and significant relationship with the ability to detect fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, with a path coefficient of 0.64, the predictive power detects fake news in the COVID-19 pandemic more than students. Training and measures should be taken to improve students' media literacy skills and increase their ability to deal with fake news.
 
 

Abstract Online health information seeking can be related to various factors. Past studies have shown that two factors of uncertainty and cyberchondria can play a role in this regard. In this regard, the present research was designed to investigate online health information seeking with uncertainty and other criteria using a descriptive survey method. It was carried out in the research community of Ahvaz health network clients. The data collection tool was three questionnaires, and the findings were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The findings showed that in the sample of 260 people under investigation, the mean of online health information seeking in the group of women was higher than that of men, but no significant difference was reported. In examining the average uncertainty and cyberchondria in gender groups, uncertainty was reported higher in women than men (significant difference).  However, cyberchondria was not significantly different in the groups of men and women. No significant difference was observed regarding the educational level. Among the research variables, the uncertainty and doubt in facing the information have increased online health information seeking among the visitors to the health centers of Ahvaz City. According to the current research results, planning and training in health information search and making valid health information accessible in various information platforms by the policymakers and managers of the country's health system is necessary and inevitable.
 
 

Abstract  With the development of the Internet and information technologies, new communication tools have been created that allow researchers to present their research results and communicate with each other. Using visual and audio resources to share research results is a new type of scholarly communication essential for disseminating knowledge and has recently been the focus of journals. Our objective was to help authors, journal editors, and publishers become familiar with the criteria they should consider when producing standard video abstracts. This descriptive study used content analysis. We systematically searched the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus to identify journals with video abstracts and analyzed their authors’ guidelines to extract the criteria needed for producing and evaluating video abstracts. The research community comprised 209 journals with video abstracts. After reviewing their authors' guidelines, we found that only 90 journals mentioned video abstracts in their authors’ guidelines. Of 90 journals, 22 dedicated authors’ guidelines and 68 journals belong to nine different publishers. Therefore, 31 authors’ guidelines were examined in this study using MAXQDA 12. We identified six main categories, six subcategories, and 87 criteria for producing and evaluating video abstracts. The six main categories included the type of video, technical features, provider features, presentation features, legal aspects, and criteria for publishing and sending video abstracts. Most criteria were related to the technical characteristics of video abstracts, and the least number of criteria were related to attention to legal aspects during the production and evaluation of these abstracts. The scientific community now uses video abstracts as a complementary medium to articles. Researchers can use this type of abstract to share their research results with others. Authors and journals should pay attention to the production criteria when planning to use this type of abstract so that by preparing a suitable video abstract, they can more effectively convey the results of their research to the audience and lead to the promotion of science.