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Papers by Informology Journal

Informology, 2024

Establishing the impact of the university's reputation on tuition fees for international students... more Establishing the impact of the university's reputation on tuition fees for international students and international student investment in the country’s economy. Correlation and regression analyses at the university and country level between leading world rankings (QS, THE, ARWU, Webometrics) and the cost of international students studying in them, as well as quantifying the contribution of international student investment to the economies of 16 countries. For 11 countries around the world, each with more than 15 universities, the correlation between the integral indicators of the university rankings in QS, THE, ARWU, and Webometrics rankings and the tuition fees at these universities for bachelor's and master's programs was calculated. The results show that the best correlation was found for the anglophone countries that have a liberal pricing policy for students. Based on statistics from national and international organizations over an eight-year-time interval (2011 – 2018), the share of income that a country receives from foreign students staying in it in relation to foreign direct investment was calculated for 16 countries of the world. This share of income varied, in general, from tenths of a percent to 50%. For identified universities from QS and THE rankings of the countries under consideration their Average Overall (Total) Score was calculated and their correlations with average tuition fees were made. It is concluded that international student recruiting in many countries is a matter of survival of their universities as well as the territories where these universities are located. That is why it is a matter of material welfare of the territories where universities are located.

Informology, 2024

Analysis of the evolution of methods of analysis of publication activity and citation and develop... more Analysis of the evolution of methods of analysis of publication activity and citation and development of new analytical tools for their analysis: interdisciplinary coefficients, trend diagnostic chart, binary matrix clustering algorithm. The results of scientometric analysis of the occurrence of the term Activity Index using Google Books and Google Scholar, as well as the SJR database were used as research materials. In addition to scientometric analysis, diagnostic and matrix analysis methods were used as research methods. Based on the SJR database (1996-2019), interdisciplinarity coefficients for subject categories and subject area were constructed and calculated for the first 50 countries. The same database allowed the construction of a trend diagnostic chart in the coordinates Activity Index and Average Growth Rate for Documents in order to identify the leaders and outsiders, as well as catch-up countries and countries losing their publication potential. These charts are plotted for the top 20 countries and the top 20 subject categories. For these countries and subject categories, matrices for Activity Index (2019) and Attractivity Index (2017 - 2019) as well as binary matrices for Activity Index (50×20 dimension) before and after applying the clustering algorithm (2019) are constructed. The calculations performed with relative indices can be useful in planning research and scientific collaboration between countries, as they show the comparative advantages and weaknesses of country scientific systems, and also facilitate in finding partner countries for the implementation of joint scientific programs or projects that are mutually beneficial. In the future, it is advisable to build a trend diagnostic chart, when instead of calculating an increase in publication activity over the last three years, an increase in Activity Index values is considered.

Informology, 2024

Bibliometrics is a field of research that provides a comprehensive picture of scientific publicat... more Bibliometrics is a field of research that provides a comprehensive picture of scientific publications by studying bibliographic information. This study was designed to analyze scientific publications and review the research process in the fields of spirituality, religion, and health. In this bibliometric study, a total of 19332 scientific publications on the subject of spirituality, religion, and health in the Scopus citation database were retrieved and analyzed. The United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (U.K.), the University of Toronto in Canada, and Harvard Medical School in the U.S. are the top countries and scientific institutes, respectively, and published the most papers in the field. Analysis of the cooperation and citation network of authors, countries, and sources, as well as the co-religion network of words in the field of spirituality, religion, and health clarifies the status of scientific publications in this field. It can be asserted that scientific publications in the field of spirituality, religion, and health have experienced significant growth in recent years, especially since 2000.

Informology, 2024

The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of awareness and use of the various research... more The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of awareness and use of the various research visibility platforms by academic librarians in Nigeria. The study adopted an online survey method where the questionnaire was designed to collect data using Google form from 174 academic librarians in 16 universities in 8 states in the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria. The study revealed that the academic librarians are aware of some research visibility platforms like Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus, and just heard about the ORCID identifier. Effort needs to be made to create awareness of the platforms that are not familiar to the academic staff members. The study revealed that the majority of the academic librarians only created public profiles with Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus. The study also identified the benefits of having a public profile in the research visibility platforms. Findings will inform the academic community of the need to create a public profile in these research visibility platforms. These platforms will no doubt enhance the academic evaluation and give additional weight to publications that are accessible globally.

Informology, 2024

This study explored the global economic recession and university libraries’ response to the COVID... more This study explored the global economic recession and university libraries’ response to the COVID-19 in South-south, Nigeria. The study was guided by four research objectives and one hypothesis using a correlational research design. The population of the study was 219 librarians in the university libraries of the 17 public universities in South-south, Nigeria. A total enumeration sampling technique was used for the study. A self-developed structured questionnaire was used as the instrument of data collection. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that the level of global economic recession on library response to the COVID-19 pandemic was low; the level of coping with the COVID-19 global economic recessionary trends by the librarians was high; the university libraries operated during the COVID-19 pandemic period by reducing the library opening hours, performing reference services, cancellation of meetings, indefinite closure of the library, cancellation of training/conferences, and cancellation of local and international travels. There is a significant relationship between the global economic recession and university libraries’ response to COVID-19. The study concluded an improvement in the global economic as that may increase university libraries' response to COVID-19 among others. It was recommended among others that university management should, as a matter of urgency, make librarians to be more responsive during emergencies since the level of global economic recession to COVID-19 was low.

Informology, 2024

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of bibliotherapy as an intervention to enhance s... more The purpose of this study was to explore the use of bibliotherapy as an intervention to enhance self-esteem in elementary school students. This study used a quasi-experimental design with two control groups and two experimental groups consisting of both boys and girls. Pre-test and post-test assessments were conducted, and an eight-session training program was implemented for the experimental groups. The training program involved using stories as the primary tool for intervention, which were categorized into four types, including stories aimed at enhancing self-esteem and alleviating pain. From the category of self-esteem stories, eight stories were selected and delivered over four weeks, with two 45-minute sessions per week. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Each session lasted two hours per week. The study found that both boys and girls in the experimental groups experienced a significant increase in self-esteem, with the effect size measure indicating that 87% and 71% of the variance in self-esteem could be attributed to the independent variable of bibliotherapy in boys and girls, respectively. A comparison of the effectiveness of bibliotherapy between male and female students in a quasi-experimental study revealed that girls had significantly higher levels of self-esteem compared to boys. The study suggests that presenting selected stories as an alternative approach to boosting self-esteem can provide valuable insights into children's self-esteem. These results are consistent with previous research that supports the effectiveness of bibliotherapy interventions in promoting self-esteem. The study highlights the potential of bibliotherapy as an effective intervention for enhancing self-esteem in elementary school students.

Informology, 2024

The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of Internet addiction among polytechnic libr... more The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of Internet addiction among polytechnic library users in Nigeria and effect on their academic performance. The study adopted descriptive design and data was collected from 511 library users in 16 federal polytechnics in Nigeria. The study found that the extent of internet addiction among the federal polytechnic library users’ is high, and they use the Internet to engage in activities like social communications such as birthdays, making friends, etc., entertainment & fun, and searching for information. Only few use the Internet for academic purposes. The results also revealed that more than half of the Federal Polytechnic students engage in different activities on the Internet for more than 2 hours a day, and the majority agree that to a great extent the excessive use of the Internet for different activities affect their studies. The results also show that male students use the Internet for different online activities than their female counterparts and it affects their studies. Internet addiction has become chronic in the present-day digital world. Therefore, it is necessary to take rectification measures to avoid facing the perils of Internet Addiction. The findings will be useful to education authorities as considering the increasing trend of IA in the recent years, the high prevalence of IA in students therefore calls for authorities to develop a national policy for the use of the Internet among students. If this is not addressed as a priority, the country must anticipate a large population dependent on the Internet, requiring medical attention.

Informology, 2024

The library, once a silent repository of knowledge, is undergoing a digital metamorphosis. At the... more The library, once a silent repository of knowledge, is undergoing a digital metamorphosis. At the heart of this transformation is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Traditionally, cataloging and classifying books was a meticulous, labor-intensive task requiring deep subject knowledge and adherence to complex classification systems. However, the advent of AI is revolutionizing this process, promising greater efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility. This research presents a pilot study on the potential use of AI for semi-automatic subject indexing, cataloging, and classification of books. To collect the data, first we searched for open access books in the Directory of Open Access Books and OAPEN (Online library of open access books). Four books in English were chosen for the current study. The book titles were searched in the Library of Congress Online Catalog to discover the subject headings, the Library of Congress Classification number, and the Dewey Decimal Classification number assigned to each book, collecting the necessary information. Third, we searched for each book in ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini, using the necessary prompts to collect the data. The results indicate that the degree of cataloging and classification consistency is low. The cataloging and classification consistency are seen as the measure of the similarity of reaction of different machines and human beings processing the same book. By automating routine tasks, improving classification and cataloging accuracy, and enhancing metadata creation, AI is transforming the way libraries organize and share knowledge. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more exciting developments in this field.

Informology, 2023

The study aimed to investigate the use of cloud computing technologies for library service delive... more The study aimed to investigate the use of cloud computing technologies for library service delivery by librarians in university libraries in Africa. An online survey method was adopted to collect qualitative data from 315 librarians working in 67 university libraries in English-speaking countries in Africa. The study found that YouTube, Google Drive, OPAC, Google Form, Gmail, and Google Scholar are the most mentioned Cloud Computing (CC) technologies used by librarians in university libraries in Africa. The study also revealed that the librarians use CC technologies to store and share files, for sharing videos related to library orientations/other video contents, to collaborate with other librarians for research projects, to survey users’ level of satisfaction with library services, online document editing services, and provision of virtual/online reference services. The majority of the librarians mentioned lack of funds, no security and privacy of data, irregular staff training and development, and lack of CC knowledge and awareness as challenges associated with the adoption of CC technologies in universities in Africa. Solutions to the security of data threats in the cloud environment are offered in the study. The findings will contribute by aiding the providers and potential adopters to devise context-specific strategies for the penetration of cloud services and sound adoption decisions (ADs), respectively. The findings of the study will provide a better understanding and application of CC to advance the provision of library services to users of academic libraries in the African continent.

Informology, 2023

The present study assesses the occupation, discipline and location-wise Mendeley readership chara... more The present study assesses the occupation, discipline and location-wise Mendeley readership characteristics of LIS articles. Besides, the study analyzed the association between citations and Mendeley readership. Data for the analysis were collected from the WoS database by searching the keyword "Information science and Library science" through the advanced search feature. To extract the Mendeley readership of the articles, Webometric Analyst 4.1 was used. It was found that out of 16796 articles, 8370 (44.12%) articles have a readership. Nine user categories were reported to read LIS papers, and PhD/doctoral students were the most readers with 147217 readers, followed by postgraduate/master's students with 112597 readers. Readers from the Computer Science discipline were found to be the most intake of the LIS articles with 99001 reads, followed by readers from Engineering (88210). Geographically, the highest readership was recorded in the United States with 8442 readers, Malaysia with 1809 readers and Brazil with 1720 readers. A low positive correlation was reported between the citations and Mendeley readership for the articles, and the association did not become strong in the longer term. The study's findings offer a hint for scientometricians to use Mendeley metrics for measuring the early impact of LIS articles along with the traditional citation metrics.

Informology, 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the maturity level of infor... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the maturity level of information technology and the maturity level of knowledge management in Tehran Municipality. The current research was applied in terms of purpose and survey research in terms of method. The statistical population of this research was experts and specialists in the field of information technology and knowledge management in Tehran Municipality. Considering the specialization of the subject, and the number of experts in the fields of information technology and knowledge management, 31 experts in the field of urban management were asked to answer the questionnaires. In this research, to measure the maturity level of information technology and maturity of knowledge management, two standard questionnaires of the maturity level of the Gartner information technology management process and the maturity level of knowledge management from the standard questionnaire of the knowledge management evaluation tool were used. In this research, data analysis was done using SPSS software (version 22). The research indicated that in the maturity of information technology, the level of leadership and information technology management activities in Tehran Municipality, the readiness of customer-oriented service agents, control and evaluation, configuration and asset management, security management, change management, service level management, Accessible management, service and support documentation, capacity management and strategic orientations are in good condition and other components are below 3 average levels. Also, the results in the knowledge management maturity section indicated that in the areas of searching for ideas in all places by organization members, creating marketing strategies and selling the organization's knowledge assets, using learning to support the organization's core competencies, flexibility, and willingness to innovate as The drivers of the learning process were the employees' responsibility for their learning, connecting the organization's members and the external communities by technology, and the rapid availability of technology to the employees. Also, the research results showed that there is no significant relationship between the maturity of information technology management and knowledge management. The results of the research showed that, in general, the maturity of information technology management of Tehran Municipality is at a favorable level, but the maturity level of knowledge management of Tehran Municipality has an unfavorable situation. In the end, suggestions were made to improve the situation.

Informology, 2023

This study investigated the influence of ICT skills on librarians’ participation in virtual meeti... more This study investigated the influence of ICT skills on librarians’ participation in virtual meetings for professional development. The quantitative study employed descriptive survey research design. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to capture the entire 158 librarians in 12 public universities in South-south, Nigeria. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyses the data through the questionnaire. It was found that majority of the librarians possessed the required ICT skills for participating in virtual meetings for professional development despite the fact that the frequency of librarians’ participation in virtual meetings in various areas was low. The librarians derived a lot of benefits from participating in virtual for professional development, even though some challenges are encountered. It was recommended that the librarians should enhance their ICT skills through regular ICT training and computer practice and should regularly participate in virtual meetings to be conversant with the contemporary developments in their profession.

Informology, 2023

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the level of adoption of Artificial Intelligen... more The main objective of this paper is to investigate the level of adoption of Artificial Intelligence to support library services delivery in university libraries in Africa. Qualitative research method was adopted to collect data using online. A preliminary survey of 102 university libraries in English speaking countries in Africa was conducted to identify the university libraries that have adopted Artificial Intelligence in their libraries. Content analysis was used to analyze the responses. The study found that the only few university libraries in Africa have adopted AI technologies such as Chatbot, ChatGPT, LibKey from ThirdIron, robots, RFID technology and Grammarly. These AI technologies are used to render different library services like answering of directional and ready reference questions posed by library users, serving as a knowledge base for cataloguing information of library materials, self-check-out machine for books, used as a marketing tool for the library, tool for statistics evaluation and recommendations, assisting in the charging and discharging of library materials, and so on. Lack of fund to acquire the AI tools, training of librarians, and lack of full knowledge of AI were the most mentioned challenges associated with the adoption of AI in libraries. The study concludes that formulation of policy to guide the adoption of new technologies such as AI, and training and re-training for librarians through workshops is required to equip librarians with the skills needed to effectively use the AI technologies.

Informology, 2023

Hospital libraries as an important part of the hospital are effective in functions such as patien... more Hospital libraries as an important part of the hospital are effective in functions such as patient care, patient education, performance improvement, and patient safety. The purpose of this study is to identify the components of library services to patients in hospital libraries based on IFLA goals. This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis. By purposive sampling, 17 people of librarians of hospital libraries in seven provinces of Iran were interviewed using depth and semi-structured interviews. After extracting the primary codes, they were classified in 11 main categories and 24 sub-categories. Based on data from this study, 11 main categories and 24 sub-categories of components of Library Services to Patients in Hospital Libraries were extracted. These components are: “Goal setting to improve the health of patients”, “Standardization of library services to patients”, “Use of hospital librarians”, “Bibliotherapy services”, “Information needs assessment of hospital library users”, “Providing information services to health care staff”, “Provision of resources suitable for hospital activities”, “Remote information Services”, “Assist in patient education after discharge”, “Beautifying the library space” and “Providing of social and spiritual resources”. Main components and sub-categories of library services to patients in hospital libraries resulted from this study can use as a model can be considered as a model for providing information services to patients and their companions in hospital libraries.

Informology, 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the number of times the names of the top 1% authors ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the number of times the names of the top 1% authors in the field of library and information sciences were placed in the first position of authorship and to determine the level of their excellence index in 2022 based on the number of publications and previous authorship. The present research has been done with the scientometrics approach. The statistical population of the study was the top 1% researchers in the field of library and information science (LIS) in 2022. The top 1% researchers include Vincent Larivière, Cassidy Sugimoto, Stefanie Haustein, Mike Thelwall, Nees Jan Van Eck, and Ludo Waltman and Margareta Sampson, from the Social Sciences. Each researcher's name was searched in the Web of Science Core of Clarivate to retrieve their articles, and the status of single authorship, multi-authorship, and the first and the last authorship was checked. The results of the present study showed that the top 1% researchers in LIS are more inclined to multiple authorship rather than single-authorship. They have mostly registered their names in the first and last positions of authorship. Considering the dominance of a researcher as a virtue of research contribution and responsibility, researchers should register their names in the order of authorship. According to the dominance index (DI), the first place of authorship can show the dominance and superiority of researchers. The dominance index can be used as a complement to the citation impact of researchers and can be used to identify the top 1% LIS researchers.

Dominance Index,
Top 1% researchers,
Single-author,
Multiple-author,
Author position,
Library science,
Information science

Informology, 2023

Healthcare information systems aim to provide high-quality healthcare services to ensure the secu... more Healthcare information systems aim to provide high-quality healthcare services to ensure the security of patients’ health information. They can also assist in safeguarding an encyclopedia of clinical data to make more informed decisions in a private environment. However, the majority of today’s healthcare information systems are centralized and have great difficulty in providing indispensable information security and privacy, patient health records immutability, transparency, and flexibility to detect vulnerabilities and cyber invasions. The current study has explored the striking benefits and opportunities for blockchain technology in the healthcare information systems sector. It has identified the key applications that blockchain technology offers to provide indispensable information security and privacy, the immutability of patient health records, transparency, and flexibility to detect vulnerabilities and cyber invasions. Blockchain technology as a regulatory technology can enhance healthcare information services by bringing high-quality healthcare services in a crystal clear view that is decentralized, immutable, tamper-resistant, flexible, traceable, and secure. It also enables clinical professionals to effectively detect vulnerabilities and cyber invasions related to patients’ health information. The practical deployment of blockchain technology in healthcare information systems takes years of research and experience to reach fruition. In order to enable the practical deployment of blockchain technology in healthcare information systems, a series of research will need to be conducted.

Informology, 2023

Bibliometric analysis is a valuable method for assessing the scientific landscape of a given fiel... more Bibliometric analysis is a valuable method for assessing the scientific landscape of a given field. In this study, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of dissertation research in Azerbaijan was given to highlight the chronological trends of academic scientific achievements in the country, aiming to provide a broad overview of the research output and trends in the country's academic community. Based on various academic databases (HAC) and the collections of the National Library of Azerbaijan, the main repository of the country, a significant collection of existing dissertations has been assembled. With the help of bibliometric methods, the growth dynamics of these dissertations by decades and distribution by scientific fields were studied. The results obtained reflect the interest in academic research in the country and indicate a noticeable increase in the productivity of dissertation research in Azerbaijan over the years. This bibliometric analysis is a chronological overview of dissertation research in Azerbaijan, offering valuable information to both the public and scholars and researchers. As Azerbaijan continues to evolve as a knowledge-based society, this study can serve as a valuable resource for advancing academic excellence and developing research in the country.

Informology, 2023

Scientific diplomacy involves the use of scientific and technical collaborations to foster intern... more Scientific diplomacy involves the use of scientific and technical collaborations to foster international relations and to address global challenges. It promotes collaboration between nations through joint research and innovation projects, knowledge-sharing, and the application of scientific advancements to tackle shared issues and challenges in national and international contexts like climate change, public health crises, and technological innovation. France is a key player in international scientific organizations and agreements, emphasizing the importance of scientific and technological collaboration in addressing global issues. The primary source of data utilized in this scientometric study was the Web of Science citation database. The extracted data were recorded and analyzed using Excel software. This study shows the state of French scientific collaborations separately from each of the five continents. On the continent of America, France collaborated with 32 countries, with most scientific collaborations taking place with the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina. In Europe continent, France engaged in scientific collaborations with 49 countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc. Similarly, in Asia continent, France fostered scientific relationships with 36 countries, consisting of China, Japan, India, and South Korea emerging as its most prominent partners. On the African continent, France also established scientific collaborations with 49 countries, especially with Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and South Africa. Finally, in the Oceania continent, France maintained scientific ties with 8 countries, especially with Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu. The current research shows that France has a rich tradition of engaging in science diplomacy and international collaboration, emphasizing on multilateralism and cultural influence.

Informology, 2023

Customer engagement is the customer's involvement and connection with the brand. Most businesses ... more Customer engagement is the customer's involvement and connection with the brand. Most businesses will face serious problems in keeping customers and their loyalty and willingness to repeat purchases and recommend a service to others until this interaction is not optimally established. The objective of the current research was to measure the effects of content marketing on engaging online customers, in the field of publishing Persian printed books based on the 2PDM model. The present research was conducted using the case study research method, following a qualitative research design. The research population consists of Persian book publishing companies in the cultural and artistic fields in Tehran, among which a well-known publisher was selected by the judgmental sampling method. The observation was used to collect data from three channels including the website of the publisher, Instagram, and Telegram, using digital analytics tools (Google Analytics and Keyhole) before and after the implementation of content marketing. The results of measuring customers' online engagement metrics on the Instagram channel of the selected publisher showed that the rate of customers’ online engagement has increased by 4.61 percent compared to the previous situation. Considering a 35.8 percent increase in the number of Telegram members compared to the previous situation, a 13.2 percent increase in the average page/session, and a one-minute increase in the average session duration on the website, it can be concluded that content marketing activities have effects on customers’ online engagement in three channels: the website, Telegram, and Instagram. The insights obtained from this study can be a practical help for the realization of content marketing and the efficacy of content marketing activists in book publishing companies, especially in Persian printed book publishing, and can also help publishing specialists in optimizing the design and implementation of content marketing.

Informology, 2023

The primary objective of the current research is to compare Lotka's law of author productivity an... more The primary objective of the current research is to compare Lotka's law of author productivity and the Google Scholar i10-Index with the number of authors and their articles in the field of chemistry in Iran indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) from 2000 to 2020. This study is a descriptive-qualitative type of research that was carried out using the scientometric approach. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all Iranian articles published in the field of chemistry indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded. Some scientometric software packages were used to analyze the data with Lotka’s law and i10-index. The most prolific Iranian authors in chemistry were Mohamadreza Ganjali from the University of Tehran, Majid Heravi from Alzahra University, and Mojtaba Shamsipur from the Razi University of Kermanshah, all being acclaimed scientists in Iran. The results suggest that the validity of Lotka’s law was not confirmed in measuring Iranian authors' productivity in the field of chemistry. However, it is hard to draw a negative conclusion about the validity of Lotka’s law from a single experiment. Moreover, investigating the i10-index revealed that 85% of the Iranian authors with more than one publication have an i10-index. The results also indicated that the validity of Lotka’s law cannot be confirmed, considering the Iranian chemistry papers indexed in the WoS. Furthermore, the results imply that the i10-index closely follows the authors with over one published paper and presents a high capability application in this field as a credible index.

Informology, 2024

Establishing the impact of the university's reputation on tuition fees for international students... more Establishing the impact of the university's reputation on tuition fees for international students and international student investment in the country’s economy. Correlation and regression analyses at the university and country level between leading world rankings (QS, THE, ARWU, Webometrics) and the cost of international students studying in them, as well as quantifying the contribution of international student investment to the economies of 16 countries. For 11 countries around the world, each with more than 15 universities, the correlation between the integral indicators of the university rankings in QS, THE, ARWU, and Webometrics rankings and the tuition fees at these universities for bachelor's and master's programs was calculated. The results show that the best correlation was found for the anglophone countries that have a liberal pricing policy for students. Based on statistics from national and international organizations over an eight-year-time interval (2011 – 2018), the share of income that a country receives from foreign students staying in it in relation to foreign direct investment was calculated for 16 countries of the world. This share of income varied, in general, from tenths of a percent to 50%. For identified universities from QS and THE rankings of the countries under consideration their Average Overall (Total) Score was calculated and their correlations with average tuition fees were made. It is concluded that international student recruiting in many countries is a matter of survival of their universities as well as the territories where these universities are located. That is why it is a matter of material welfare of the territories where universities are located.

Informology, 2024

Analysis of the evolution of methods of analysis of publication activity and citation and develop... more Analysis of the evolution of methods of analysis of publication activity and citation and development of new analytical tools for their analysis: interdisciplinary coefficients, trend diagnostic chart, binary matrix clustering algorithm. The results of scientometric analysis of the occurrence of the term Activity Index using Google Books and Google Scholar, as well as the SJR database were used as research materials. In addition to scientometric analysis, diagnostic and matrix analysis methods were used as research methods. Based on the SJR database (1996-2019), interdisciplinarity coefficients for subject categories and subject area were constructed and calculated for the first 50 countries. The same database allowed the construction of a trend diagnostic chart in the coordinates Activity Index and Average Growth Rate for Documents in order to identify the leaders and outsiders, as well as catch-up countries and countries losing their publication potential. These charts are plotted for the top 20 countries and the top 20 subject categories. For these countries and subject categories, matrices for Activity Index (2019) and Attractivity Index (2017 - 2019) as well as binary matrices for Activity Index (50×20 dimension) before and after applying the clustering algorithm (2019) are constructed. The calculations performed with relative indices can be useful in planning research and scientific collaboration between countries, as they show the comparative advantages and weaknesses of country scientific systems, and also facilitate in finding partner countries for the implementation of joint scientific programs or projects that are mutually beneficial. In the future, it is advisable to build a trend diagnostic chart, when instead of calculating an increase in publication activity over the last three years, an increase in Activity Index values is considered.

Informology, 2024

Bibliometrics is a field of research that provides a comprehensive picture of scientific publicat... more Bibliometrics is a field of research that provides a comprehensive picture of scientific publications by studying bibliographic information. This study was designed to analyze scientific publications and review the research process in the fields of spirituality, religion, and health. In this bibliometric study, a total of 19332 scientific publications on the subject of spirituality, religion, and health in the Scopus citation database were retrieved and analyzed. The United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (U.K.), the University of Toronto in Canada, and Harvard Medical School in the U.S. are the top countries and scientific institutes, respectively, and published the most papers in the field. Analysis of the cooperation and citation network of authors, countries, and sources, as well as the co-religion network of words in the field of spirituality, religion, and health clarifies the status of scientific publications in this field. It can be asserted that scientific publications in the field of spirituality, religion, and health have experienced significant growth in recent years, especially since 2000.

Informology, 2024

The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of awareness and use of the various research... more The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of awareness and use of the various research visibility platforms by academic librarians in Nigeria. The study adopted an online survey method where the questionnaire was designed to collect data using Google form from 174 academic librarians in 16 universities in 8 states in the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria. The study revealed that the academic librarians are aware of some research visibility platforms like Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus, and just heard about the ORCID identifier. Effort needs to be made to create awareness of the platforms that are not familiar to the academic staff members. The study revealed that the majority of the academic librarians only created public profiles with Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus. The study also identified the benefits of having a public profile in the research visibility platforms. Findings will inform the academic community of the need to create a public profile in these research visibility platforms. These platforms will no doubt enhance the academic evaluation and give additional weight to publications that are accessible globally.

Informology, 2024

This study explored the global economic recession and university libraries’ response to the COVID... more This study explored the global economic recession and university libraries’ response to the COVID-19 in South-south, Nigeria. The study was guided by four research objectives and one hypothesis using a correlational research design. The population of the study was 219 librarians in the university libraries of the 17 public universities in South-south, Nigeria. A total enumeration sampling technique was used for the study. A self-developed structured questionnaire was used as the instrument of data collection. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that the level of global economic recession on library response to the COVID-19 pandemic was low; the level of coping with the COVID-19 global economic recessionary trends by the librarians was high; the university libraries operated during the COVID-19 pandemic period by reducing the library opening hours, performing reference services, cancellation of meetings, indefinite closure of the library, cancellation of training/conferences, and cancellation of local and international travels. There is a significant relationship between the global economic recession and university libraries’ response to COVID-19. The study concluded an improvement in the global economic as that may increase university libraries' response to COVID-19 among others. It was recommended among others that university management should, as a matter of urgency, make librarians to be more responsive during emergencies since the level of global economic recession to COVID-19 was low.

Informology, 2024

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of bibliotherapy as an intervention to enhance s... more The purpose of this study was to explore the use of bibliotherapy as an intervention to enhance self-esteem in elementary school students. This study used a quasi-experimental design with two control groups and two experimental groups consisting of both boys and girls. Pre-test and post-test assessments were conducted, and an eight-session training program was implemented for the experimental groups. The training program involved using stories as the primary tool for intervention, which were categorized into four types, including stories aimed at enhancing self-esteem and alleviating pain. From the category of self-esteem stories, eight stories were selected and delivered over four weeks, with two 45-minute sessions per week. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Each session lasted two hours per week. The study found that both boys and girls in the experimental groups experienced a significant increase in self-esteem, with the effect size measure indicating that 87% and 71% of the variance in self-esteem could be attributed to the independent variable of bibliotherapy in boys and girls, respectively. A comparison of the effectiveness of bibliotherapy between male and female students in a quasi-experimental study revealed that girls had significantly higher levels of self-esteem compared to boys. The study suggests that presenting selected stories as an alternative approach to boosting self-esteem can provide valuable insights into children's self-esteem. These results are consistent with previous research that supports the effectiveness of bibliotherapy interventions in promoting self-esteem. The study highlights the potential of bibliotherapy as an effective intervention for enhancing self-esteem in elementary school students.

Informology, 2024

The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of Internet addiction among polytechnic libr... more The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of Internet addiction among polytechnic library users in Nigeria and effect on their academic performance. The study adopted descriptive design and data was collected from 511 library users in 16 federal polytechnics in Nigeria. The study found that the extent of internet addiction among the federal polytechnic library users’ is high, and they use the Internet to engage in activities like social communications such as birthdays, making friends, etc., entertainment & fun, and searching for information. Only few use the Internet for academic purposes. The results also revealed that more than half of the Federal Polytechnic students engage in different activities on the Internet for more than 2 hours a day, and the majority agree that to a great extent the excessive use of the Internet for different activities affect their studies. The results also show that male students use the Internet for different online activities than their female counterparts and it affects their studies. Internet addiction has become chronic in the present-day digital world. Therefore, it is necessary to take rectification measures to avoid facing the perils of Internet Addiction. The findings will be useful to education authorities as considering the increasing trend of IA in the recent years, the high prevalence of IA in students therefore calls for authorities to develop a national policy for the use of the Internet among students. If this is not addressed as a priority, the country must anticipate a large population dependent on the Internet, requiring medical attention.

Informology, 2024

The library, once a silent repository of knowledge, is undergoing a digital metamorphosis. At the... more The library, once a silent repository of knowledge, is undergoing a digital metamorphosis. At the heart of this transformation is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Traditionally, cataloging and classifying books was a meticulous, labor-intensive task requiring deep subject knowledge and adherence to complex classification systems. However, the advent of AI is revolutionizing this process, promising greater efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility. This research presents a pilot study on the potential use of AI for semi-automatic subject indexing, cataloging, and classification of books. To collect the data, first we searched for open access books in the Directory of Open Access Books and OAPEN (Online library of open access books). Four books in English were chosen for the current study. The book titles were searched in the Library of Congress Online Catalog to discover the subject headings, the Library of Congress Classification number, and the Dewey Decimal Classification number assigned to each book, collecting the necessary information. Third, we searched for each book in ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini, using the necessary prompts to collect the data. The results indicate that the degree of cataloging and classification consistency is low. The cataloging and classification consistency are seen as the measure of the similarity of reaction of different machines and human beings processing the same book. By automating routine tasks, improving classification and cataloging accuracy, and enhancing metadata creation, AI is transforming the way libraries organize and share knowledge. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more exciting developments in this field.

Informology, 2023

The study aimed to investigate the use of cloud computing technologies for library service delive... more The study aimed to investigate the use of cloud computing technologies for library service delivery by librarians in university libraries in Africa. An online survey method was adopted to collect qualitative data from 315 librarians working in 67 university libraries in English-speaking countries in Africa. The study found that YouTube, Google Drive, OPAC, Google Form, Gmail, and Google Scholar are the most mentioned Cloud Computing (CC) technologies used by librarians in university libraries in Africa. The study also revealed that the librarians use CC technologies to store and share files, for sharing videos related to library orientations/other video contents, to collaborate with other librarians for research projects, to survey users’ level of satisfaction with library services, online document editing services, and provision of virtual/online reference services. The majority of the librarians mentioned lack of funds, no security and privacy of data, irregular staff training and development, and lack of CC knowledge and awareness as challenges associated with the adoption of CC technologies in universities in Africa. Solutions to the security of data threats in the cloud environment are offered in the study. The findings will contribute by aiding the providers and potential adopters to devise context-specific strategies for the penetration of cloud services and sound adoption decisions (ADs), respectively. The findings of the study will provide a better understanding and application of CC to advance the provision of library services to users of academic libraries in the African continent.

Informology, 2023

The present study assesses the occupation, discipline and location-wise Mendeley readership chara... more The present study assesses the occupation, discipline and location-wise Mendeley readership characteristics of LIS articles. Besides, the study analyzed the association between citations and Mendeley readership. Data for the analysis were collected from the WoS database by searching the keyword "Information science and Library science" through the advanced search feature. To extract the Mendeley readership of the articles, Webometric Analyst 4.1 was used. It was found that out of 16796 articles, 8370 (44.12%) articles have a readership. Nine user categories were reported to read LIS papers, and PhD/doctoral students were the most readers with 147217 readers, followed by postgraduate/master's students with 112597 readers. Readers from the Computer Science discipline were found to be the most intake of the LIS articles with 99001 reads, followed by readers from Engineering (88210). Geographically, the highest readership was recorded in the United States with 8442 readers, Malaysia with 1809 readers and Brazil with 1720 readers. A low positive correlation was reported between the citations and Mendeley readership for the articles, and the association did not become strong in the longer term. The study's findings offer a hint for scientometricians to use Mendeley metrics for measuring the early impact of LIS articles along with the traditional citation metrics.

Informology, 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the maturity level of infor... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the maturity level of information technology and the maturity level of knowledge management in Tehran Municipality. The current research was applied in terms of purpose and survey research in terms of method. The statistical population of this research was experts and specialists in the field of information technology and knowledge management in Tehran Municipality. Considering the specialization of the subject, and the number of experts in the fields of information technology and knowledge management, 31 experts in the field of urban management were asked to answer the questionnaires. In this research, to measure the maturity level of information technology and maturity of knowledge management, two standard questionnaires of the maturity level of the Gartner information technology management process and the maturity level of knowledge management from the standard questionnaire of the knowledge management evaluation tool were used. In this research, data analysis was done using SPSS software (version 22). The research indicated that in the maturity of information technology, the level of leadership and information technology management activities in Tehran Municipality, the readiness of customer-oriented service agents, control and evaluation, configuration and asset management, security management, change management, service level management, Accessible management, service and support documentation, capacity management and strategic orientations are in good condition and other components are below 3 average levels. Also, the results in the knowledge management maturity section indicated that in the areas of searching for ideas in all places by organization members, creating marketing strategies and selling the organization's knowledge assets, using learning to support the organization's core competencies, flexibility, and willingness to innovate as The drivers of the learning process were the employees' responsibility for their learning, connecting the organization's members and the external communities by technology, and the rapid availability of technology to the employees. Also, the research results showed that there is no significant relationship between the maturity of information technology management and knowledge management. The results of the research showed that, in general, the maturity of information technology management of Tehran Municipality is at a favorable level, but the maturity level of knowledge management of Tehran Municipality has an unfavorable situation. In the end, suggestions were made to improve the situation.

Informology, 2023

This study investigated the influence of ICT skills on librarians’ participation in virtual meeti... more This study investigated the influence of ICT skills on librarians’ participation in virtual meetings for professional development. The quantitative study employed descriptive survey research design. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to capture the entire 158 librarians in 12 public universities in South-south, Nigeria. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyses the data through the questionnaire. It was found that majority of the librarians possessed the required ICT skills for participating in virtual meetings for professional development despite the fact that the frequency of librarians’ participation in virtual meetings in various areas was low. The librarians derived a lot of benefits from participating in virtual for professional development, even though some challenges are encountered. It was recommended that the librarians should enhance their ICT skills through regular ICT training and computer practice and should regularly participate in virtual meetings to be conversant with the contemporary developments in their profession.

Informology, 2023

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the level of adoption of Artificial Intelligen... more The main objective of this paper is to investigate the level of adoption of Artificial Intelligence to support library services delivery in university libraries in Africa. Qualitative research method was adopted to collect data using online. A preliminary survey of 102 university libraries in English speaking countries in Africa was conducted to identify the university libraries that have adopted Artificial Intelligence in their libraries. Content analysis was used to analyze the responses. The study found that the only few university libraries in Africa have adopted AI technologies such as Chatbot, ChatGPT, LibKey from ThirdIron, robots, RFID technology and Grammarly. These AI technologies are used to render different library services like answering of directional and ready reference questions posed by library users, serving as a knowledge base for cataloguing information of library materials, self-check-out machine for books, used as a marketing tool for the library, tool for statistics evaluation and recommendations, assisting in the charging and discharging of library materials, and so on. Lack of fund to acquire the AI tools, training of librarians, and lack of full knowledge of AI were the most mentioned challenges associated with the adoption of AI in libraries. The study concludes that formulation of policy to guide the adoption of new technologies such as AI, and training and re-training for librarians through workshops is required to equip librarians with the skills needed to effectively use the AI technologies.

Informology, 2023

Hospital libraries as an important part of the hospital are effective in functions such as patien... more Hospital libraries as an important part of the hospital are effective in functions such as patient care, patient education, performance improvement, and patient safety. The purpose of this study is to identify the components of library services to patients in hospital libraries based on IFLA goals. This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis. By purposive sampling, 17 people of librarians of hospital libraries in seven provinces of Iran were interviewed using depth and semi-structured interviews. After extracting the primary codes, they were classified in 11 main categories and 24 sub-categories. Based on data from this study, 11 main categories and 24 sub-categories of components of Library Services to Patients in Hospital Libraries were extracted. These components are: “Goal setting to improve the health of patients”, “Standardization of library services to patients”, “Use of hospital librarians”, “Bibliotherapy services”, “Information needs assessment of hospital library users”, “Providing information services to health care staff”, “Provision of resources suitable for hospital activities”, “Remote information Services”, “Assist in patient education after discharge”, “Beautifying the library space” and “Providing of social and spiritual resources”. Main components and sub-categories of library services to patients in hospital libraries resulted from this study can use as a model can be considered as a model for providing information services to patients and their companions in hospital libraries.

Informology, 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the number of times the names of the top 1% authors ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the number of times the names of the top 1% authors in the field of library and information sciences were placed in the first position of authorship and to determine the level of their excellence index in 2022 based on the number of publications and previous authorship. The present research has been done with the scientometrics approach. The statistical population of the study was the top 1% researchers in the field of library and information science (LIS) in 2022. The top 1% researchers include Vincent Larivière, Cassidy Sugimoto, Stefanie Haustein, Mike Thelwall, Nees Jan Van Eck, and Ludo Waltman and Margareta Sampson, from the Social Sciences. Each researcher's name was searched in the Web of Science Core of Clarivate to retrieve their articles, and the status of single authorship, multi-authorship, and the first and the last authorship was checked. The results of the present study showed that the top 1% researchers in LIS are more inclined to multiple authorship rather than single-authorship. They have mostly registered their names in the first and last positions of authorship. Considering the dominance of a researcher as a virtue of research contribution and responsibility, researchers should register their names in the order of authorship. According to the dominance index (DI), the first place of authorship can show the dominance and superiority of researchers. The dominance index can be used as a complement to the citation impact of researchers and can be used to identify the top 1% LIS researchers.

Dominance Index,
Top 1% researchers,
Single-author,
Multiple-author,
Author position,
Library science,
Information science

Informology, 2023

Healthcare information systems aim to provide high-quality healthcare services to ensure the secu... more Healthcare information systems aim to provide high-quality healthcare services to ensure the security of patients’ health information. They can also assist in safeguarding an encyclopedia of clinical data to make more informed decisions in a private environment. However, the majority of today’s healthcare information systems are centralized and have great difficulty in providing indispensable information security and privacy, patient health records immutability, transparency, and flexibility to detect vulnerabilities and cyber invasions. The current study has explored the striking benefits and opportunities for blockchain technology in the healthcare information systems sector. It has identified the key applications that blockchain technology offers to provide indispensable information security and privacy, the immutability of patient health records, transparency, and flexibility to detect vulnerabilities and cyber invasions. Blockchain technology as a regulatory technology can enhance healthcare information services by bringing high-quality healthcare services in a crystal clear view that is decentralized, immutable, tamper-resistant, flexible, traceable, and secure. It also enables clinical professionals to effectively detect vulnerabilities and cyber invasions related to patients’ health information. The practical deployment of blockchain technology in healthcare information systems takes years of research and experience to reach fruition. In order to enable the practical deployment of blockchain technology in healthcare information systems, a series of research will need to be conducted.

Informology, 2023

Bibliometric analysis is a valuable method for assessing the scientific landscape of a given fiel... more Bibliometric analysis is a valuable method for assessing the scientific landscape of a given field. In this study, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of dissertation research in Azerbaijan was given to highlight the chronological trends of academic scientific achievements in the country, aiming to provide a broad overview of the research output and trends in the country's academic community. Based on various academic databases (HAC) and the collections of the National Library of Azerbaijan, the main repository of the country, a significant collection of existing dissertations has been assembled. With the help of bibliometric methods, the growth dynamics of these dissertations by decades and distribution by scientific fields were studied. The results obtained reflect the interest in academic research in the country and indicate a noticeable increase in the productivity of dissertation research in Azerbaijan over the years. This bibliometric analysis is a chronological overview of dissertation research in Azerbaijan, offering valuable information to both the public and scholars and researchers. As Azerbaijan continues to evolve as a knowledge-based society, this study can serve as a valuable resource for advancing academic excellence and developing research in the country.

Informology, 2023

Scientific diplomacy involves the use of scientific and technical collaborations to foster intern... more Scientific diplomacy involves the use of scientific and technical collaborations to foster international relations and to address global challenges. It promotes collaboration between nations through joint research and innovation projects, knowledge-sharing, and the application of scientific advancements to tackle shared issues and challenges in national and international contexts like climate change, public health crises, and technological innovation. France is a key player in international scientific organizations and agreements, emphasizing the importance of scientific and technological collaboration in addressing global issues. The primary source of data utilized in this scientometric study was the Web of Science citation database. The extracted data were recorded and analyzed using Excel software. This study shows the state of French scientific collaborations separately from each of the five continents. On the continent of America, France collaborated with 32 countries, with most scientific collaborations taking place with the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina. In Europe continent, France engaged in scientific collaborations with 49 countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc. Similarly, in Asia continent, France fostered scientific relationships with 36 countries, consisting of China, Japan, India, and South Korea emerging as its most prominent partners. On the African continent, France also established scientific collaborations with 49 countries, especially with Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and South Africa. Finally, in the Oceania continent, France maintained scientific ties with 8 countries, especially with Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu. The current research shows that France has a rich tradition of engaging in science diplomacy and international collaboration, emphasizing on multilateralism and cultural influence.

Informology, 2023

Customer engagement is the customer's involvement and connection with the brand. Most businesses ... more Customer engagement is the customer's involvement and connection with the brand. Most businesses will face serious problems in keeping customers and their loyalty and willingness to repeat purchases and recommend a service to others until this interaction is not optimally established. The objective of the current research was to measure the effects of content marketing on engaging online customers, in the field of publishing Persian printed books based on the 2PDM model. The present research was conducted using the case study research method, following a qualitative research design. The research population consists of Persian book publishing companies in the cultural and artistic fields in Tehran, among which a well-known publisher was selected by the judgmental sampling method. The observation was used to collect data from three channels including the website of the publisher, Instagram, and Telegram, using digital analytics tools (Google Analytics and Keyhole) before and after the implementation of content marketing. The results of measuring customers' online engagement metrics on the Instagram channel of the selected publisher showed that the rate of customers’ online engagement has increased by 4.61 percent compared to the previous situation. Considering a 35.8 percent increase in the number of Telegram members compared to the previous situation, a 13.2 percent increase in the average page/session, and a one-minute increase in the average session duration on the website, it can be concluded that content marketing activities have effects on customers’ online engagement in three channels: the website, Telegram, and Instagram. The insights obtained from this study can be a practical help for the realization of content marketing and the efficacy of content marketing activists in book publishing companies, especially in Persian printed book publishing, and can also help publishing specialists in optimizing the design and implementation of content marketing.

Informology, 2023

The primary objective of the current research is to compare Lotka's law of author productivity an... more The primary objective of the current research is to compare Lotka's law of author productivity and the Google Scholar i10-Index with the number of authors and their articles in the field of chemistry in Iran indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) from 2000 to 2020. This study is a descriptive-qualitative type of research that was carried out using the scientometric approach. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all Iranian articles published in the field of chemistry indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded. Some scientometric software packages were used to analyze the data with Lotka’s law and i10-index. The most prolific Iranian authors in chemistry were Mohamadreza Ganjali from the University of Tehran, Majid Heravi from Alzahra University, and Mojtaba Shamsipur from the Razi University of Kermanshah, all being acclaimed scientists in Iran. The results suggest that the validity of Lotka’s law was not confirmed in measuring Iranian authors' productivity in the field of chemistry. However, it is hard to draw a negative conclusion about the validity of Lotka’s law from a single experiment. Moreover, investigating the i10-index revealed that 85% of the Iranian authors with more than one publication have an i10-index. The results also indicated that the validity of Lotka’s law cannot be confirmed, considering the Iranian chemistry papers indexed in the WoS. Furthermore, the results imply that the i10-index closely follows the authors with over one published paper and presents a high capability application in this field as a credible index.