Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterizing Award-Winning Papers in Library and Information Science (LIS): A Case Study of LIS Journals Published by Emerald Publishing

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Diversity, Divergence, Dialogue (iConference 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 12646))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

This paper explores the characteristics of 106 award-winning papers from the Library and Information Science (LIS) journals published by Emerald Publishing between 2008 and 2019, focusing on collaboration type, paper type, topic, and citation count to illustrate the developmental trends of LIS scholarship. The findings show that the top three topics of the award-winning papers were information service activities, professions and information institutions, and user studies. More than half of the award-winning papers were written by teams, among which inter-institutional collaboration and intradepartmental collaboration accounted for the largest proportion, while interdepartmental collaboration within an institution accounted for the smallest proportion. There were 65 empirical research papers in the sample, among which qualitative studies were dominant, followed by quantitative research and mixed methods research. The award-winning papers had a higher mean and median in citation counts than the average papers concurrently published by the journals. The research results provide implications for researchers and can help them understand the trends in research topics and common analytical types in LIS for their future studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Frey, B.S., Neckermann, S.: Awards: a disregarded source of motivation. Perspect. Moral Sci. 0(11), 177–182 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  2. MacLeod, R.M.: Of medals and men: a reward system in Victorian science, 1826–1914. Notes Rec. R. Soc. Lond. 26(1), 81–105 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Brooks, T.A.: How good are the best papers of JASIS? J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. 51(5), 485–486 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang, P., Wang, P., Wu, Q.: How are the best JASIST papers cited? J. Assoc. Inf. Sci. Technol. 69(6), 857–860 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Blessinger, K., Frasier, M.: Analysis of a decade in library literature: 1994–2004. Coll. Res. Libr. 68(2), 155–169 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Aharony, N.: Library and Information Science research areas: a content analysis of articles from the top 10 journals 2007–8. J. Librarian. Inf. Sci. 44(1), 27–35 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Tuomaala, O., Järvelin, K., Vakkari, P.: Evolution of library and information science, 1965–2005: content analysis of journal articles. J. Assoc. Inf. Sci. Technol. 65(7), 1446–1462 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ullah, A., Ameen, K.: Account of methodologies and methods applied in LIS research: a systematic review. Libr. Inf. Sci. Res. 40(1), 53–60 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hayman, R., Smith, E.E.: Mixed methods research in library and information science: a methodological review. Evid. Based Libr. Inf. Pract. 15(1), 106–125 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Fidel, R.: Are we there yet?: mixed methods research in library and information science. Libr. Inf. Sci. Res. 30(4), 265–272 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Järvelin, K., Vakkari, P.: Content analysis of research articles in library and information science. Libr. Inf. Sci. Res. 12(4), 395–421 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hider, P., Pymm, B.: Empirical research methods reported in high-profile LIS journal literature. Libr. Inf. Sci. Res. 30(2), 108–114 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Tackney, C.T., Chappell, S.F., Sato, T.: MSR founders narrative and content analysis of scholarly papers: 2000–2015. J. Manag. Spiritual. Relig. 14(2), 135–159 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ghobadi, S., Robey, D.: Strategic signalling and awards: investigation into the first decade of AIS best publications awards. J. Strateg. Inf. Syst. 26(4), 360–384 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Sen, R., Patel, P.: Citation rates of award-winning ASCE papers. J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract. 138(2), 107–113 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Coupé, T.: Peer review versus citations–an analysis of best paper prize. Res. Policy 42(1), 295–301 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Wainer, J., Eckmann, M., Rocha, A.: Peer-selected “best papers”—Are they really that “good”? PLoS ONE 10(3), e0118446 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Mubin, O., Tejlavwala, D., Arsalan, M., Ahmad, M., Simoff, S.: An assessment into the characteristics of award winning papers at CHI. Scientometrics 116(2), 1181–1201 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gallardo-Gallardo, E., Nijs, S., Dries, N., Gallo, P.: Towards an understanding of talent management as a phenomenon-driven field using bibliometric and content analysis. Hum. Resour. Manag. Rev. 25(3), 264–279 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Prebor, G.: Analysis of the interdisciplinary nature of library and information science. J. Librarian. Inf. Sci. 42(4), 256–267 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Qin, J., Lancaster, F.W., Allen, B.: Types and levels of collaboration in interdisciplinary research in the sciences. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. 48(10), 893–916 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Chu, H.: Research methods in library and information science: a content analysis. Libr. Inf. Sci. Res. 37(1), 36–41 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Zimmer, M., Proferes, N.J.: A topology of Twitter research: disciplines, methods, and ethics. Aslib J. Inf. Manag. 66(3), 250–261 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Peritz, B.C.: The methods of library science research: some results from a bibliometric survey. Libr. Res. 2(3), 251–268 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Landis, J.R., Koch, G.G.: The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics 33(1), 159–174 (1977)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  26. Awre, C., et al.: Research data management as a ‘wicked problem’. Libr. Rev. 64(4/5), 356–371 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Dai, M.Y., He, W., Tian, X., Giraldi, A., Gu, F.: Working with communities on social media. Online Inf. Rev. 41(6), 782–796 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wu, D., Liang, S.B., Yu, W., Baxter, G., Marcella, R., O’Shea, M.: Members of the Scottish Parliament on Twitter: good constituency men (and women)? Aslib J. Inf. Manag. 68(4), 428–447 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lipetz, B.A.: Aspects of JASIS authorship through five decades. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. 50(11), 994–1003 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Terry, J.L.: Authorship in College & Research Libraries revisited: gender, institutional affiliation, collaboration. Coll. Res. Libr. 57(4), 377–383 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang, S.: The intellectual landscape of the domain of culture and ethics in knowledge organization: an analysis of influential authors and works. Catalog. Classif. Q. 57(4), 227–243 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Davarpanah, M., Aslekia, S.: A scientometric analysis of international LIS journals: productivity and characteristics. Scientometrics 77(1), 21–39 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Finlay, S.C., Ni, C., Tsou, A., Sugimoto, C.R.: Publish or practice? An examination of librarians’ contributions to research. Portal: Libr. Acad. 13(4), 403–421 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Weller, A.C., Hurd, J.M., Wiberley, S.E.: Publication patterns of U.S. academic librarians from 1993 to 1997. Coll. Res. Libr. 60(4), 352–362 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Chang, Y.W., Huang, M.H.: A study of the evolution of interdisciplinarity in library and information science: using three bibliometric methods. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. Technol. 63(1), 22–33 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Han, P., Shi, J., Li, X., Wang, D., Shen, S., Su, X.: International collaboration in LIS: global trends and networks at the country and institution level. Scientometrics 98(1), 53–72 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Sin, S.C.J.: Longitudinal Trends in internationalisation, collaboration types, and citation impact: a bibliometric analysis of seven LIS journals (1980–2008). J. Libr. Inf. Stud. 9(1), 27–49 (2011)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  38. Johnson, R.B., Onwuegbuzie, A.J., Turner, L.A.: Toward a definition of mixed methods research. J. Mixed Methods Res. 1(2), 112–133 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Togia, A., Malliari, A.: Research methods in library and information science. In: Oflazoglu, S. (ed.) Qualitative versus Quantitative Research, pp. 43–64. IntechOpen, London (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Liebscher, P.: Quantity with Quality? Teaching quantitative and qualitative methods in an LIS masters program. Libr. Trends 46(4), 668–680 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Zhang, J., Wang, Y., Zhao, Y., Cai, X.: Applications of inferential statistical methods in library and information science. Data Inf. Manag. 2(2), 103–120 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Zhang, J., Zhao, Y., Wang, Y.: A study on statistical methods used in six journals of library and information science. Online Inf. Rev. 40(3), 416–434 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Guerra, N.G., Williams, K.R., Sadek, S.: Understanding bullying and victimization during childhood and adolescence: a mixed methods study. Child Dev. 82(1), 295–310 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Ivankova, N.V., Stick, S.L.: Students’ persistence in a distributed doctoral program in educational leadership in higher education: a mixed methods study. Res. High. Educ. 48(1), 93–135 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Mustanski, B., Lyons, T., Garcia, S.C.: Internet use and sexual health of young men who have sex with men: a mixed-methods study. Arch. Sex. Behav. 40(2), 289–300 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Flavián, C., Gurrea, R.: Perceived substitutability between digital and physical channels: the case of newspapers. Online Inf. Rev. 31(6), 793–813 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Veinot, T.: A multilevel model of HIV/AIDS information/help network development. J. Document. 66(6), 875–905 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Voorbij, H.: The use of web statistics in cultural heritage institutions. Perform. Meas. Metr. 11(3), 266–279 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Zhan, M., Widén, G.: Public libraries: roles in Big Data. Electron. Libr. 36(1), 133–145 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Anfara Jr., V.A., Brown, K.M., Mangione, T.L.: Qualitative analysis on stage: making the research process more public. Educ. Researcher 31(7), 28–38 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Gómez-Núñez, A., Vargas-Quesada, B., Chinchilla-Rodríguez, Z., Batagelj, V., Moya-Anegón, F.: Visualization and analysis of SCImago Journal & Country Rank structure via journal clustering. Aslib J. Inf. Manag. 68(5), 607–627 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Koufogiannakis, D., Slater, L., Crumley, E.: A content analysis of librarianship research. J. Inf. Sci. 30(3), 227–239 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Zins, C.: Classification schemes of Information Science: twenty-eight scholars map the field. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. Technol. 58(5), 645–672 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Wang, Z.J., Li, Z.M., Xie, L.N.: Analysis on keywords in the dissertations of Library science abroad. J. Libr. Sci. China 36(190), 116–123 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  55. Sundberg, K., Kjellman, U.: The tattoo as a document. J. Document. 74(1), 18–35 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Pawley, C.: Unequal legacies: race and multiculturalism in the LIS curriculum. Libr. Q. 76(2), 149–168 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Arlitsch, K.: The espresso book machine: a change agent for libraries. Libr. Hi Tech 29(1), 62–72 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Curry, R.: Makerspaces: a beneficial new service for academic libraries? Libr. Rev. 66(4/5), 201–212 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Liu, G., Yang, L.: Popular research topics in the recent journal publications of library and information science. J. Acad. Librarian. 45(3), 278–287 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Cibangu, S.K.: A new direction in information science research: making information science a human science. Inf. Res. 20(3), paper 686. http://informationr.net/ir/20-3/paper686.html#.X-aHii1h1hE

  61. Emerald Publishing. https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/authors/pdf/Choosing%20the%20winners%20of%20the%20Outstanding%20Paper%20Awards.pdf. Accessed 25 Dec 2020

  62. Case, D.O., Higgins, G.M.: How can we investigate citation behavior? A study of reasons for citing literature in communication. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. 51(7), 635–645 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Garfield, E.: Can citation indexing be automated? In: Stevens, M., Guiliano, V., Heilprin, L. (eds.) Statistical Association Methods for Mechanized Documentation: Symposium Proceedings, pp. 189–192. National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  64. Catalini, C., Lacetera, N., Oettl, A.: The incidence and role of negative citations in science. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 112(45), 13823–13826 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Chen, C.M.: Predictive effects of structural variation on citation counts. http://cluster.ischool.drexel.edu/~cchen/papers/2011/chen2011jasist_preprint.pdf. Accessed 25 Dec 2020

  66. Min, C., Bu, Y., Wu, D., Ding, Y., Zhang, Y.: Identifying citation patterns of scientific breakthroughs: a perspective of dynamic citation process. Inf. Process. Manag. 58(1), 102428 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Braun, T., Glänzel, W., Schubert, A.: On Sleeping Beauties, Princes and other tales of citation distributions…. Res. Eval. 19(3), 195–202 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the reviewers for their constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China

    Yi Chen

  2. School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Shengang Wang & Li Yang

Authors
  1. Yi Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shengang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Li Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Yang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Katharina Toeppe

  2. Renmin University of China, Beijing, China

    Hui Yan

  3. The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Samuel Kai Wah Chu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Chen, Y., Wang, S., Yang, L. (2021). Characterizing Award-Winning Papers in Library and Information Science (LIS): A Case Study of LIS Journals Published by Emerald Publishing. In: Toeppe, K., Yan, H., Chu, S.K.W. (eds) Diversity, Divergence, Dialogue. iConference 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12646. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71305-8_35

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71305-8_35

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-71304-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-71305-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation