Managing the Selection of Databases in Academic Libraries with User Participation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

3 Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: This research aims to provide a model of factors affecting the use of databases among academic users. Identifying the factors that lead to the acceptance and use of databases by academic users will help managers and decision-makers of academic libraries when selecting databases.
Method: The current research is a descriptive survey. The statistical population consisted of graduate students using databases in different fields of Yazd University. The study sample based on Cochran's formula consisted of 319 graduate students of Yazd University. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data, and its validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, principal component extraction method, and varimax rotation. Structural equation modeling methods and path analysis and AMOS 24 and SPSS26 were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings: The results showed that the amount of benefit that a person believes to achieve by using a database in his job performance has a positive effect on the use of databases. The findings also showed that the attitude factor formed in university users with a total effect (of 0.255) has a direct effect on their decision to use databases. Considering that attitude is an internal state, which creates readiness for action, it is concluded that the attitude formed in users, towards the decision to use databases, is a factor for accepting databases. In other words, the results and consequences that users evaluate positively when using the databases increase their desire to use them. In other words, the factors of usefulness and attitude have a significant and positive relationship with the use of databases by university users by obtaining coefficients (0.420 and 0.255), respectively. The variables of usefulness of use (β=0.516) and ease of use (β=0.202) had the highest and lowest impact on the acceptance of databases, respectively.
Conclusion: In order to select the appropriate databases in universities, factors such as efficiency, ease of use, and users' attitude towards that database should be considered. Paying attention to these factors is effective in promoting the improvement of the productivity of databases and increasing their cost-effectiveness in university libraries.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abbaspour, J. & Rezaei Sharifabadi, S. (2006). Evaluation of the user interface of the theses database of the Iran Scientific Information and Documents Center from the point of view of librarianship and information. Quarterly Journal of Research and Planning in Higher Education, 41: 75-91. [in persian]
Abbaspour, J. (2008). Exploratory evaluation: a qualitative method for evaluating the user interface of websites and databases. Library and Information Science, 12(3): 265-279. [in persian]
Aladwani, A.M. (2002). Organizational actions, computer attitudes, and end-user satisfaction in public organizations: An empirical study. In: human factors in information systems, ed. by Szewczak, E. & Snodgrass, C. Hershey: IRM: 153-168.
Ani, O.E. (2010). Internet access and use: A study of undergraduate students in three Nigerian universities. The Electronic Library, 28(4): 555-567.
Bagheri, M.A., Hamidi Beheshti, M.T. & Alidousti, S. (2008). Acceptance of internet banking in Iran: expanding the technology acceptance model. Information Science and Technology, 24(3): 34-50. [in persian]
Chaiyasoonthorn, W. & Suksa-Ngiam, W. (2018). Users' acceptance of online literature databases in a Thai university: A test of UTAUT2. International Journal of Information Systems in the Service Sector, 10(1): 54-70.
Dadkhah, N. (2009). Measuring the usage pattern and cost-effectiveness analysis of the electronic information resources of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Central Library based on e-metric indicators. Master's thesis. Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. [in persian]
Davis, F.D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3): 319-340.
Davis, F.D., Bagozy, R.P. & Warsaw, P.R. (1989). User acceptance of computer technology: A comparison of two theoretical models. Management Science, 35: 982-1003.
Dayani, M.H. (1376). Basic comments about reading books. Library and Information, 1(2): 6-17. [in persian]
Dehghan Salmasi, N., Kazerani, M., Shekofteh, M. & Jambarsang, S. (2021). Acceptance of evidence-based nursing databases by educational nurses using Rogers’ model. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 53(2): 321-327.
Emami, M. & Mirtahari, S.L. (2014). Cost-effectiveness analysis of Tehran University databases and the impact of using databases in scientific productions. Information and communication technology in educational sciences, 6(2): 109-132. [in persian]
Faraj Pahlo, A. & Makizadeh, F. (2009). Cost-effectiveness study of Yazd University databases in 2009. University Library and Information Research, 44(4): 59-80. [in persian]
Ghafari, S., Rahimzadeh, R. & Faraji, A. (2018). Examining the degree of desirability and factors affecting the use of continuous databases by academic staff members of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2017-2018. Journal of knowledge studies, 12(45): 75-89. [in persian]
Gusenbauer, M. (2019). Google Scholar to overshadow them all? Comparing the sizes of 12 academic search engines and bibliographic databases. Scientometrics, 118(1): 177-214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-018-2958-5.
Hasan Shahi, M. (2005). Investigating the attitude and usage of Absco, Elsevier and Science Direct databases. Master's thesis. Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University. [in persian]
Hayati, Z. & Hassan Shahi, M. (2007). Examining the level of satisfaction of academic staff members of Shiraz University with continuous databases. Book Quarterly, 19(2): 16-76. [in persian]
Hosseini, N., Vazirpour Kashmiri, M. & Cheshmeh Sohrabi, M. (2014). Acceptance and use of continuous Latin databases by academic staff members of Kermanshah universities based on the integrated theory of acceptance and use of technology. Journal of knowledge studies, 7(27): 43-54. [in persian]
Jokar, A.R. & Zulfali-Nejad, A. (2013). The problems and weaknesses of Rozent network from the point of view of users of Shahid Bahnerkarman University. Book Quarterly, 15(1): 115-122.
[in persian]
Kalavani, A., Kazerani, M. & Shekofteh, M. (2018). Acceptance of evidence-based medicine (EBM) databases by Iranian medical residents using unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Health Policy and Technology, 7(3): 287-292.
Kayani Khouzestani, H., Niknam M. & Pishvai F. (2011). Information-seeking behavior of academic staff members of Yazd University of Medical Sciences. National studies of library and information organization, 92: 1-120. [in persian]
Kazemian, M., Habibi, A. & Habibi, M. (2019). Investigating the impact of ease of use, perceived usefulness and social image of mobile bank usage on customers' attitudes and customers' willingness to use (case study: Tejarat Mobile Bank users). New research approaches in management and accounting, 28(4): 58-76. [in persian]
Khase, A.A. & Hatami, A. (1386). The information-seeking behavior of humanities faculty members in the databases of Iran's research and development information center. Retrieved on 15/2/2013, from: www.ensani.ir/fa/content/88430/default.aspx. [in persian]
Kim, Y.M. (2010). The adoption of university library web site resources: A multigroup analysis. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 61(5): 978-993.
Majidi, M. & Shakarian, Q. (2015). Investigating information-seeking behavior of faculty members of Allameh Tabatabai University in using continuous scientific resources. Scientific Studies Quarterly, 6(2): 100-120. https://doi.org/10.22054/jks.2016.4108. [in persian]
Makizadeh, F. (2011). Identifying factors affecting the acceptance of web-based databases by academic users: Development of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). PhD Thesis. Department of Information Science and Epistemology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. [in persian]
Makizadeh, F., Faraj Pahlo, A., Ossareh, F. & Shahni Yilaq, M. (2011). Identifying factors affecting the acceptance of web-based databases by academic users: a grounded theory study. Academic Librarianship and Information Research, 46(59): 59-81. [in persian]
Mansouri, M. & Norouzi, Y. (2014). Examining the status of the user interface of Persian databases (Migiran and Academic Jihad database). Journal of knowledge studies, 8(28): 75-86. [in persian]
Mohajeri, F. & Alijanpurkasgari, M. (2009). Examining the level of familiarity and use of Babol medical science students from online databases. Journal of knowledge studie, 2(8): 83-95.
[in persian]
Muriithi, P., Horner, D. & Pemberton, L. (2016) Factors contributing to adoption and use of information and communication technologies within research collaborations in Kenya, Information Technology for Development, 22(sup1): 84-100.           
https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2015.1121856.
Nazari, F., Khosravi, F. & Noushin Fard, F. (2011). Effective predictors in the acceptance of continuous databases by faculty members. Journal of Library and Information Science, 2(2): 118-99. [in persian]
Nicholas, D. (1996). Assessing information needs: Tools and techniques. London: Aslibi.
Park, E. & Pobil, A.P. (2013). Extending the technology acceptance model in remote pointing technology: Identifying the role of perceived mobility and control, Sensor Review, 33(1): 40–47.
Rajabi, A. (2008). Investigating the use of electronic publications and web databases in Imam Sadiq University (AS). Library Message, 15(2): 193-216. [in persian]
Ramazan, M. & Singh, D. (2008). Factors affecting librarians’ attitudes toward IT application in libraries. The Electronic Library, 28(2): 334-344.
Reitz, J.M. (2010). Online dictionary of library and information science. Retrieved from: https://odlis.abc-clio.com/odlis_d.html.
Riahi, A., Razavi, A.A. & Ramazanpour, A.M. (2018). A survey of the use, familiarity and satisfaction of students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences from scientific databases and related factors. Ahwaz Jundishapur Education Development Quarterly, 9(4): 269-282.
[in persian]
Riahinia, N. & Zandian, F. (2008). Evaluation of information providers and popular search engines on the base of postgraduate students. Electronic Library, 26(4): 594 –604.
Saifi, Kh.N., Fahimi Far, S. & Nowrozi, A. (2019). Comparative study of the scientific productions of Sharif University of Technology in the citation databases Web of Science and Scopus. Science and Technology Policy, 10(3): 109-122. [in persian]
Salmani Nadoshan, I., Hosseini Nasab, D. & Shokraneh Neneh Karan, F. (2008). The relationship between the use of shared electronic journals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences with the number of courses and academic rank of faculty members of that university. Health Information Management, 5(1): 27-33. [in persian]
Sayadi, N., Moradi, M. & Rahimi, S. (2018). Studying Razi University students' views on the value of online databases of Latin articles and the factors influencing them with emphasis on the databases of Science Direct, Springer, Obsco, Web of Science, Emerald and I. Triple E. Library and Information Science, 21(1): 100-122. [in persian]
Selajgah, M., Osareh, F. & Momenabadi, M. (2014). Examining the responsiveness of available continuous databases in meeting the information needs of general medicine students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Journal of knowledge studies, 8(31): 59-72. [in persian]
Seyah Barghd, M., Ziyai, S., Aghazadeh, I., Mumtazan, M., Fathi Khangah, R. & Hosseini Ahangari, S.A. (2015). Investigating the amount of usage of academic faculty members and students from the information bases of the central library of Jundi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz in 2013. Development of Jundi Shapur Education, 6(2): 174-186.
[in persian]
Shahrzadi, L. (2005). Investigating the usefulness of e-journal collections in public universities in Tehran in 2003. Book Quarterly, 17(2): 129-140. [in persian]
Send comment about this article
CAPTCHA Image
Sciences and Techniques of Information Management
Volume 9, Issue 2
July 2023
Pages 265-286

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics