TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of Arabic library and information science
T2 - An analysis utilizing Whitley's theory of the intellectual and social organization of sciences
AU - Al-Aufi, Ali Saif
AU - Lor, Peter Johan
PY - 2012/7
Y1 - 2012/7
N2 - Purpose: This paper aims to utilize Whitley's theory of the intellectual and social organization of the sciences and build on research carried on by Aarek et al., Vakkari, Rochester and Vakkari, and Åström, to analyze both intellectual and institutional characteristics of Arabic library and information science (LIS). Design/methodology/approach: Data derived from a content analysis of sampled research articles published in seven core peer-reviewed Arabic LIS journals and from an inventory of the currently identified Arabic LIS educational institutions, professional associations, and scholarly communication channels were analyzed in terms of Whitley's theory and relevant LIS research. Findings: The social organization of Arabic LIS has highly influenced its intellectual organization. An analysis of types and diversity of institutional affiliations, determination of terminology, resources and fund accessibility, scholarly communication of intellectual productivity, and research collaboration point to high levels of "tasks uncertainty", low levels of "mutual dependency" and uncontrolled "reputational autonomy". Research limitations/implications: Because Arabic LIS institutions, associations, and research channels are poorly represented on the internet or in accessible literature, it was difficult to collect data comprehensively. While the findings are suggestive and are in agreement with views from the Arabic LIS literature, the results cannot be generalized to regions beyond the Arab world. This investigation is not primarily intended as a contribution to the philosophy of LIS, but to describe the development of LIS in the Arab States within a broad social and intellectual framework. Originality/value: While there is a considerable body of theoretically-oriented interpretations for bibliometric findings, no research has been conducted to analyze the social and intellectual dimensions of LIS in the Arab world. This paper also fills a gap for this type of the research in Arabic LIS and creates awareness of Arabic LIS for English-speaking readers.
AB - Purpose: This paper aims to utilize Whitley's theory of the intellectual and social organization of the sciences and build on research carried on by Aarek et al., Vakkari, Rochester and Vakkari, and Åström, to analyze both intellectual and institutional characteristics of Arabic library and information science (LIS). Design/methodology/approach: Data derived from a content analysis of sampled research articles published in seven core peer-reviewed Arabic LIS journals and from an inventory of the currently identified Arabic LIS educational institutions, professional associations, and scholarly communication channels were analyzed in terms of Whitley's theory and relevant LIS research. Findings: The social organization of Arabic LIS has highly influenced its intellectual organization. An analysis of types and diversity of institutional affiliations, determination of terminology, resources and fund accessibility, scholarly communication of intellectual productivity, and research collaboration point to high levels of "tasks uncertainty", low levels of "mutual dependency" and uncontrolled "reputational autonomy". Research limitations/implications: Because Arabic LIS institutions, associations, and research channels are poorly represented on the internet or in accessible literature, it was difficult to collect data comprehensively. While the findings are suggestive and are in agreement with views from the Arabic LIS literature, the results cannot be generalized to regions beyond the Arab world. This investigation is not primarily intended as a contribution to the philosophy of LIS, but to describe the development of LIS in the Arab States within a broad social and intellectual framework. Originality/value: While there is a considerable body of theoretically-oriented interpretations for bibliometric findings, no research has been conducted to analyze the social and intellectual dimensions of LIS in the Arab world. This paper also fills a gap for this type of the research in Arabic LIS and creates awareness of Arabic LIS for English-speaking readers.
KW - Communication process
KW - Information management
KW - Intellectual and social organization of sciences
KW - LIS research
KW - Library and information networks
KW - Scholarly communication
KW - The Arab world
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863787038&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84863787038&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/00220411211239066
DO - 10.1108/00220411211239066
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84863787038
SN - 0022-0418
VL - 68
SP - 460
EP - 491
JO - Journal of Documentation
JF - Journal of Documentation
IS - 4
ER -