Research in Practice is a column in the Evidence Based Library and Information Practice journal, published quarterly.

This study aims to describe the interaction of the final course in information literacy at Linköpings university library with the information practice in the environmental profession. The investigation is based on five interviews and one document that is used as educational material in the course. In the study an investigation is carried out of the information practice in the environmental science as well as of the curriculum in the course. The study use a qualitative method and the analysis is based on Annemaree Lloyd’s model of information practice in a work context. The analysis is also founded on Vygotskijs zone of proximal development.  The results shows that there is a similarity between the educational and the work practice where the alumni don’t get the opportunity to share the corporeal information. This has a negative effect on the development of the shared identity in practice and the confidence to act within the individuals. This study also discuss the need of an education in practice in the course, to make a transfer of knowledge possible for the students between an educational and a work context and shows the benefits with Problem-based learning as a method.

In this study information-related activities engaged in by engineers during work task performance in the research and development centre at Sandvik Materials Technology AB are investigated. The purpose of the present study was to identify and achieve an understanding of the information-related activities performed by engineers during work task performance in a corporate context. The work task performance in focus is the task of writing a technical report.The study rests on methodological triangulation through the use of a work task diary, a semi-structured questionnaire and focus groups. In total 16 engineers participated in the study. The theoretical framework is based on theories of information in social practice, the information seeking process and the concept of task.The study presents results showing that engineers work in a highly complex information environment and their work task performance is to a high degree affected by situational attributes such as previous experience, type of work task, time, target group, and access to information. The results show that the information sources preferred by engineers have not changed over time; rather a change is seen in the type of sources. There is a distinct increase in the use of electronic sources; which in turn seem to affect the way engineers perceive accessibility. The study also shows that there are evident situational and contextual attributes affecting the information-related activities. Information needed to perform a work task is strongly related to data retrieved from experiments. There also seems to be an embedded tolerance for a low scientific level in technical reports, even though the scientific practice is the norm.This study also shows that the concept of work task forms a relevant basis for studies of information-related activities, particularly in combination with theories on information in social practice. The model of the work task process combined with a faceted classification of work tasks provides a sound methodological tool for the analysis of work tasks in different contexts.

Writing has a peculiar place within higher art education. Students in all three cycles are required to produce written thesis work alongside their artistic work in order to receive a diploma. However, there is no established style or methodological approach to the written thesis work and the information practices of art students are not well researched.  This thesis attempts to discover and explain the information practices of art students by studying master’s theses from two Swedish universities using a mixed method. A quantitative study provides data on the types and subject of the references of interest to art students. While a qualitative study of a smaller number of theses is conducted in order to better understand the reference practices in the context of the art field. Results are analysed using a theoretical framework composed of Richard Whitley’s theories on the social and intellectual organization of the scientific fields and Björn Hammarfelt’s writing on reference practices within the humanities.  Findings confirm the previously documented importance of non-art material and print books, but also highlight the importance of various digital sources to students. It was also discovered that art students are unlikely to strictly follow established references styles in their theses. Instead, reference practices are highly individualized and related to variables such as degree of specialization within the individual program and the stylistic construction theses.

Book Summary The book takes an open and encompassing approach to exploring evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP) and the ways it can improve the practice of librarianship. Bringing together recent theory, research, and case studies, it provides librarians with a new reference point for how they can use and create evidence within their practice, in order to better meet the needs of their communities. Being Evidence Based in Library and Information Practice is divided into two parts; in the first part the editors explore the background to EBLIP and put forward a new model for its application in the workplace which encompasses five elements: Articulate, Assemble, Assess, Agree, Adapt. In the second part, contributors from academic, public, health, school, and special libraries from around the world provide an overview of EBLIP developments and offer examples of successful implementation. Essential reading for library and information professionals from all types of institutions who want to make more informed decisions and better meet the needs of their users, this book will also be of interest to students of library and information studies and researchers.

The ongoing covid-19 pandemic has changed the information practices of people, including Japanese immigrants to Sweden. This study aims to clarify the characteristics and problems of everyday information practices of the study group, i.e. Swedish-Japanese, during the covid-19 pandemic. Japanese living in Japan are also included for comparative analysis. I also investigate how information practices relate to the study group’s social context and cultural background, and how they are experiencing information barriers. For this purpose, a qualitative approach was chosen, and semi-structured interviews were carried out. The informants were a total of five Japanese people living in Sweden and five Japanese people living in Japan. The results were analyzed using inductive approaches. Then the empirical data of the informants' information practices were categorized based on Savolainen's (2021) model of everyday information practices (EIP), consisting of three ways, and McKenzie’s (2003) model of information seeking. Then, the informants' barriers with information practices were analyzed using Savolainen's (2016a) sociocultural barriers. Findings show that both groups are similarly actively seeking information and actively scanning for information everyday using multiple sources of information. However, the results also show that the informants have been influenced by social and cultural background. The Swedish-Japanese conduct more active online scanning, while the Japanese in Japan are relatively passive and conduct everyday non-directed surveillance. Trust in politicians and authorities also differed between the two groups. Japanese people in Japan often point out that such information is incomprehensible, and they have a habit of using easy-to-understand sources of information instead. This incomprehensibility seems to be due to Japanese culture, where language expression is ambiguous and situation dependent. In contrast, Swedish-Japanese have confidence in Swedish authorities. In addition, the informants do not state much about socio-cultural barriers to information practices at the interview except for the institutional barriers.  Finally, the characteristics and problems of everyday information practices among Swedish-Japanese were influenced by their cultural background and personal background, as well as the Swedish social context. In addition, their information practices differ from the Japanese in Japan. Through information practices, they may have acquired both global and local identities, which promote integration and inclusion for Swedish-Japanese in the host country of Sweden. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

This study maps and describes adolescents´ conceptions of information literacy on social media, with the aim of shedding light on their everyday information life and shared information landscape. 7 focus groups with a total of 33 teenagers were conducted and the outcome was analyzed using a phenomenographic approach and the concept of information literacy landscapes.  Four categories of description were identified: Participation, Critical thinking, Understanding and Use. The Participation category sees information literacy as engaging socially within the information landscape, the Critical thinking category puts emphasis on evaluating information and the Understanding category represents conceptions that show an understanding of the practice as well as the underlying infrastructures of social media. The last category, Use, sees information literacy as the use of social media mostly for entertainment purposes. These four categories represent different ways of looking at information literacy within the social media context and are hierarchically related, with Understanding being the most complex level. The teenagers engage in a range of information literacy practices, which in part differ from the practices taught in information literacy education.  This study indicates a gap between the adolescents’ information literacy practice on social media on the one hand and the way they perceive information literacy and source evaluation on the other hand. By understanding how the practice is situated within the social media context, the education in information literacy can become more relevant to the everyday lives of teenagers. This is a two-year master´s thesis in Library and Information science.

This thesis explores the potential of visual information and communication technologies (ICTs) for collaboration in emergency care. The thesis consists of four studies exploring future technology, 3D telepresence technology for medical consultation (3DMC), from several different methodological and analytical perspectives. Together the studies provide a broad view of the potential benefits, risks and implications of using visual technologies for collaboration in emergency care. The results show that paramedic-physician collaboration via 3DMC might have some benefits for patient care, both in the immediate patient care situation and beyond, for example, when coordinating transport and resources; improving understanding between different actors; and in developing paramedic competence and confidence in their skills. However, collaboration is heavily impacted by physicians’ and paramedics’ respective work practices which are situated in very different physical, professional and organizational contexts. Adding a visual dimension to this collaboration presents unique challenges for the overall design, development, implementation, and appropriation process. Thus, the thesis emphasizes the importance of understanding both the individual users as well as the complex overall image which, although often neglected or ignored, is crucial to understand when developing and introducing new technology that is successful and justified in the overall context while also being useful and meaningful for the individual users. / <p>Academic dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Gothenburg and the University of Borås to be publicly defended on Thursday 19 September 2013 at 13:15 in the auditorium at Simonsland, University of Borås, Skaraborgsvägen 3, Borås.</p>

個人資料的資料流（Data Flows）在網路上的擴散，造成對個人隱私權的威脅，逐漸已經成為社會大眾所關注的議題。在過去幾年中，網站逐漸被要求制定相關的規範以符合大眾的期待。然而，隨著網際網路環境的快速變遷，網站的規範是否提供適當的個人隱私權保護，將會成為社會大眾持續討論的問題。 部分的網站已經滿足隱私權到某種程度。這些網站開始採用一些普遍性的實作。在某些程度上，這些實作依循由隱私權規範創立者所推動的公平資訊實施原則（Fair Information Practice Principle）（FTC，1998a）。 本研究根據文獻探討提及的公平資訊實施原則：告知（notice）、選擇（choice）、存取（access）、與安全（security），對個人使用者感興趣的台灣地區網站進行網站隱私權政策分析與調查研究，探討其對個人隱私揭露的程度。 研究結果指出，樣本中84.1%的網站收集至少一種形式的個人識別資訊（例如：姓名，e-mail address，郵政地址），72.3%收集至少一種形式的人口統計學資訊（例如：性別，喜好，郵遞區號），71.8%的網站兩者接收集，而15.4%的網站兩者皆不收集。隱私揭露方面，67.7%（390個樣本中的264個）刊載至少一種形式的隱私揭露（一個隱私權政策的告示或是一個資訊實施聲明），50.5%這兩種形式的隱私揭露都刊載，有32.3%個網站這兩種形式的隱私揭露皆不刊載。觀察隱私揭露反映公平資訊實施的程度，在264個有收集個人資訊與刊載隱私揭露的網站中，92.8%包含至少一種關於（告知）的調查項目，70.8%包含至少一種關於（選擇）的調查項目，80.7%包含至少一種關於（存取）的調查項目，43.9%包含至少一種關於（安全）的調查項目，以及26.9%包含關於（聯絡資訊）的調查項目。 在本研究中，看待這些網站樣本所得出的結果，應特別注意那些較不滿足公平資訊實施原則的部分，包括對Cookies使用的告知、告知關於外界第三者的相關資訊、選擇、安全以及聯絡資訊等部份所表現出來的結果，而實際上所有台灣網站所表現出的結果，很可能比本研究所得出的結果來得更為不理想，網站若要更能滿足使用者對隱私權保護的期待，就必須更正視這些部份的隱私揭露保護。 資料的收集與使用對網路環境的發展影響甚鉅，網站營運者在思考如何使資料的利用最大化時，必須兼顧使用者的隱私權。唯有在合理，相互尊重的架構下，才能替彼此創造出長遠的利益。本研究的結果希望能對台灣在檢討、發展、建立符合台灣環境及與世界接軌的網路隱私權保護環境上，作出些許的貢獻。 / The spreading of personal data flows over the Internet has threatened many online individuals’ privacy, which also becomes a noticeable topic among the society. For the past few years, there were norms applied to websites in order to protect online users’ privacy. However, could norms provide proper protections along with the rapid improvement of Internet technology? This topic will remain among society’s discussion. Some websites provide certain amount of protections by using popular practices. On a certain level, these practices follow the Fair Information Practice Principle that was supported by the Privacy Norm Entrepreneurs (FTC, 1998). This research is based on the four main elements of Fair Information Practice Principle: Notice, Choice, Access, and Security. The thesis concentrates on analyzing and researching the privacy policy about privacy disclosure provided by websites that were directed and interested to individual user within Taiwan. Based on the result of this research, 84.1% of the sampled websites collected at least one type of personal identifying information (e.g. name, e-mail address, postal address). 72.3% of the sampled websites collected at least one type of demographic information (e.g. gender, preferences, Zip code). 71.8% of the websites collected both types of personal information, and 15.4% collected neither type of personal information. As for privacy disclosure, 67.7% of the websites (264 out of 390 sampled websites) provided at least one type of privacy disclosures (a privacy policy notice or an information practice statement). 50.5% of the websites provided both types of disclosures; and 32.3% of the websites provided none of the above. By studying the researched websites along with the Fair Information Practice Principle, Of the 264 websites that collected personal information and posted a privacy disclosure, 92.8% included at least one survey item for notice, 70.8% contained at least one survey item for choice, 80.7% contained at least one survey item for access, 43.9% contained at least one survey item for security, and 26.9% contained at least one survey item for contact information. While studying the research result, it is important to concentrate on the websites that did not follow the Fair Information Practice Principle. The result includes websites’ notice of Cookies usage, and providing third party related information, choice, security, and contact information, etc. However, the result in reality could be a lot worse than the research result. In order to fulfill online users’ anticipation, websites should pay more attention on privacy policy of these parts. Colleting and using users’data influence the development of online environment greatly. Web owners should consider their customers’ privacy rights while trying to capitalize customers’ information. The only way to generate long and stable benefit for both provider and user is with respect. Hopefully the result of this research will contribute some amount of consideration and development of privacy protection that works for websites and users in Taiwan.

<p>Academic dissertaion for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Gothenburg and the University of Borås to be publicly defended on Friday 21 October 2011 at 13.15 in lecture room M402, University of Borås, Allégatan 1, Borås</p>