The shape of eParticipation: Characterizing an emerging research area

The phenomenon of eParticipation is receiving increasing attention, demonstrated by recent technology implementations, experiments, government reports, and research programs. Understanding such an emerging field is a complex endeavor because there is no generally agreed upon definition of the field, no clear overview of the research disciplines or methods it draws upon, and because the boundaries of the field are undecided. Using conventional literature review techniques, we identify 131 scientific articles considered important for the field's theoretical development. This sample provides the starting point for a grounded analysis leading to the development of an overview model: the field of eParticipation seen from a researcher's perspective. The model provides structure for understanding the emerging shape of the field as well as an initial indication of its content. It also provides the basis for developing research agendas for the future.     

eParticipation research: Moving characterization forward (2006–2011)

Research on the use of information technology to support democratic decision-making (eParticipation) is experiencing ongoing growth, stimulated by an increasing attention from both practitioner and research communities. This study provides the first longitudinal analysis of the development of the eParticipation field based on a shared framework, capturing the directions that the research field of eParticipation is taking in recent developments.     

Concept analysis of gender,feminist, and women's studies research in the communication literature

In recent decades a distinctive literature has accumulated discussing the role of gender, feminism, and women's studies‐related research (GFWS) in the communication field; however, questions have persisted about how this research is represented in the field's publications. Contributing to the literature on the sociology of the field's scholarship, the history of the GFWS literature was sketched in a field test of a concept mapping technique that tracks patterns of publication and isolates conceptual associations within the titles of GFWS articles. The data for the study were significant concepts extracted from titles of 31,500 articles appearing in 70 communication journals and annuals within the period 1970 to 1997. The study accomplished several goals. First, it examined the accuracy of historical arguments about GFWS scholarship, arguments that bear on the issue of fair treatment of GFWS scholarship within the field. Second, it examined GFWS articles by publication source to assess patterns of representation by journal. Third, it provided a response to requests by some scholars working in the area for a thorough survey of the dimensions of the GFWS literature. Findings support the idea that GFWS scholarship is represented by a unique constellation of conceptual relationships. Feminist scholarship is found to have a history unto itself separate from that of studies of gender or sex differences, and has entered the literature in two distinctive eras. As well, feminist research was found to have a unique and uneven pattern of representation in the field's literature. By identifying threads of theoretical connection between articles in a widely dispersed literature, the concept mapping methodology is argued to provide one means for offsetting the fragmentation of the discipline's scholarship that has occurred throughout the last three decades as a result of the rapid proliferation of new specialized communication journals.     

Analyzing e-government research: Perspectives,philosophies, theories,methods, and practice

In recent years, there has been rapid growth in the volume of research output on the topic of e-government. To understand this research better, we used content analysis of eighty-four papers in e-government-specific research outlets (two journals and one conference series). Our analytical focus took in five main aspects: perspectives on the impacts of e-government, research philosophy, use of theory, methodology and method, and practical recommendations. Normative evaluation identified some positive features, such as recognition of contextual factors beyond technology, and a diversity of referent domains and ideas. Alongside this, though, research draws mainly from a weak or confused positivism and is dominated by over-optimistic, a-theoretical work that has done little to accumulate either knowledge or practical guidance for e-government. Worse, there is a lack of clarity and lack of rigor about research methods alongside poor treatment of generalization. We suggest ways of strengthening e-government research but also draw out some deeper issues, such as the role of research philosophy and theory, and the institutional factors – particularly pressures of competition and time – that may constrain development of e-government as a research field.     

Social reference: Toward a unifying theory

This article addresses the need for a theoretical approach to reference research and specifically concentrates on a lacuna in conceptual research on social reference. Social reference refers to online question answering services that are provided by communities of volunteers on question and answer (Q&A) sites. Social reference is similar to library reference, but at the same time, it differs significantly from the traditional (and digital) dyadic reference encounter; it involves a collaborative group effort and uses wikis and other Web 2.0 infrastructure. This article proposes a sociotechnical framework to analyze, evaluate, and understand social reference that relies on a systems approach to the reference encounter, combined with an input–process–output (IPO) approach to virtual group work. The framework also accounts for the collaborative process of question answering and the interplay between technology and users in their contexts.     

eParticipation practices and mechanisms of influence: An investigation of public policymaking

This paper investigates eParticipation practices and the mechanisms of influence that help promote changes in public policy formulation. We use the perspective of power as a lens for our investigation. We analyze eParticipation processes in the drafting of three public mobility policies in major Brazilian cities. Based on comparative and retrospective cases, we propose a processual framework for understanding eParticipation practices and the mechanisms used over time to influence decision-making. We show how the actors involved, tools chosen, platform design, interactions on the platform, mediation, and mechanisms used by engaged citizens and the government influence public policymaking. Our study contributes to the literature concerning eParticipation with an original processual framework to explain actors' practices and the mechanisms of influence on policymaking in digital participation spaces. Additionally, we broaden the discussion regarding the complementarity between possession and practice views of power. We argue that a better understanding of the eParticipation platform interactions that influence public policy decisions requires attention to formal authority and critical resource control. However, it is also necessary to recognize the interactions and mechanisms implemented in practice. Our findings are helpful for policymakers seeking to create effective participatory processes while considering citizens' opinions.     

参考咨询服务研究热点分析

概述了近年来国内外图书馆参考咨询领域的学术会议与代表作，并在此基础上总结出该领域的研究热点。     

社会治理何以智慧化?回顾、思考与展望

[目的/意义]社会治理的智慧化正逐渐引起学界与实践界的重视,并取得了阶段性成效,在此基础上的系统回顾与思考有助于为社会治理能力现代化提供向前的动力与思路。[研究设计/方法]采用文献研究法和政策文本分析法,对社会治理智慧化过程的相关研究进行系统梳理,探究社会治理智慧化的演化逻辑与模式,构建智慧化社会治理概念框架,进一步融合典型案例场景分析、思考、展望未来的研究方向。[结论/发现]梳理出传统化、信息化、智能化、智慧化社会治理模式,构建智慧化社会治理概念框架,进而提出智慧化社会治理模式在技术、伦理、制度、权利和效益五方面的挑战。[创新/价值]以图书情报领域注重运用数据智能技术解决社会实际问题为视角,从技术和理论双重演化逻辑剖析了社会治理智慧化过程,以期为驱动我国迈向智慧化社会治理进程及相关研究提供理论线索和实践参考。     

Missing author address information in Web of Science—An explorative study

Bibliometric analysis is increasingly used to evaluate and compare research performance across geographical regions. However, the problem of missing information from author addresses has not attracted sufficient attention from scholars and practitioners. This study probes the missing data problem in the three core journal citation databases of Web of Science (WoS). Our findings reveal that from 1900 to 2015 over one-fifth of the publications indexed in WoS have completely missing information from the address field. The magnitude of the problem varies greatly among time periods, citation databases, document types, and publishing languages. The problem is especially serious for research in the sciences and social sciences published before the early 1970s and remains significant for recent publications in the arts and humanities. Further examinations suggest that many records with completely missing address information do not represent scholarly research. Full-text scanning of a random sample reveals that about 40% of the missing address articles have some address information that is not indexed in WoS. This study also finds that the problem of partially missing address information for U.S. research has diminished dramatically since 1998. The paper ends by providing some discussion and tentative remedies.     

Studying Transformational Government: A review of the existing methodological approaches and future outlook

In light of the heterogeneity of scholarly publications on the subject of transformational government (T-Gov), this paper examines research trends and assesses methodologies used to investigate the topic with the aim of analysing directions for future research. A comprehensive analysis of T-government research published in four Chartered Association of Business Schools ranked journals within the field of Public Administration, e-Government and Information System is presented. The paper outlines research directions for further inquiry to promote the formulation of much needed theoretical constructs and approaches to research that would help bridge the existing gaps in knowledge in the area of T-Gov.     

近十年我国高校档案研究的特征分布与热点分析——基于CNKI核心期刊的文献计量及可视化分析

文章以我国高等院校档案研究为主要研究内容,通过检索十年间,中国知网期刊数据库收录档案事业核心期刊发表的596篇论文为数据源,使用文献计量分析和CiteSpace软件的关键词聚类分析,从文献发表的年度分布、来源期刊分布、发文机构、核心作者、知识图谱可视化研究等方面进行分析,探讨该领域的研究现状,揭示我国高校档案研究的热点,以期为高校档案工作的理论和实践研究提供参考。     

Quantitative evaluation of persuasive appeals using comparative meta-analysis

Message appeals are a key component of communication campaigns and an important source of campaign influence. However, research on them is heavily fragmented and it is difficult to generalize findings from the many diverse field studies. Based on a large and unique data set using quantitative and qualitative meta-analyses, this research provides measures of the relative impact of each type of appeal, as well as the major differences among them, and identifies the moderating variables that lead to a better understanding of each. This investigation is based on persuasion research, which provides a framework for understanding the unique characteristics of these advertising appeals. It highlights empirical gaps in the academic literature and acts as a conceptual guide for our research hypotheses. Results reveal weaker effect sizes than those previously reported in the literature and show important differences among appeals that lead to a “hierarchy of appeals.” Specifically, emotional appeals, led by sex and humor, appear to be more effective than fear and rational appeals. The study finds new theoretical and empirical generalizations; some results are counterintuitive and differ from findings generated from single appeal studies. Findings are of theoretical and practical importance.     

Performance of conceptual framework elements for the retrieval of qualitative health literature: a case study

Objective:A growing volume of studies address methods for performing systematic reviews of qualitative studies. One such methodological aspect is the conceptual framework used to structure the review question and plan the search strategy for locating relevant studies. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate the retrieval potential of each element of conceptual frameworks in qualitative systematic reviews in the health sciences.Methods:The presence of elements from conceptual frameworks in publication titles, abstracts, and controlled vocabulary in CINAHL and PubMed was analyzed using a set of qualitative reviews and their included studies as a gold standard. Using a sample of 101 publications, we determined whether particular publications could be retrieved if a specific element from the conceptual framework was used in the search strategy.Results:We found that the relative recall of conceptual framework elements varied considerably, with higher recall for patient/population (99%) and research type (97%) and lower recall for intervention/phenomenon of interest (74%), outcome (79%), and context (61%).Conclusion:The use of patient/population and research type elements had high relative recall for qualitative studies. However, other elements should be used with great care due to lower relative recall.     

综述全文检索系统

本文根据近年国内所发表的有关文章和部分国外文献，对全文检索系统涵义、全文数据库的研制、全文本的前处理技术以及文本检索技术作了综述。以期进一步推进我国计算机情报检索事业的发展。     

Recent Research and Developments in Information Organization in Iran: A Historical Review

In this article, research carried out in Iran illustrating new developments in knowledge organization is reviewed. For this purpose, all relevant studies were identified and classified into three categories: (1) studies focusing on conceptual models; (2) studies focusing on the RDA standard; and (3) studies focusing on online library catalogs (OPACs), metadata, and labeling formats related to RDA and FRBR. LIS dissertations and theses were reviewed and categorized into these three groups. The results of each research were categorized. At the end, the research methods applied in these researches were analyzed and some suggestions for further studies are proposed.     

e-Government legislation: Implementation issues for programs for low-income people

This paper introduces a research agenda to explore the intersection of e-government implementation and the key federal programs – Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, a.k.a. food stamps), (SSI), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF, a.k.a. welfare) – that provide assistance to low-income citizens in the United States. To lay the groundwork for on-going research, this paper focuses on the implementing statutes that require different levels of automation for delivering these programs to the public. It discusses the programs in terms of their breadth, impacts to recipients, and the effects of automation as implemented for each. It identifies some of the consequences of automation, such as potentially faster service delivery, different approaches to information access, and issues of privacy. It then suggests some points to consider for policymakers and for future research to more deeply understand this unique and little-studied aspect of e-government implementation. By understanding the impacts of implementing statutes on the poor, policymakers can develop a deliberately inclusive strategy that leverages technology to support access to assistance in measurable models that can be implemented at the federal, state, and county levels. This can further democratize the government-to-citizen relationship and support greater accountability to taxpayers.     

Logical empiricism and the study of human communication

The logical empiricist philosophy of science which underpins the bulk of contemporary communication research is outlined and recent criticisms of this view are surveyed. Two implications concerning the conduct of communication theory and research are drawn from these criticisms: (i) maximally productive research involves the systematic extension, elaboration, and defense of a theoretical framework and (ii) theoretical and conceptual analysis should be recognized as an important element in the achievement of a satisfactory theoretical account.     

A taxonomy for proactive public services

In light of the increasing importance of citizen-centricity in public services, one approach technologically advanced public organizations take is to integrate proactivity into their services. Scholars agree with the potential for proactivity in public services and study some aspects of the topic, and some publications deal with the concept of proactivity itself. However, opinions regarding the characteristics of proactive public services diverge in both research and practice, and despite—or maybe because of—the growing body of research, the literature still lacks conceptual clarity. We address this issue by developing a taxonomy for proactive public services using Nickerson, Varshney, and Muntermann's (2013) taxonomy-development method. Using eight empirical and conceptual iterations that draw on a structured literature review, two semi-structured interviews, investigation of 67 real-world objects, and an evaluation with nine potential users, we propose a taxonomy of eight dimensions and 23 characteristics. The outcome of this work enriches scientific knowledge about digital government by detailing the concept of a proactive public service and serving as a basis for further research. Moreover, practitioners can be inspired by the 23 characteristics of proactive public services to identify possible next steps in the design of their services, such as determining which proactive public services are feasible and in what form. In addition to the taxonomy, our collection of 67 practical examples of proactive public services from a variety of countries contributes to digital government research and practice.     

Health informatics publication trends in Saudi Arabia: a bibliometric analysis over the last twenty-four years

Objective:Understanding health informatics (HI) publication trends in Saudi Arabia may serve as a framework for future research efforts and contribute toward meeting national “e-Health” goals. The authors’ intention was to understand the state of the HI field in Saudi Arabia by exploring publication trends and their alignment with national goals.Methods:A scoping review was performed to identify HI publications from Saudi Arabia in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. We analyzed publication trends based on topics, keywords, and how they align with the Ministry of Health''s (MOH''s) “digital health journey” framework.Results:The total number of publications included was 242. We found 1 (0.4%) publication in 1995–1999, 11 (4.5%) publications in 2000–2009, and 230 (95.0%) publications in 2010–2019. We categorized publications into 3 main HI fields and 4 subfields: 73.1% (n=177) of publications were in clinical informatics (85.1%, n=151 medical informatics; 5.6%, n=10 pharmacy informatics; 6.8%, n=12 nursing informatics; 2.3%, n=4 dental informatics); 22.3% (n=54) were in consumer health informatics; and 4.5% (n=11) were in public health informatics. The most common keyword was “medical informatics” (21.5%, n=52). MOH framework–based analysis showed that most publications were categorized as “digitally enabled care” and “digital health foundations.”Conclusions:The years of 2000–2009 may be seen as an infancy stage of the HI field in Saudi Arabia. Exploring how the Saudi Arabian MOH''s e-Health initiatives may influence research is valuable for advancing the field. Data exchange and interoperability, artificial intelligence, and intelligent health enterprises might be future research directions in Saudi Arabia.