Catalogers’ Perceptions and Use of Social Media and Conventional Information Sources for Professional Development

Many professional development information sources are available to catalogers, who may be constrained by limited time and money to devote to them. This article reports the results of a survey gathering information on six types of information sources: journal articles, conferences, electronic discussion lists, blogs, microblogs, and social networking sites. Catalogers rated these resources regarding their importance to filling professional development needs, the reliability of the information disseminated, and their usefulness for obtaining specific types of information. The results should help catalogers and their administrators decide where to focus their attention both as consumers and disseminators of continuing education information.     

Movers’ advantages: The effect of mobility on scientists’ productivity and collaboration

With the rapid globalization of science, mobility is perceived as an important driver of scientific progress and innovation success. However, we have little knowledge about whether and how scientists’ mobility influences their career development, especially scientists’ productivity and collaboration. In this case study, using the data on 62,330 scientists, the Chinese computer scientists who published at least one computer science paper and published no fewer than 10 papers in total from 2000 to 2012, we apply difference in differences models in conjunction with PSM methods to show the effect of domestic mobility (i.e., moving inside China) on scientists’ research quantity and quality by distinguishing the direction of mobility. In contrast to the existing literature that documents a short-term negative effect due to adaption costs or disruption of routines and social capital, we do not observe an initial detrimental impact of following moves on productivity and collaboration, even for non-upward moves. We further find that mobility leads to increased collaboration with new partners without dampening scientists’ collaboration with previous collaborators. However, scientists have a higher probability of collaborating with new collaborators, as evidenced by the decreased share of previous collaborators to the total co-authors after they move. The findings of this case study imply that the benefits of mobility might outweigh its costs and that mobility improves scientists’ productivity and collaboration for prolific scientists in emerging countries.     

The Value of Freedom of Expression and Information on Countries’ Human Rights Performance: A Cross-National Longitudinal Study

The current study explores the influence of communication variables on human rights protection. The effects of international and domestic mass communication and digital media were assessed among global social, economic, and political factors. The statistical analyses on a sample of 101 nation states over the most recent decade reveal several important findings: (a) top-down, internationally initiated human rights discourse and monitoring were not as effective as bottom-up, domestically initiated human rights dialogues; (b) access to the Internet and access to a mobile phone have different effects on human rights performance, and Internet availability played an especially important role; (c) economic development, political system, and population size are powerful predictors of nations’ human rights performance, but a large population size diminishes the effect of economic development; and (d) economic development can moderate the effect of political context on human rights performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

The Impact of Productivity and Quality of CJK Cataloging–A Brief Comparison Between CJK 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition

ABSTRACT

This report compares the features of the 2nd and 3rd editions of OCLC's CJK cataloging as implemented at the Chicago Public Library. The 3rd edition is faster for cataloging than the 2nd edition. Alternatively, the 2nd edition has other benefits including stability. Perspectives such as the quality of CJK cataloging between the 2nd and the 3rd edition are discussed also.     

The Influence of E-book Format and Reading Device on Users’ Reading Experience: A Case Study of Graduate Students

To explore the influence of e-book format and reading device on users’ reading experience, this paper studied a group of graduate students’ reading speed and comprehension. The participants were asked to read same length content from the same monograph chapter in both fixed layout format file (PDF) and fluid format file (EPUB) on four different reading devices: laptop, tablet, dedicated e-reader and smart phone. Their reading process, speed and comprehension were recorded and compared. Through the experiment and depth interviews, this study found that e-book format and reading devices have influence on reading speed and reading comprehension level. Generally speaking, people read EPUB files faster than PDF files. For smart phone, dedicated e-reader and tablet, participants’ average reading comprehension is higher when reading EPUB file, while most participants read PDF file faster when they use laptops.     

Intergroup,Interpersonal, and Intercultural Nature of Patient–Provider Communication: A Comparison of IMG and USMG Physicians

Using communication accommodation theory as a framework, this study explores and compares communication patterns of international medical graduate (IMG) physicians and United States medical graduate (USMG) physicians in intergroup, interpersonal, and intercultural context. Given that every fourth doctor practicing medicine in the U.S. is an internationally trained physician (AMA-IMG, 2010) an examination of the influence on patient-provider communication involving IMG physician and comparison with USMG physician is warranted. In a national survey of IMG and USMG physicians, the participants self-reported their perceptions of communication behaviors they used during a medical interaction. Although no difference was found between IMG and USMG physicians use of communication accommodation strategies during medical interaction, IMG physicians reported practicing significantly more relational communication than their U.S. counterparts. USMG physicians reported greater difficulty in communication owing to differences in culture than IMG physicians. Implication of findings for patient-centered communication, patient-physician relationship, and communication skills training is discussed.     

Media Violence and Adolescents’ ADHD-Related Behaviors: The Role of Parental Mediation

We examined the role of parental media mediation in the relationship between media violence and adolescents’ ADHD-related behaviors. Survey data from 1,017 adolescents (10–14 years) show that parents can play an important role in this relationship, depending on the media mediation strategies that they use (i.e., restrictive or active mediation) and how they apply these strategies (i.e., in a controlling, inconsistent, or autonomy-supportive way). Our findings support the notion that contextual factors are critical in understanding media effects, and provide directions for how parents can manage their adolescents’ violent media use, and possibly by extension, their ADHD-related behaviors.     

Stabilization of Iron Artifacts from Kaman-Kalehöyük: A Comparison of Chemical and Environmental Methods

Abstract

Testing of chemical stabilization treatments and desiccated and anoxic storage microclimates for the protection of archaeological iron stored in unsuitable climatic conditions was carried out by the conservation department of the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology at the Kaman-Kalehöyük excavation in Turkey. The chemical stabilization treatments involved alkaline sulfite, barium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. Environmental stabilization was explored using RP-A oxygen scavengers in Escal^® bags as part of the Revolutionary Preservation System (RP System^®) manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. The efficiency of the chemical treatments was examined by comparison with mechanically cleaned iron objects. The efficiency of the storage systems was determined by comparing the chemically and non-chemically treated objects in the RP System^® using RP-A scavengers and in polyethylene ziplock bags containing silica gel. The efficiency of these treatments and storage systems was examined and assessed at Kaman after a period ranging from 7 to 9 years. The anoxic and desiccating properties of the RP System^® resulted in superior protective qualities over polyethylene bags with silica gel. The RP System^® compensated for inadequate chemical stabilization and protected iron that had not been chemically stabilized.     

Televised violence and viewers’ perceptions of social reality: The Korean case

This study attempts to describe some possible elaborations of the cultivation hypothesis and present relevant evidence from a Korean student sample. Using the postulates and methodology of the cultivation analysis approach to mass communication, this investigation employs a two‐pronged research strategy: message system analysis and cultivation analysis. Message system analysis consisted of one‐week sample of Korean television programs from the three television networks in June 1991. For cultivation analysis, a questionnaire was administered to 1,200 Korean students attending eight junior and senior high schools from five different states in July, 1991. Within the clear limitations of measures, the results suggested that viewers differentially perceive the social reality of different content types. The findings seem to indicate that the degree of cultivation effects is not uniform across different kinds of television programming.     

Assessment of KU Libraries’ Slavic & Eurasian Collection: Purpose,Process, and Potential

This paper discusses collection-related assessment projects that were conducted in 2013–2014 by the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries’ International Collections librarians in cooperation with librarians for assessment and resource sharing. While these assessment projects were undertaken in an effort to strengthen the library reports for KU’s Title VI National Resource Center (NRC) grant applications, which were submitted by KU’s area studies centers, the results also have implications for collection development work. The article begins with background about the NRC grants and explains why and how these assessment projects developed. Highlights of results from each assessment project are presented in the following order: assessment of the research needs of area studies faculty and graduate students at KU; citation patterns (2005–2013) of area studies, and more specifically, Slavic and Eurasian studies faculty at KU; and resource sharing data for the Slavic and Eurasian collection 2011–2013. The article concludes with a discussion about how the assessment data inform collection development practices and decisions.     

Experiential Learning: Context and Connections for Legal Research–A Case Study

The American Bar Association requires that all law students receive “substantial instruction” in legal research. This article discusses a unique legal research program that meets this requirement by focusing on experiential learning. Two components of experiential learning, context and connections, are explained pedagogically and specifically as to legal research curriculum.