Posts

Weekly Summary on Data Curation: Storing Data

Image
Data storage is a critical aspect of data management because it ensures that information is preserved, organised, secured and made available for future use. In modern organisations, the rapid growth of digital information has transformed data storage from a simple technical process into a strategic organisational function. According to International Organisation for Standardisation (2019), data storage refers to the methods and technologies used to retain digital information in a way that allows easy retrieval, processing and long-term preservation. This definition highlights that storage is not merely about saving data but also ensuring that it remains usable and protected over time. I argue that effective data storage should be viewed as a critical organisational investment because poor storage practices can result in information loss, inefficiency and weakened decision-making processes. Historically, organisations relied heavily on physical storage devices such as flash drives, ma...
10 comments
Read more

Selection and Appraisal of Data weekly Summary

Image
Selection and Appraisal of Data The selection and appraisal of data are fundamental processes in research data management, ensuring that information collected is both relevant and of sufficient quality to support scholarly inquiry. Selection refers to the deliberate choice of datasets that align with research objectives, while appraisal involves evaluating their authenticity, reliability, and long-term value (Yakel, 2007). These processes are critical in academic and institutional contexts where the proliferation of digital data necessitates rigorous standards for inclusion in repositories. Effective selection requires clear criteria grounded in research goals, disciplinary norms, and ethical considerations. For instance, datasets must be representative, adequately documented, and compliant with legal and ethical frameworks such as data protection regulations (Beagrie, 2013). Appraisal, on the other hand, involves assessing the usability and sustainability of data. This includes eval...
8 comments
Read more

Data collection and repositories Weekly Summary

Image
DATA COLLECTION AND REPOSITORIES Data collection is a systematic process of gathering information to address research questions, test hypotheses, and support decision-making across disciplines such as public health, business analytics, and the social sciences. The selection of appropriate methods is influenced by research objectives, resource availability, and ethical considerations. Ensuring validity, reliability, and reproducibility is essential, as weaknesses in methodological design can introduce bias and undermine the credibility of findings (Creswell & Creswell, 2018) A variety of data collection methods are employed, including surveys, interviews, observation, sensor-based technologies, transactional data, web scraping, and experiments. Each approach presents distinct strengths and limitations. Surveys enable large-scale data collection and facilitate generalisation, although they are sensitive to questionnaire design and prone to response bias. Interviews provide rich quali...
8 comments
Read more

INFORMATION LITERACY MODELS

WEEKLY SUMMARY OF INFORMATION LITERACY MODEL Various models of information literacy have been proposed to guide the development of necessary competencies in information literacy skills. These frameworks support the creation of information literacy curricula and promote an integrated approach to teaching that enhances understanding of diverse information forms and sources. Notable models include: i) Big6 information skills (Eisenberg and Berkowitz, 1990), ii) Seven Pillars of Information Literacy (SCONUL Advisory Committee, 1999), and iii) Pathways to Knowledge (Pappas and Tepe, 2002). James Herring's 1996 model, along with Bruce's Seven Faces of Information Literacy created in 1997, are noted contributions to the field of information literacy. 1.      BIG6 Information skills Model The Big6 information skills model, developed by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz in 1990, is a widely recognized framework for information literacy. It outlines a systematic approach ...
Post a Comment
Read more

LECKIE MODEL OF INFORMATION SEEKING

PPT FILE
Post a Comment
Read more

Welcome to the first weekly summary of information behaviour and literacy education

  THE SHIFT FROM INFORMATIOM SYSTEMS (IS) TO INFORMATION BEHAVIOUR (IB) Historically, information systems (IS) research concentrated on creating, optimizing, and assessing systems such as databases, search engines, and retrieval techniques. Questions such as "How can we improve system performance?" and "How do we store and retrieve data efficiently?" were frequently asked without involving the user. However, by the late twentieth century, scientists had realized that human factors—cognitive, emotional, and behavioural—were critical to successful information seeking. This resulted in a paradigm change to Information Behaviour (IB), which asks: ·        How do individuals perceive the search process? ·        What drives information seeking? ·        What barriers do users encounter?   Thinkers such as Dervin and Nilan encouraged this movement by criticizing the limitations of sy...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dorothy Mzumara's academic blog for weekly Information Behaviour and Literacy Education Summaries.

 The aim of this blog is to provide postgraduate weekly summaries of Information behaviour and Literacy Education Lectures at Mzuzu University (Mzuni).
Post a Comment
Read more