{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,5]],"date-time":"2025-10-05T20:01:43Z","timestamp":1759694503123,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"2\/3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,19]],"date-time":"2007-10-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1192752000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,19]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The current study aims to review the emerging trends as revealed in masters' theses and doctoral dissertations written over the past five years (2002\u20102006) in information science departments worldwide, and to examine how social and ethical issues are reflected in these research projects.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The ProQuest digital dissertations database was used to identify the studies, and studies conducted in the Department of Information Science at Bar\u2010Ilan University in Israel during the same years were also added to the sample. To locate these projects studies, all studies that received the subject classification of \u201clibrary science\u201d \u201cinformation science\u201d or both during those years in the ProQuest digital dissertations system were retrieved yet only studies conducted in departments of information science were included in the sample. The dissertations and theses retrieved were divided into nine categories.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>A clear trend can be identified in masters' theses and doctoral dissertations research conducted over the past five years in departments of information science worldwide. The social aspects of information are moving into the spotlight. It appears that the user and his\/her ability to sift through the vast sea of information will be the primary research focus in the twenty\u2010first century.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper presents the current trends in research in the field of information science. The findings will be relevant for researchers and curriculum planners in information science.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/14779960710837687","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,20]],"date-time":"2007-10-20T05:30:37Z","timestamp":1192858237000},"page":"253-269","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Information science \u2013 facing social and ethical challenges"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"Gila","family":"Prebor","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b1","unstructured":"Abdulla, A.G. (2004), \u201cDistance learning students' perceptions of the online instructor roles and competencies\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 65 No. 7, p. 2409, (UMI No. 3137394)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b2","unstructured":"Atias\u2010Konforti, M. (2005), \u201cFinding and analyzing the knowledge needs in a financial organization \u2013 case study\u201d, unpublished Master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b3","unstructured":"Bakshi, Z. (2004), \u201cInternet and traditional media news \u2013 a comparative analysis of use patterns among students\u201d, unpublished Master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b4","unstructured":"Balcom, K.S. (2005), \u201cDiscovery and information use patterns of Nobel Laureates in physiology or medicine\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 66 No. 8, p. 2759, (UMI No. 3187664)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b5","unstructured":"Baruchson\u2010Arbib, S. (1996), Social Information Science: Love, Health and Information Society \u2013 The Challenge of the 21st Century, Sussex Academic Press, Brighton."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b7","unstructured":"Baruchson\u2010Arbib, S. (2006), \u201cThe department of information science: from an environment of printed publications to a virtual environment\u201d, in Schwartz, D. (Ed.), Bar\u2010Ilan University \u2013 From Concept to Enterprise, Vol. 1, Bar\u2010Ilan University Press, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew), pp. 437\u201047."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baruchson\u2010Arbib, S. and Bronstein, J. (2002), \u201cA view to the future of the information science profession: a Delphi study\u201d, Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Vol. 53, pp. 397\u2010408.","DOI":"10.1002\/asi.10051"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b8","unstructured":"Battle, J.C. (2004), \u201cThe effect of information literacy instruction on library anxiety among international students\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 65 No. 3, p. 738, (UMI No. 3126554)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b9","unstructured":"Broadway, S.C. (2005), \u201cHealth information\u2010seeking behaviors on the internet among diabetic and healthy women\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 66 No. 6, p. 2004, (UMI No. 3177949)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b10","unstructured":"Bronstein, J. (2005), \u201cThe Jewish studies scholar as information user: channels of information and information\u2010seeking behavior\u201d, unpublished doctoral dissertation, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b11","unstructured":"Carmi, G. (2003), \u201cDistance learning: thinking style influence on learning functions in technological\u2010virtual environment\u201d, unpublished master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b12","unstructured":"Chien, E.H.M. (2005), \u201cInforming and involving newcomers online: users' perspectives of settlement.org (Ontario)\u201d, Masters Abstracts International, Vol. 44 No. 2, p. 591, (UMI No. MR07290)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b13","unstructured":"Cohen, N.M. (1963), Library Science Dissertations: 1925\u201060: An Annotated Bibliography of Doctoral Studies, US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, DC."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b14","unstructured":"Critchfield, R. (2005), \u201cThe development of an information literacy indicator for incoming college freshmen\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 67 No. 1, p. 9, (UMI No. 3205997)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Danton, J.P. (1959), \u201cDoctoral study in librarianship in the United States\u201d, College & Research Libraries, Vol. 20, pp. 435\u2010453, 458.","DOI":"10.5860\/crl_20_06_435"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b16","unstructured":"Deshpande, M. and Rajyalakshmi, D. (1997), \u201cCitation study of dissertations in library and information science\u201d, Annals of Library Science and Documentation., Vol. 44 No. 2, pp. 41\u201053."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b17","unstructured":"Dominick, J.L. (2005), \u201cThe in situ study of an electronic textbook in an educational setting\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 66 No. 3, p. 803, (UMI No. 3170422)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b18","unstructured":"Dowding, M.R. (2002), \u201cNational information infrastructure development in Canada and the United States: (Re) defining universal service and universal access in the age of techno\u2010economic convergence\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 63 No. 7, p. 2399, (UMI No. NQ70567)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b19","unstructured":"Du, Y. (2003), \u201cAn evaluation of the effect of learning styles and computer competency on students' satisfaction in web\u2010based distance learning environments\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 64 No. 9, p. 3118, (UMI No. 3106876)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b20","unstructured":"Durrance, J.C. and Pettigrew, K. (1999), \u201cKALIPER: a look at library and information science education at the turn of the new century\u201d, Bowkner Annual, pp. 266\u201081."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b21","unstructured":"Farb, S.E. (2006), \u201cNegotiating use, persistence, and archiving: a study of academic library and publisher perspectives on licensing digital resources\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 67 No. 7, p. 236, (UNI No. 3226006)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b22","unstructured":"Garrett, R.K. (2005), \u201cExposure to controversy in an information society\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 66 No. 10, p. 3501, (UMI No. 3192643)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b23","unstructured":"Greer, A.T. (2002), \u201cA model for the delivery and evaluation of asynchronous and interactive synchronous library services at Southern Adventist University\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 63 No. 4, p. 1169, (UMI No. 3052298)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b24","unstructured":"Harrell, J.F. (2006), \u201cAn investigation of fair information practices on American websites\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 67 No. 7, p. 2364, (UMI No. 3223801)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b25","unstructured":"Haubitz, H. (2005), \u201cThe use of public web portals by undergraduate students\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 67 No. 4, p. 1129, (UMI No. 3215469)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b26","unstructured":"Haycock, K. and Curry, A. (1998), \u201cDoctoral dissertations in library and information studies: identification and documentation, 1988\u20101996\u201d, Library and Information Science Annual, Vol. 6, pp. 185\u2010296."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b27","unstructured":"Helliwell, M.L. (2003), \u201cUnderstanding information behaviour of parents in a neonatal intensive care unit\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 42 No. 1, p. 6, (UMI No. MQ79582)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b28","unstructured":"Horenstein (Attar), V. (2005), \u201cThe \u2018social information section\u2019 in high school libraries enhances awareness for self\u2010help through the use of print and electronic media\u201d, unpublished doctoral dissertation, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b29","unstructured":"Johnson, C.A. (2003), \u201cInformation networks: investigating the information behaviour of Mongolia's urban residents\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 64 No. 10, p. 3518, (UMI No. NQ84727)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b30","unstructured":"Kravchyna, V. (2004), \u201cInformation needs of art museum visitors: real and virtual\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 65 No. 12, p. 4382, (UMI No. 3157488)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b31","unstructured":"Levy, O. (2006), \u201cUsing blogs for learning\u201d, unpublished Master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b32","unstructured":"Lillard, L.L. (2002), \u201cInformation\u2010seeking in context: an exploratory study of information use online by eBay entrepreneurs\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 63 No. 2, p. 394, (UMI No. 3042353)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b33","unstructured":"Marcus, T. (2003), \u201cCommunication, technology and education \u2013 the role of the discussion group in asynchronic distance\u2010learning courses as a beneficial factor in the learning process\u201d, unpublished master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b34","unstructured":"Maybee, C. (2005), \u201cUndergraduate women's conceptions of information use\u201d, Masters Abstracts International, Vol. 44 No. 1, p. 16, (UMI No. 1427162)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b35","unstructured":"Menashri, H. (2006), \u201cAmerican cyber security policy versus the potential threat to civil rights\u201d, unpublished master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b36","unstructured":"Mooko, N.P. (2002), \u201cA study of the family information needs and information seeking behaviors of rural women in Botswana\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 64 No. 1, p. 11, (UMI No. 3078863)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b37","unstructured":"Nahl, D. (2003), \u201cThe user\u2010centered revolution\u201d, in Drake, M.A. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science, 2nd ed.,Vol. 4, Marcel Dekker, New York, NY, pp. 3028\u201042."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b38","unstructured":"Ofenberg, A. (2003), \u201cTerror and internet: case study\u201d, unpublished Master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Newberry, W.F. (1978), \u201cSubject perspective of library science dissertations\u201d, Journal of Education for Librarianship, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 203\u201012.","DOI":"10.2307\/40322549"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b40","unstructured":"Profeta, P.C. (2006), \u201cEffectiveness of asynchronous reference services for distance learning students within Florida's community college system\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 67 No. 3, p. 763, (UMI No. 3212018)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b41","unstructured":"Reavis, D.R. (2006), \u201cElectronic mail retention policies in mid\u2010sized manufacturing companies in the United States\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 67 No. 8, p. 2796, (UMI No. 3230030)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b42","unstructured":"Reshef\u2010Fisher, Y. (2005), \u201cReading habits of deaf and hard of hearing\u201d, unpublished master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b43","unstructured":"Revercomb, P.L. (2005), \u201cInternet information literacy: a study of older adults\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 66 No. 10, p. 3498, (UMI No. 3194021)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b44","unstructured":"Rothenberg, K.P. (2004), \u201cThe communication information\u2010seeking model: examining information\u2010seeking motivations and associated channel use\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 65 No. 9, p. 3205, (UMI No. 3147481)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sankari, A. (2004), \u201cThe elderly in the information society. Cultural outlooks and social space\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 66 No. 3, p. 589 (in Finnish).","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-012597121-8\/50034-7"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b46","unstructured":"Schlachter, G.A. (1989), \u201cAbstract of library science dissertations\u201d, Library and Information Science Annual, Vol. 5, pp. 251\u201066."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b47","unstructured":"Shemesh, V. (2002), \u201cCommunity information needs of urban population \u2013 the Herzliya model\u201d, unpublished master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b48","unstructured":"Solomon, M. (2003), \u201cThe unique information society in Europe: a debate on information policy in the digital age\u201d, unpublished master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b49","unstructured":"Sotnik, J. (2003), \u201cThe influence of the new immigrants from the former Soviet Union in the 90's on public libraries and the appearance of alternative libraries\u201d, unpublished master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b50","unstructured":"Su, K.C. (2004), \u201cCan information needs of benefit\u2010eligible new and current employees of University of Missouri\u2010Columbia for selecting a health plan be met by employer's benefits web site and health plan administrator's member web site?\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 66 No. 2, p. 391, (UMI No. 3164546)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b51","unstructured":"Thistle, D.R. (2004), \u201cLinking to the library from course web sites: faculty perspectives\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 65 No. 12, p. 4383, (UMI No. 3157873)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tudman, M., Milas, M., Tudor Silovic, M. and Boras, D. (1985), \u201cBibliometric analysis of master theses in information sciences (postgraduate studies in librarianship, archives, museology and information science, 1961\u20101984, Zagreb, Yugoslavia)\u201d, Education for Information, Vol. 3 No. 4, pp. 292\u2010306.","DOI":"10.3233\/EFI-1985-3404"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ucak, N. (2004), \u201cUser studies in Turkey: an evaluation of dissertations\u201d, Information Development, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 122\u20108.","DOI":"10.1177\/0266666904045326"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b54","unstructured":"Weissman, G. (2005), \u201cThe information needs of adults over sixty\u201d, unpublished Master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b61","unstructured":"Westbrook, L. (1997), \u201cUser needs\u201d, Encyclopedia of library and Information Science, Vol. 59 No. 22, pp. 316\u201047."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wilson, T.D. (2000), \u201cHuman information behavior\u201d, Informing Science, Vol. 3, pp. 49\u201055.","DOI":"10.28945\/576"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wilson, T.D. (2001), \u201cMapping the curriculum in information studies\u201d, New Library World, Vol. 102, pp. 436\u201042.","DOI":"10.1108\/03074800110411875"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b57","unstructured":"Yaari, E. (2003), \u201cPrinting and internet plagiarism: aspect of student's perception and willingness to perform acts of plagiarism while writing an academic essay\u201d, unpublished Master's thesis, Bar\u2010Ilan University, Ramat Gan (in Hebrew)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b58","unstructured":"Yoo, E\u2010Y. (2004), \u201cFactors affecting middle\u2010aged women's health information\u2010seeking on the web\u201d, Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 65 No. 4, p. 1160, (UMI No. 3128025)."},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zins, C. (2007a), \u201cKnowledge map of information science\u201d, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Vol. 58 No. 4, pp. 526\u201035.","DOI":"10.1002\/asi.20505"},{"key":"key2022022019534627700_b60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zins, C. (2007b), \u201cClassification schemes of information science: twenty\u2010eight scholars map the field\u201d, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Vol. 58 No. 5, pp. 645\u201072.","DOI":"10.1002\/asi.20506"}],"container-title":["Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/14779960710837687\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/14779960710837687\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T00:13:06Z","timestamp":1753402386000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jices\/article\/5\/2-3\/253-269\/208108"}},"subtitle":["Analysis of masters' theses and doctoral dissertations over the past five years (2002\u20102006) in information science departments worldwide"],"editor":[{"given":"Shifra","family":"Baruchson\u2010Arbib","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,19]]},"references-count":61,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2\/3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,19]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/14779960710837687"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/14779960710837687","relation":{},"ISSN":["1477-996X"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"1477-996X"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,19]]}}}