Non-synchronism in Global Usage of Research Methods in Library and Information Science from 1990 to 2019

Jul 16, 2026

Global development of Library and Information Science (LIS) is shaped by economic, social, cultural, disciplinary, and traditional factors, leading to substantial cross-country variation in research methods. A study analyzes 5,281 research papers from 81 countries in internationally representative journals over 30 years, using content analysis and a trained deep learning model for automatic classification. Results show distinct country research profiles and method distributions, with differences persisting even for the same topic. National and international distributions converge over time, supporting discipline development guidance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

Introduction

Literature Review

Non-synchronism in Global Usage of Research Methods in Library and Information Science from 1990 to 2019 Chengzhi Zhang*， Liang Tian Department of Information Management, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China Abstract: The global development of Library and Information Science (LIS) is influenced by various factors such as the economy, society, culture, discipline, tradition, and more. Consequently, the research methods of LIS vary greatly among countries. To better understand these differences, we conducted a study of 5,281 research papers from 81 countries published in internationally representative journals over the past thirty years. We manually annotated the research methods used in some articles through content analysis, and subsequently developed and trained a deep learning model for automatic classification of research methods. Using this method, we conducted a comparative analysis of the usage of research methods in different countries. Our findings reveal that there are differences in the research methods used across countries, with each country having its unique research profile and distribution of research methods. Even when investigating the same topic, research methods can differ between countries. Our study also uncovers that there are differences between the national and international distribution of research methods, these differences have decreased over the past 30 years. By highlighting the characteristics of discipline development in various countries from the perspective of research methods, our study can help guide discipline development at the national level. This study provides insights into the usage trends of research methods across different countries and highlights the unique characteristics of discipline development in each country. This information can be valuable in promoting collaboration and understanding between countries and in guiding discipline development at the national level. Keywords: Research methods, Library and information science, International asynchronous of research method usage, Automatic text classification 1. Introduction Library and Information Science (LIS) is an interdisciplinary field with research methods derived from different disciplines (Hjørland, 2005). There are concerns that the discipline may be losing its independence, necessitating self-analysis (Weller & Haider, 2007). Understanding research methods in LIS is essential for the development of teaching and research in the discipline (Järvelin & Vakkari, 1990) . Scholars have investigated and analyzed research methods in LIS for decades, resulting in numerous studies (Blake, 1994; M. K. Rochester, 1995; Fidel, 2008; Riedl & Rueckel, 2011) . Qualitative methods have been utilized to explore the research methods available in the discipline (Chu & Ke, 2017; Järvelin & Vakkari, 1993), while quantitative methods have been used to analyze trends in their usage (Lund & Wang, 2021; Ma & Lund, 2021; Tuomaala et al., 2014) . Research methods continue to be a recurring topic in LIS, with scholars emphasizing the importance of understanding and developing research methods to uphold the field's independence and enhance its * Corresponding author: Chengzhi Zhang ([zhangcz@njust.edu.cn](zhangcz@njust.edu.cn)) . teaching and research practices. The interdisciplinary nature of LIS requires a thorough understanding of the diverse research methods used within the field. Scholars have investigated and analyzed these research methods overtime, emphasizing the need for self-reflection and progress in the discipline. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to explore the research methods utilized in LIS. These studies remain pivotal in promoting the autonomy and enhancing the quality of research and education in the field. While choosing an appropriate research method is crucial for any scientific study and is dependent on the research question, other factors, such as

FAQs

What problem does the study address regarding LIS research methods?

It examines how LIS research methods differ across countries and why these differences exist over time.

How did the researchers identify and classify research methods in the papers?

They manually annotated methods via content analysis for selected articles, then developed and trained a deep learning model to classify methods automatically.

What are the key findings about research method usage across countries from 1990 to 2019?

Countries show unique research profiles and different method distributions, even when investigating the same topic. Differences between national and international distributions decreased over the past 30 years.

Jul 16, 2026

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