Trust and attitude toward information presented using augmented reality and other technological means

In recent years, augmented reality (AR) technology has grown, and its use has become widespread among smartphone users. People are consuming more and more digital information from various sources and in different presentation modes. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the extent to which different presentation modes relate to the level of trust in information, while considering demographic variables, as well as personality traits and thinking styles. The participants in our experiments were asked to indicate whether certain statements that were presented in various presentation methods (image + text, image + audio, AR + text, AR + audio) were true or false. The results indicate that users are more likely to trust statements that are accompanied by AR than statements that are accompanied by a static image. In addition, younger participants have greater trust in audio-presented information than text-presented information. As AR is expected to grow considerably in popularity in the next few years, users should be cautious of the potential impact on their trust in digital information while using AR.

Information under lockdown: A content analysis of government communication strategies on Facebook during the COVID-19 outbreak

The aim of this study is to investigate how central government agencies used social media to communicate and disseminate information to the public during the Coronavirus outbreak. In addition, this study seeks to examine the characteristics of the messages, content, and engagement rates of the information which has been published by the four central government bodies responsible for the management of the emerging crisis in Israel. This article is based on content analysis to examine the work of four main government ministries on Facebook (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance) throughout the first six months of the crisis from February to July 2020. Findings indicate that The Ministry of Health's posts yielded the highest engagement rates compared to the rest of the ministries. Also, we categorized the posts into four main categories: Policy, Advocacy & COVID-19 additional information, Restrictions, Guidelines & Recommendations. In terms of Sentiment analysis, posts containing restrictions have created the highest emotional reactions (positive and negative). Research findings can be deduced regarding modes of distribution in terms of messages, publication dates, and types of content to improve users' responses in terms of audience engagement and sentiment.

Researchers’ perceptions, patterns, motives, and challenges in self-archiving as a function of the discipline

The green open access (OA) model, which offers the most economical approach to comply with open access policies, can increase researchers’ audience and scientific outputs impact by delivering wider and easier access. This study examined researchers’ perceptions from STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and SSH (social sciences, art and humanities) disciplines in order to reveal the types, patterns, motives, and challenges underlying their articles’ self-archiving in the green route to open-access (repositories and institutional repositories) and ASNs (academic social networks). Interviews were conducted with 20 Israeli academic researchers. Half were from STEM and half from SSH disciplines. Interviews were mapped using a bottom-up thematic analysis and follow-up quantitative comparisons. According to the findings, STEM researchers self-archived pre/post-print versions of their articles to subject-based repositories as a part of their discipline norm resulting from their funding grant requirements and as a way to receive recognition and claim priority. SSH researchers post a link to the printed-published article at the publisher’s website in ASNs, and their goal is greater visibility. In addition, findings indicate a lack of awareness, mostly by SSH researchers, regarding copyright issues and OA repositories. The green OA model provides opportunities for researchers to self-archive their work. However, there are differences between the disciplines regarding where, when, why, and how to self-archive, and what is considered a legitimate mode of green OA. This indicates an urgent need to raise SSH researchers’ awareness of the existence of open subject-based repositories and of the terms of self-archiving from publishers.

Motivations for sharing personal information and self-disclosure in public and private Facebook groups of mentally ill people

Purpose

This study explores the motivations for sharing personal information and self-disclosure by mentally ill people in public and private Facebook groups. The purpose of the self-disclosure comparison between public and private groups is to understand how mentally ill people use different kinds of online communication channels in order to advance their goals and needs concerning their illness.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out using questionnaires distributed in Facebook groups for people with mental illnesses. A total of 123 full and valid questionnaires were received. Statistical analysis was performed on the data.

Findings

Findings revealed that there are no significant differences between public and private groups concerning motivations for self-disclosure and that both types of groups create a safe and supportive place for mentally ill people. However, findings suggest that participants in public groups tend to display higher social involvement than those who participate in private groups.

Originality/value

This is a path breaking study on the entire subject of discourse of people with mental illnesses in private Facebook groups and its importance is derived from this. The study clarified and emphasized the importance of the sense of belonging to a community. Moreover, findings encourage people with mental illnesses to make use of social media channels to meet their social and personal needs.

The users' point of view: towards a model of government information behavior on social media

This study aims to examine the information behavior and acquisition of government information by Israeli citizens on social media. A mixed-methods research approach was used, with the study conducted in two main stages: an online survey, via a questionnaire distributed among Israeli citizens, and in-depth interviews. Both stages focus on citizens’ patterns of use, experience, and acquisition of government information through various digital means. The findings indicate that users do not prefer social networks to actively retrieve government information. They also avoid making direct inquiries to government bodies on these platforms, either out of fear of an invasion of privacy, or due to a lack of trust in the government. However, social media channels provide fertile ground for accidental and unintentional exposure to government announcements and updates. The findings also show that users with higher digital literacy and high internal political efficacy are more likely to rely on digital media as a tool for data acquisition and exposure to new public information. Our work offers a new way to classify different types of exposure to government information, distinguishing between intentional and accidental exposure through various platforms.

Information needs and seeking behaviors of Israeli citizens during the COVID-19 outbreak

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the information needs and information seeking behaviors of Israeli citizens during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in 2020, with an emphasis on the dissemination of digital information by government agencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach underlying this investigation is of the “case study” type, employing semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted with 24 Israeli citizens regarding their perceptions and experiences with government information and government services during the first months of the coronavirus.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that most participants indicated feelings of media fatigue as a result of increased exposure to news media and social media, to the point of experiencing information overload. Second, participants described feeling a lack of clear information and poor access to accurate health and official information at the outset of the COVID-19 crisis in Israel. Third, participants in the authors’ study noted that most of the information to which they were exposed about the virus came to them through communal connections such as friends and family, via social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp. In general, the participants expressed satisfaction with the quality and availability of the data and extensive information of government ministries on social networks, together with a lack of satisfaction due to difficulties in usage and a lack of clear information on traditional government websites.

Originality/value

The findings present the information acquisition and the experience of citizens in situations of national emergencies and crises, in a new light, through a focus on the dissemination of government, health and news information.

Facebook medical support groups: the communication privacy management perspective

Purpose

Exploring the considerations that guide and influence members of Facebook medical support groups to disclose private information.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample included 293 participants, aged 18–85 years, who answered an online survey, 155 members of Facebook medical support groups and 138 members of other Facebook groups.

Findings

Members of medical support groups attach greater importance to privacy policy, give greater value to privacy and reveal more private information, compared to members of other groups. Members of medical support groups tend to feel that they receive more support and feel that the privacy policy preserves their privacy much more. These feelings are associated with greater self-disclosure of groups' members.

Originality/value

The research insights will help medical support groups' members and admins to put into action the fundamental right to privacy and build a set of rules tailored to their individual and group needs.

Self-disclosure in public and private groups of people with mental illnesses in Facebook

Purpose

The Internet enables various voices and opinions that previously did not participate in the community discourse to express themselves. People with mental illnesses make use of social networks to advance their special needs in varied ways. The study aims to examine the nature of the discourse that takes place in public and private groups of people with mental illnesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The research corpus consisted of the content of 615 messages taken from public and private groups of people with mental illnesses in Facebook. Linguistic parameters (the total number of words, the number of words in the first person) were examined for each message. Two skilled judges classified the messages on a self-disclosure scale to determine the degree of disclosure of personal information, thoughts and emotions.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that the messages published in public groups are longer than the messages in private groups; however, the level of personal disclosure in messages written in private groups is deeper than in messages written in public groups. In addition, the level of self-disclosure in opening posts was found to be greater than the level of self-disclosure in comments.

Practical implications

In the study, the authors focus on the ways people in excluded populations make use of virtual tools to advance both their personal and social needs.

Originality/value

The study is innovative, as it explores the discourse of people with mental illnesses in public and private groups on Facebook.

Teachers’ perceived information literacy self-efficacy

The aim of this research was to examine the factors that might correlate with variables that may explain teachers’ perceptions of their information literacy self-efficacy level. The study was conducted among 101 teachers during the 2018 academic year. It used the following questionnaires: information literacy self-efficacy level, being a digital newcomer/native, personality variables taken from the Big Five model, mastery of computer applications, personal characteristics, and participation in a digital program. Researchers used a quantitative methodology. Findings present a correlation between teachers’ perceptions of their information literacy self-efficacy level and openness to experience and neuroticism, teachers’ level of digital skills, and teachers’ participation in a digital program. We propose that the ministry of education should focus on developing pre-service teachers’ and teachers’ information literacy skills, thus enhancing their information literacy self-efficacy.

Willingness to information security as a function of personality characteristics and threat assessment among adolescents

Purpose

The study focuses on adolescents and the influence the big five great personality traits – extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness to experiences and conscientiousness – on self-disclosure. These personality traits, combined with the ability to cope with stress, determine the degree of threat felt by an individual towards their information, their evaluation of their personal ability to keep their information secure, and their willingness to secure information.

Design/methodology/approach

Five questionnaires relating to the big five personality traits, self-disclosure, cognitive assessment, self-efficacy and IS awareness were distributed among 157 adolescents.

Findings

Readiness for IS. Furthermore, the study showed that the more ostentatiousness, agreeable, goal oriented and open the subjects are, the lower they will evaluate the threat to their information. A relationship was also revealed between the subjects' agreeableness, goal orientation and their information threat assessment. It was also found that the more extroverted, agreeable, conscientious and the more inclined to self-disclosure, the higher they evaluate their self-ability to handle threats to their information.

Originality/value

For IS behavior to become second nature to adolescents they must first be educated and trained to do so. Knowing what motivates them and, on the other hand, what hinders them, to practice IS can help build training models for teachers which may be adapted according to their personal traits, thus getting the most out of such programs.

Gender differences in the Israeli academia: a bibliometric analysis of different disciplines

Purpose

This study explores faculty members' outputs and citations by gender and academic rank in Israeli academia. The study focuses on the connection between research productivity and underrepresentation of women in academia. To this end, four fields were chosen, each representing a different discipline: Psychology (social sciences), Public Health (health sciences), Linguistics (humanities), and Chemistry (Exact sciences).

Design/methodology/approach

The name, the rank and the gender of the researchers were collected from the researchers' websites and those of their departments. The number of publications and citations were retrieved from Scopus.

Findings

Findings revealed that there is a significant difference between the median number of men and women in Chemistry concerning publications and citations and in Psychology concerning citations. Moreover, in all four disciplines, females' average number of publications was lower than that of males', and that in three out of the four disciplines (Psychology, Public Health and Chemistry), men published more in top journals (the top 5%) than females, while the reverse was true of Linguistics. Furthermore, in three disciplines (Public Health, Linguistics and Chemistry), there is an increase in the average citations per female researchers between 2015 and 2019. Further, in all disciplines, women collaborated more than men.

Originality/value

As only a few studies in Israel have explored faculty members' outputs and citations, this study contributes and enlarges the Israeli research concerning this topic.

Information literacy education in primary schools: A case study

This study focuses on teachers’ perspectives concerning information literacy teaching in two primary schools in Israel—one school that joined the national information and communications technology program and a second school that did not. The researchers used a qualitative research method during the 2015 academic year. Eighteen teachers were interviewed. The findings suggest that participation in the national information and communications technology program did not lead to the integration of information literacy in the school’s curriculum. A significant gap was discovered in both schools between the teachers’ perceptions—who understood the importance of teaching information literacy and its actual implementation.

Social media in government offices: usage and strategies

Purpose

The current study seeks to present and examine the strategies, management and dissemination of information on social media platforms by Israeli government organizations and agencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The article uses the “Case Study” approach, through semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted with directors in charge of the use of social media in government departments.

Findings

The findings indicate that government agencies tend to favor Facebook over other social network platforms, in order to reach the widest possible audience. They do this by adhering to the platform's limitations, such as regularly using sponsored advertising to increase reach and visibility, and also by publishing visual content, such as videos and images, at the expense of text. In addition, the impact of respondents to adopt social media outweighs the use and importance awarded to traditional government websites. A clear preference is evident toward cultivating and strengthening existing information on social media at the expense of further developing official websites.

Originality/value

Findings and conclusions from this type of research can help digital media directors and content editors in government agencies, to improve the quality of their content and improve the accessibility of the information they share online. In addition, the findings of the study strengthen the growing body of knowledge focused on the relationship between government ministries and social media.

Survey of information literacy instructional practices in academic libraries

This paper reports a study of information literacy instructional practices in Israeli academic libraries, conducted to understand the methods and approaches used by academic librarians in their instructional work, and to explore whether their practices have been influenced by the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. The study used an online survey to gather data, an instrument based on one used successfully in similar surveys in Canada and the United States. The survey was completed by Israeli academic librarians with instructional responsibilities. Findings show that respondents believe that information literacy instruction is a shared responsibility, and that one-on-one instruction is the most-used approach. Results reveal multiple challenges faced by respondents, as well as opportunities for improvement in their instruction.

Tell me who you are and I will tell you which SNS you use: SNSs participation

Purpose

Social networking sites (SNSs) have become an essential part of our lives. The purpose of this paper is to explore how demographic variables, SNS importance, social and informational usage, and personality traits (extroversion/introversion, openness, neuroticism, internal and external locus of control) can explain participation frequency of the four biggest SNSs in Israel: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in Israel during the Fall semester of the 2017–2018 academic year and encompassed 244 students. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather data: a demographic questionnaire, a participation frequency questionnaire on four different SNSs, four SNSs importance questionnaire, social and informational usage on four different SNSs questionnaire, personality questionnaire (extroversion, openness and neuroticism) and the locus of control questionnaire.

Findings

The findings revealed that different social network sites play distinct roles for various individuals. WhatsApp, the most frequently used platform, is used more by women and people with internal locus of control. Facebook is more frequently used by open people and Instagram is more frequently used by women, younger adults and neurotic people. Twitter is more frequently used by men. In addition, for all SNSs, the higher the social and informational usage is, the more important the SNSs are to the users, which significantly explains participation frequency.

Originality/value

The differences between social networks can be evidence that each social network serves a different group and does not compete with other SNSs. This may well explain why many people make use of several social networks and have a tendency to move from one to another.

Factors affecting students’ information literacy self-efficacy

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how computer self-efficacy (CSE), perceived information overload (IO) and the digital native perspective predict students’ information literacy (IL) self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in Israel and comprised 117 students from the Information Science Department at Bar-Ilan University. Researchers used five questionnaires to gather personal details: a demographic questionnaire, the IL self-efficacy questionnaire, the CSE questionnaire, technology usage (TU) questionnaire and the perceived IO questionnaire.

Findings

The findings confirm that these variables significantly predict students’ IL self-efficacy.

Originality/value

Instructors and librarians should be familiar with the issue of individual differences, as well with the issue of students’ age. These factors may help them choose the most appropriate way when instructing IL skills to their students.

Students’ information literacy self-efficacy: An exploratory study

The current study focuses on students’ information literacy self-efficacy and investigated whether students estimate that they know how to handle and evaluate the vast amount of information they find on the Internet. The objectives of this study are to explore: (1) to what extent does the openness to experience variable explain students’ information literacy self-efficacy?; (2) to what extent do the cognitive appraisals threat and challenge explain students’ information literacy self-efficacy? and (3) to what extent does the variable of motivation explain students’ information literacy self-efficacy? The research was conducted in Israel during the spring semester of the 2017 academic year and involved 136 students. Researchers used five questionnaires to gather data. Findings suggested that the personality characteristics of openness to experience, as well as threat and challenge, and motivation predicted students’ information literacy self-efficacy.

Acceptance of altmetrics by LIS scholars: An exploratory study

A survey of iSchool and Library and Information Science American Library Association accredited school heads explored their use and opinions about academic social media platforms. Results show that ResearchGate is the venue of choice, although respondents do not believe maintaining a profile on academic social media platforms influences academic careers. Respondents do see the value of academic social media sites to enhance visibility and reputation. These data are complemented with an analysis of the visibility on academic/professional social media platforms of this group. The altmetric indicators derived from the data were compared to traditional bibliometric indicators.

The relationships between personality, perceptual, cognitive and technological variables and students’ level of information literacy

The Internet is students’ primary source of information, and the question that arises is whether students know how to evaluate the information they find on the Web. The present research aimed to explore whether openness to experience, curiosity, learning strategies, technological skills, and self-efficacy in computer use are associated with undergraduate students’ information literacy level. The research was conducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2014 academic year and included 180 first-year university students. Seven questionnaires were used to gather data on personal details, information literacy, computer mastery, curiosity, and openness to experience, self-efficacy in computer use, and learning strategies. Results confirm that the personality characteristics of openness to experience and curiosity, as well as cognitive variables such as deep learning strategies, the perceptual variable of self-efficacy in computer use, and computer mastery affect students’ level of information literacy.

Factors affecting LIS Israeli students’ mobile phone use: an exploratory study

Purpose

Although the mobile phone is a popular gadget, only a few studies have examined the relationships between personality characteristics and mobile phone use. This study aims to integrate and extend the literature by focusing on various personality characteristics and motivations to fully understand the influence of these variables on mobile phone use.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2015 academic year and encompassed 181 library and information science students. Participants were asked to complete the following questionnaires: personal details, mobile usage, motivation, self-disclosure and personality characteristics (openness to experience and extroversion and loneliness).

Findings

The most common use of students’ mobile phones is for mobile voice communication. Further, results show that the major factors that influence individual mobile phone use are motivation and the time spent using the phone. In addition, results indicate that personality characteristics have a large impact on mobile phone use as well, and that the dominant ones are openness to experience and self-disclosure.

Originality/value

The current study expands the scope of research about mobile phone use by examining the different functions provided by mobile phones within the context of personality characteristics as well as motivation. Further, mobile phones now not only serve as a means of communication but also have become a central means in students’ lives to access their social network system of choice, search for information and enjoy online leisure activities.

Relations between Privacy Behaviors and Social Capital on Facebook

Based on the premises of Social Exchange theory, we set out to explore the nature of the relationships between users’ privacy behaviors and social capital on Facebook to determine whether decreasing user privacy contributes to achieving more social capital and, if so, how that mechanism of exchange works. The research was conducted with 140 Israeli Facebook users via questionnaires. A quantitative analysis employing the statistical package SPSS was carried out. Four privacy behaviors were measured, reflecting users’ privacy “investments”: friend selectivity, number of friends, privacy control settings and personal information exposure. User benefit from the network was assessed using two variables: bonding and bridging social capital. Privacy was found to be associated with social capital in a complex way which includes mediation effects, supporting the concept of balance and regulation between privacy behaviors. Privacy has some sway over the creation of social capital in online social networks, as part of a complex model of balance and adjustment. This study’s results suggest possible future applications by online social network designers and users.

An examination of the factors contributing to participation in online social platforms

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine participation in online social platforms consisting of information exchange, social network interactions, and political deliberation. Despite the proven benefits of online participation, the majority of internet users read social media data but do not directly contribute, a phenomenon called lurking.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered electronically to 507 participants and consisted of ten sections in a questionnaire to gather data on the relationship between online participation and the following variables: anonymity, social value orientation, motivations, and participation in offline activities, as well as the internet’s political influence and personality traits.

Findings

Findings show that users with high levels of participation also identify themselves, report higher levels of extroversion, openness, and activity outside the internet, the motivations being an intermediary variable in the relationship between the variables value.

Originality/value

The study shows that participation in online social platforms is not only related to personality traits, but they are impacted by the nature of the motivations that drive them to participate in the particular social platform, as well as by the interest toward the specific topic, or the type or nature of the social group with whom they are communicating.

Students’ academic reading preferences: An exploratory study

The e-book reader revolution is already here. The questions we asked ourselves were: What are the reading preferences of Information Science students at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century? How do different variables, such as relative advantage, comprehension, and learning strategies affect students’ reading preferences? The research was conducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2015 academic year and encompassed 177 Library and Information Science students in an Information Science Department in Israel. Three questionnaires were used: personal details, relative advantage, and learning strategies, and two further questions that focused on reading habits. The study showed students’ preferences for printed materials. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of two personal variables that may affect students’ will to read electronic materials: relative advantage and comprehension.

Relationships among attachment theory, social capital perspective, personality characteristics, and Facebook self-disclosure

Purpose

– Due to the growth of Facebook use, the question arises regarding which factors may influence individuals’ self-disclosure while using the site. The purpose of this paper is to examine: first, to what extent does attachment theory explain users’ self-disclosure on Facebook; second, to what extent does the social capital paradigm explain users’ self-disclosure on Facebook; third, to what extent do personality characteristics explain users’ self-disclosure on Facebook; and fourth, to what extent do demographic details explain users’ self-disclosure on Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

– Research was conducted in Israel and included 183 library and information science students. Participants were asked to complete the following questionnaires: personal details, Facebook use, importance of Facebook use, demographic disclosure, picture disclosure, disclosure, social capital, attachment, and personality.

Findings

– The current study extends research about Facebook self-disclosure and confirms that attachment theory, as well as social capital, personality traits, and age significantly predict Facebook self-disclosure.

Originality/value

– We should bear in mind that there are certain people who may benefit from disclosing information on Facebook, while there are others who may be at risk, because they reveal more personal information than they intended and the line between the two is fuzzy. Individuals should bear in mind that if they disclose too much information, they might become easy targets for abuse, internet predators, sexual solicitation, sexting, cyberbullying, and online harassment.

The importance of the Whatsapp family group: an exploratory analysis

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on WhatsApp, a mobile messaging service for smartphones that began in 2009. The study uses attachment theory, a social support perspective and one personality characteristic derived from the Big Five theory of personality (“openness to experience”) and attempts to predict how these variables influence the importance of the WhatsApp family group.

Design/methodology/approach

– Research was conducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2015 academic year and encompassed 191 undergraduate communication students. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather personal details, WhatsApp use, WhatsApp importance, attachment, openness to experience, and social support.

Findings

– The findings confirm that the personality characteristic of openness to experience and social support significantly predict the importance of WhatsApp family group. Findings present a complex and ambiguous relationship between the attachment variables and the importance of WhatsApp family group.

Originality/value

– The literature has not yet dealt with the issue of WhatsApp groups. Hence, the current study highlights associations between WhatsApp family group and attachment theory, the personality characteristic of openness to experience, social support, and family frequency use.

An exploratory study on factors affecting the adoption of cloud computing by information professionals

Purpose

– The purpose of this study explores what factors may influence information professionals to adopt new technologies, such as cloud computing in their organizations. The objectives of this study are as follows: to what extent does the technology acceptance model (TAM) explain information professionals intentions towards cloud computing, and to what extent do personal characteristics, such as cognitive appraisal and openness to experience, explain information professionals intentions to use cloud computing.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted in Israel during the second semester of the 2013 academic year and encompassed two groups of information professionals: librarians and information specialists. Researchers used seven questionnaires to gather the following data: personal details, computer competence, attitudes to cloud computing, behavioural intention, openness to experience, cognitive appraisal and self-efficacy.

Findings

– The current study found that the behavioural intention to use cloud computing was impacted by several of the TAM variables, personal characteristics and computer competence.

Originality/value

– The study expands the scope of research about the TAM by applying it to information professionals and cloud computing and highlights the importance of individual traits, such as cognitive appraisal, personal innovativeness, openness to experience and computer competence when considering technology acceptance. Further, the current study proposes that if directors of information organizations assume that novel technologies may improve their organizations’ functioning, they should be familiar with both the TAM and the issue of individual differences. These factors may help them choose the most appropriate workers.

Why do students use What’s App? – an exploratory study

Purpose

– This study focusses on What’s App, a mobile messaging service for smartphones, that was founded in 2009. The purpose of this study is to explore which factors may influence students’ satisfaction and duration of time, spent on What’s App.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to answer this question it uses the Uses and Gratifications (U&G) approach (Katz, 1959), as well as the Big Five model (Costa and McCrae, 1992), and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989). The research was conducted in Israel and encompassed 111 information science (IS) students. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather data.

Findings

– The findings of this study shed light on a new technological platform: What’s App that has rarely been examined to date, and expands the U&G perspectives to new media. Findings confirm that the U&G paradigm, as well as personality characteristics and perceived enjoyment, effect What’s App satisfaction and duration, and highlight the importance of both the U&G approach and individual differences when exploring motivations underlying What’s App use.

Originality/value

– This study proposes a theoretical framework by combining the U&G approach, constructs from the “Big Five” model, and one variable from the TAM, to investigate the attitudes of What’s App users, and propose possible factors that may explain why certain individuals use What’s App.

What’s App: a social capital perspective

Purpose

– Based on the premises of Putnam’s bridging social capital, and on Ellison, Steinfield and Lampe’s notion of maintained social capital, the purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which the well-being variables of self-esteem and loneliness, as well as What’s App attitudes and intention to use variables, explain the social capital students gain from What’s App use.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted in Israel during the second semester of the 2014 academic year and included 124 students from two major universities in Israel. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather data.

Findings

– Findings confirm that the well-being variables, as well as What’s App attitudes and intention to use, affect the social capital students gain while using What’s App.

Originality/value

– The findings of this study shed light on a new technological platform: What’s App that has rarely been examined to date. In addition, it expands the social capital and well-being perspectives to new media.

Cloud computing: information professionals’ and educational technology experts’ perspectives

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and personal characteristics such as threat and challenge, self-efficacy and openness to experience, explain information professionals’ and educational technology experts’ perspectives about cloud computing. In addition, the study will investigate any differences between these two tech-savvy groups concerning cloud computing adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted in Israel during the second semester of the 2013 academic year. Researchers used seven questionnaires to gather the data.

Findings

– The current study found that the behavioral intention to use cloud computing was impacted by perceived ease of use and personal innovativeness. Further, the study demonstrated that respondents’ intentions to use cloud computing are affected by personal characteristics such as threat and challenge, self-efficacy, and openness to experience. In addition, it seems that each group has a different perspective about technology.

Originality/value

– Findings reveal that newest technologies are not the main focus of information professionals. Therefore, if information organizations directors would like their employees to enhance their use of technological innovations, they should expose them to the latest technologies, emphasizing their usefulness, ease of use, and benefits.

Factors Affecting Adoption of Facebook: An Exploratory Study of the LIS Community Perspective

This study seeks to investigate whether information professionals, as well as LIS students, are ready to assimilate Facebook in their work and educational environments. The study uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as well as some characteristics of the “Big Five” model of personality as a theoretical base from which to predict factors that may influence the adoption of Facebook by information professionals as well as by LIS students. Findings reveal that the TAM, as well as other personal characteristics, significantly predict the likelihood of Facebook use and highlight the importance of individual characteristics when considering technology acceptance.

Factors affecting the adoption of e-books by information professionals

One of the innovations that information technology has presented within information organizations is the phenomenon of e-books. This study seeks to explore information professionals’ attitudes towards e-books adoption. The current study uses the Technology Acceptance Model, a well-known theory for explaining individuals’ technology behaviors (Davis, 1989; Venkatesh and Morris, 2000), as well as personal characteristics such as motivation and cognitive appraisal as theoretical bases from which we can predict factors that may influence information professionals adopting e-books within their organizations. An empirical study was conducted in which 169 participants took part. Using structural equation modeling, we confirm that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, personal innovativeness and other personal characteristics, are predictors of behavioral intention to use e-books. Results highlight the importance of individual characteristics when considering technology acceptance. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Mobile Libraries: Librarians’ and Students’ Perspectives

This study which is based on the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM), seeks to explore whether librarians and LIS students are familiar with the newest technological innovations and whether they are ready to accept them. The research was conducted in Israel during the first and second semesters of the 2012 academic year and considered two populations: librarians and LIS students. Researchers used two questionnaires to gather data: a personal details questionnaire, and a mobile technology questionnaire. On the whole, the current study supported the two core variables of the TAM (perceived ease of use and usefulness), as well as personal innovativeness that may predict librarians’ and students’ behavioral intention to use mobile services in the library.

Library and Information Science students’ perceptions of m-learning

The rapid development of mobile technologies has made mobile learning (m-learning) a new trend in education. This study explores whether Library and Information Science students, whose studies and future work focus on using up-to-date technologies, are familiar with new technological innovations. The study has two objectives: (1) whether personality and individual characteristics are related to perceptions about m-learning and (2) whether differences exist according to level of education, age and gender concerning perceptions about m-learning. The research was conducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2012 academic year. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather data. Findings suggest that individual differences such as resistance to change, learning strategies, and age may predict and influence m-learning adoption. Library and Information Science educators should be aware of these individual differences while teaching and training their students. They should understand that not all students wish to adopt current technologies, either while students or later as professionals. However, since using mobile technologies is an essential activity in these times, Library and Information Science educators should augment the curriculum to maximize exposing students to these platforms. Students will then be able to compare the advantages and disadvantages of various devices in their personal and professional lives.

I just wanted to ask: A comparison of user studies of the Citizens Advice Bureau (SHIL) in Israel

Day-to-day information needed by citizens can be sought in a variety of ways. Specifically, we were interested in users of online, citizen rights websites, such as the SHIL site ( http://shil.info ). Our results report findings from three parallel data collection efforts. Surveys were undertaken to gain a better understanding of how the SHIL website is used and to compare the information needs and information sources used by SHIL users and potential users unaware of the existence of the website. The surveys were administered to samples from three populations (current users of this site, previous users of the site, and users who filled in an offline questionnaire and were mostly unaware of the existence of the SHIL website). We report several interesting differences between the three groups, and suggest future work on analyzing the site, its users, the content it provides and the needs it serves.

Library and Information Science research areas: A content analysis of articles from the top 10 journals 2007–8

The current study seeks to describe and analyze journal research publications in the top 10 Library and Information Science journals from 2007–8. The paper presents a statistical descriptive analysis of authorship patterns (geographical distribution and affiliation) and keywords. Furthermore, it displays a thorough content analysis of keywords and abstracts extracted from 10 leading Information Science journals in 2007–8, using Zins’ (2007) classification scheme of Information Science. The main results suggest the tendency of authors towards collaboration in authorship. North American and European authors – from the core discipline of Librarianship and Information Science – can be considered as leaders in the top 10 LIS journals. Furthermore, there are three major cores of research in these journals: information technology, methodology and social information science. It is important that LIS researchers, professionals, teachers and students be keenly aware of the updated main spheres of research in top leading LIS journals.

Web 2.0 in the professional LIS literature: An exploratory analysis

This paper presents a statistical descriptive analysis and a thorough content analysis of descriptors and journal titles extracted from the Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) database, focusing on the subject of Web 2.0 and its main applications: blog, wiki, social network and tags.The primary research questions include: whether the phenomenon of Web 2.0 with its various applications is significantly expressed in the professional LIS literature; which kind of journals deal with Web 2.0 and its applications; and what are the emerging issues or trends expressed in the professional LIS literature. The findings reveal that the percentage of peer-reviewed articles concerning Web 2.0 is quite low, and a close link between Web 2.0 and library issues. This tendency may suggest the potential of Web 2.0 and its implications for libraries, as presented in the professional LIS literature.

Librarians’ Attitudes toward Knowledge Management

The purpose of this research is to develop an understanding of the factors that support or constrain the individual’s sharing knowledge in the organization. The current study seeks to explore whether personality (self-efficacy and self-esteem) and situational (cognitive appraisal: threat versus challenge) characteristics influence participants’ knowledge sharing in the organization. The research was conducted during the summer semester of the 2009 academic year and encompassed two main groups of Israeli librarians: academic librarians and public librarians. The study used five questionnaires: a personal details questionnaire, perceptions towards knowledge management questionnaire, a cognitive appraisal questionnaire measuring threat versus challenge, a self-efficacy questionnaire, and a self-esteem questionnaire. The results show that personality and situational characteristics influence participants’ knowledge sharing in the organization. The findings may have theoretical as well as practical implications.

The influence of LIS students’ personality characteristics on their perceptions towards Web 2.0 use

The information world in which library and information science (LIS) students study and are being educated is in a state of constant change. As Web 2.0 is becoming an important and central topic in our information world, the research reported here explores whether LIS students are familiar with technological changes and innovations, and whether they make use of the different Web 2.0 applications. The research examined whether personality characteristics (learning strategies, resistance to change and cognitive appraisal), as well as learning facilitators such as motivation, capacity and importance of studying and integrating different applications of Web 2.0 in the future, influenced LIS students’ perceptions towards Web 2.0 use. Different questionnaires were distributed to 160 randomly selected Israeli students from three different LIS programmes. The research revealed a moderate tendency of LIS students to use Web 2.0 applications. It was found that personality characteristics as well as learning facilitators influenced LIS students’ perceptions towards Web 2.0 use.