The study aims at examining libraries in four Sub-Saharan Africa countries and their role in propagating open science. It also seeks to explore existing open science practices, ascertain the level of participation of academic libraries in open science activities, identify the strategies used in marketing open science platforms and enumerate the challenges hindering the success of open science in the selected countries. The study was guided by the qualitative school of thought where the researcher builds a complex, holistic picture, analyses words, and reports detailed views of informants, and conducts the study in a natural setting. The study employed the multiple case study research design approach to assess how academic libraries in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda promote open science. The findings show that there are few scholarly journals which exist in open access for most African academies in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Though not massively adopted, open access institutional repositories have been used to preserve and publicize the digital contents in some academic institutions in Africa such as theses, dissertations, administrative and heritage materials, conference proceedings as well as pre-prints and post-print of journal articles. The study recommends the intensification of open science advocacy in academic libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa; institutions should ensure that there is a stable electricity supply as well as reliable internet connectivity, introducing regular training on emerging media technologies to the community members and strengthening the libraries consortium in Sub-Saharan Africa as an enabling platform to share intellectual productivity of their member countries.
Mixed methods research has become an important approach to research worldwide. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods has made it possible for a deeper and broader understanding of multifaceted phenomena, thereby offering readers more confidence in research findings and conclusions. The use of mixed method designs became more established in the 1980s and early 1990s, but some controversies surrounding the approach remain. Nonetheless, experts in the field of mixed methods research have continued to work on the central premise that the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches, in combination, provides a better understanding of research problems than either approach alone. This concept paper discusses some of the known controversies around mixed methods with the aim of providing useful insights to emerging researchers interested in learning the methodology.
Background: An effective health system that ensures availability and access to quality healthcare produces active human capital. Responsive health systems are the results of evidence-informed policy practice which is mostly seen in advanced countries. Deficiencies in most African health systems are due to the ineffective use of health research to reinforce public health policymaking.Key points for discussion: This paper discusses the progress and challenges faced by Knowledge Translation Platforms (KTPs) in African evidence-informed policymaking among healthcare systems. Large gaps exist between research evidence and policymaking in Africa due to inefficiencies of the KTPs and the lack of political will to use sound ethical research outcomes to inform health policies. Activities of KTPs in Africa are most often curtailed by many obstacles, but not limited to the following; lack of infrastructure, human and financial capital, high turnover among top-level policymakers, and lack of collaboration between academia and industry.Conclusions and implications: Evidence informed policymaking is crucial to the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.<br />Key messages<br />There is the need for effective translation of scientific knowledge into action where health systems could interrelate closely with health research organisations to create and use available evidence to ensure quality health outcomes in developing nations, including Africa. KTPs are essential players in making this a reality in Africa.
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